On several occasions throughout the show, Evans lovingly mentioned Barker, who attended the show but remained behind the scenes. However, his four children – Andrew, Braxton, and twins Sarah Ashlee and Harrison (pictured here with Evans) – shared the spotlight with their stepmom before she introduced their favorite song of hers, the foot-stomping “Suds In the Bucket,” one of Evans’ four No. 1 singles.
With three children of her own creating a Brady Bunch-like household, Evans proudly rattled off all their ages (10, 9, 9, 7, 7, 6, 4), then promoted her next single, “Feels Just Like A Love Song.”
“I hope it will be my next No. 1 ...,” she said before joking, “because I’ve got seven children to support.”
A cool and confident performer, the easy-going Evans, who will release her first novel (The Sweet By and By) in September, possesses comedic ability and timing. She amused the audience with stories about her family (past and present), and playfully picked on her brother, who co-writes many of her most popular songs. Growing up, Evans allowed, “Matt played Barbie dolls with me all the time.” Then she revealed that he once cut off all the hair of her Bionic Woman Barbie because he thought the doll had lice. “I’ve never forgiven him,” she said in mock disgust.
The interaction with her sisters was cute, too. Remembering how they wanted to be like the Mandrell Sisters, Evans brought Lesley (the blonde) and Ashley (left, with Sara and Lesley) front and center, where the trio casually sat on stools for a three-song set. That included Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” with luscious three-part harmonies, followed by what Evans called “a very sad country, country, country song,” another new selection co-written with her brother, “What That Drink Cost Me.”
Her brief appearance on Dancing With the Stars undoubtedly helped improve Evans’ stage moves, although she’s always had that finger-wave (apparently in every female country singer’s repertoire) down pat. Moving effortlessly from one side of the stage to the other, she often mingled with fiddler Jonathan Lawson and lead guitarists Brent Wilson and Justin Ostrander. Both guitarists (Wilson, far right, with Ostrander and Evans) were given several chances to shine, especially during “I Keep Looking,” a song that first appeared on 2000’s Born To Fly and was recycled on her Greatest Hits album in 2007.
Article comments
1 - Countrymile
Thank heavens, indeed. Despite all the tabloid drama, I sill enjoy Sara's music and her natural talent. She seems genuine and deserves to rank at the top, looking down at today's young pretenders to the throne. Really looking forward to the new album.