Country singer Keith Urban surprised fans with a free concert on Friday night in the parking lot of a large convenience store and gas station in north Alabama. With only a few hours’ notice, Urban transformed a trip to Buc-ee’s in Athens—about 100 miles south of Nashville—into an unforgettable evening for hundreds of fans.
The impromptu performance took place outside a Buc-ee’s, a popular chain of roadside stores famed for its barbecue. Urban told the crowd that the idea for the show came to him during a previous visit to the store. “I came down to this Buc-ee’s about a month ago. And when I left, I went, ‘It’d be kind of fun to do a show there,’” Urban shared, according to an Instagram video posted by WAFF-TV in Huntsville.
Urban’s spontaneous urge, which he playfully described as his “cave man brain,” led him to set up a small stage. He initially expected a modest turnout, saying, “I swear to you, I thought maybe 100, 200 people,” as he looked out over a much larger audience.
The news of the surprise concert quickly spread, prompting fans to gather hours before the show. “I was at work and we heard it on the radio that there was going to be a surprise concert at Buc-ee’s in Athens,” Cindy Wilson told FOX 54 WZDX-TV in Huntsville. “And I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s on my way home.’ And it’s 15 minutes from my house. So I couldn’t believe it.”
Adding a personal touch to the experience, Urban donned a Buc-ee’s T-shirt and apron, taking his place behind a food counter. A video captured him pouring barbecue sauce on brisket and chopping the meat into smaller pieces, much to the delight of the crowd.
The unexpected concert at Buc-ee’s in Athens, Alabama, will be remembered by fans as a unique and intimate encounter with one of country music’s biggest stars.
