My First Wynonna Concert
My first Wynonna concert I ever saw was on her solo debut tour. It was 1992 and I was 16 years old. I wanted to see The Judds in concert before they broke up. I never got the chance to see them in concert while they were a duo. I was close once, but had surgery instead.
Anyway, 1992 was a year that changed my life. I was still recovering from my surgery, and was having a tough time getting around at school. Then my father passed of years of illness. It was a hard time for me. One of the things that really helped me through was The Judds and their music. My mom and I drove down to Omaha that day and spent the day shopping. Everywhere I looked I kept an eye out for either a limo or Wy riding down the interstate on her motorcycle. No luck there. I was sooooo excited!! And nervous. I really didn't know what to expect. When we pulled up to the arena, I saw Wynonna's semi-trucks in the parking lot. I must admit that I freaked. I made my mom drive around the lot twice so I could see them again. We got to Aksarben at 5:40 p.m and the doors weren't suppose to open until 6:30 p.m. We walked right inside, passed the usher and the gate without stopping. We went into the bathroom. We then stopped where they were selling the concessions. I got to a T-shirt with Wynonna on her bike, a key chain for me and one for the kids I sit for. We then asked where we were suppose to go. They told us kindly that we were on the wrong side of the gate. We were not the only ones though. *LOL* They let us in at 6:30 p.m. We were in row 52 and seats 37 and 38. We weren't that close but not that far. I didn't care. I was just so thrilled to be there. The kids' aunt and uncle came over. I thanked them. McBride and the Ride opened for Wynonna. Wynonna came out 5 minutes late!! People were chanting Wy! I was so excited. When Wynonna came out, I stated screaming at the top of my lungs. She started with ‘What It Takes'. I remember thinking how beautiful she looked and that she sounded like an ANGEL!!! My mom wanted me to go down and take pictures. I couldn't get up. My legs were shaking so bad. Why I don't know. So she went down after the 2 song and took some pictures. She came back and pulled me down with her. She said that I had to see things up close. We went to the left side of the stage about 15 row and stood for the rest of the show. We dance, clapped and sang along. She started to sing Grandpa and I started to cry! Someone should have told me when you go to a WY concert to bring tissues!!!!! She said something that night that changed my life. Right before she started to sing Why Not Me, I think, she said this: "Dreams do come true by doing 2 things. One is to believe in yourself and two just ask for it. I wanted a good picture of Wy on stage so I went and walked down center row to take a picture. I got right between the 2 and 3 row. Wy was right in front of me. I could have sworn she was looking strait at me. I clicked the picture. I turned to walk away and heard the sound of my camera rewinding. My heart sank because I knew the last picture never comes out. What I thought was going to be the greatest picture in the world is a picture that never would be. And I was out of film. Thank goodness that the kids' aunt and uncle got 2 really great pictures that I still treasure to this day. To me that night Wynonna sang so perfectly. On the car ride home the music she sang played over and over in my head. The 3 hour ride home not once did I need to turn on the radio. I have renamed her that night an Earth Angel. Words can't define what it was like and how I felt that night Six years later I still can't. I wrote that night in my journal this: "October 23, 1992 Its actually 2:03 a.m. so its the 24. I went to see Wynonna tonight in concert. She was GREAT! She is so much more beautiful in person. Her voice was like an Angel's. Words cant define it. She is a true professional and loves what she is doing. She sings from her heart and her soul. She really does this for her fans. She got so much joy from watching the crowd having fun than we did from watching her. I tell you I really enjoyed her performance a lot!!! She plays with the crowd to get them going. She has so much energy! The power in her voice is so amazing. I bet she could have sung without the microphone and everyone could have heard her. Her voice is a gift from God. And she knows how to use it." I hope you all enjoyed reading my experience at my first Wynonna concert. I really enjoyed going back and remember it.
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© Nashlyn 2003 |
I would listen two songs in particular that helped me through this time. One was Grandpa, the line ‘and daddies never go away' gets me every time. The other was ‘Its Never Easy to Say Goodbye' The words spoke to my heart. That summer, I started to babysit for a family with 3 children. The oldest was a 11 yrs old girl. The girl was just as big of a Wynonna fan as I was. So most of the days were spent listening to The Judds tapes and videos. This family gave me the greatest gift. The opportunity to see Wynonna in concert! The kids' aunt was a member at Aksarben arena. They got me two tickets to see Wynonna on October 23, 1992 at the Aksarben in Omaha, Nebraska. For those who don't know Aksarben is were The Judds had their first concert ever. I couldn't wait to be there!!! I choose my mom to go with me. The girl I sat for wanted to go, but her mom said she was too young. She begged me to sneak her along and that I could wear a trench coat so she could hide under it.