Some concerts are planned months in advance. Others come together at the last minute. And then there are those shows where you don’t know if you’re actually going to make it until you’re sitting in the car, heading down the road. This was definitely one of those nights.
On Sunday, October 11, 2026, country music legends Alabama and The Oak Ridge Boys brought their decades of hits to a sold-out Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky. Two iconic groups, one stage, and enough country music history to fill a small library. For me, however, this particular evening was about much more than the music.
I was fortunate enough to have friends in both camps. Tony Cottrill, Alabama’s Front of House Engineer, and Scotty Simpson, bass player for The Oak Ridge Boys, had both reached out and invited me to attend. Naturally, I accepted. After all, when friends invite you to photograph two legendary country music groups, you don’t exactly need much convincing.
What I hadn’t considered was that my wife would be out of town attending a conference, leaving me in charge of the kids. Now, I love my children, but trying to photograph a concert while keeping track of a 12-year-old and a 4-year-old is a little like trying to mix a live show while someone keeps unplugging the console.
Fortunately, thanks to the generosity of my friends, I had more than enough passes to bring everyone along. My oldest daughter, Bella, had to work, so that left Lucy and Valen. I also invited Ivey Leighton, an artist I manage, along with a friend of mine. Suddenly, what started as a concert assignment had turned into something resembling a family field trip. Camera equipment included.
With the gear packed and everyone accounted for, we headed out to pick up Ivey at her hotel. The weather couldn’t have been better. A beautiful 68 degrees, which, in my opinion, is perfect hoodie weather. Anyone who knows me knows that’s my favorite.
A Familiar Venue, Some Familiar Faces
Located on the campus of Northern Kentucky University, Truist Arena has been a fixture in the region’s entertainment scene since opening in 2008. With a capacity of approximately 9,400, the venue has hosted everything from college basketball and major touring productions to some of the biggest names in music.
Parking was surprisingly painless, which is always a welcome way to start an evening. We made our way to Will Call, collected our passes, and met up with Scotty Simpson.
It was great catching up with Scotty before he had to get ready for the show. From there, we headed over to Front of House to visit Tony. He was kind enough to introduce me to a couple of his other guests representing Real Roots Radio and the Ohio Country Music Hall of Fame. Great people, great conversations, and, as it turns out, a couple of future guests for The Jay Franze Show.
Not a bad way to spend the time before the first note.
Eventually, it was time to get to work. I grabbed my cameras and made my way down to the photo pit, where I discovered something you don’t encounter very often at a sold-out arena show.
I had the entire pit to myself.
There was a house photographer working the event, and I even offered to share the space, but he chose to shoot elsewhere. So there I was, standing in front of an arena full of country music fans, with an unobstructed view of two legendary groups.
I’ve certainly had worse assignments.
The Oak Ridge Boys: Still Getting It Done
When The Oak Ridge Boys took the stage, it was like watching a living chapter of country music history unfold right in front of me.
I’ve had the pleasure of seeing these guys perform four or five times over the years, thanks in large part to Scotty. I’ve also gotten to know William Lee Golden, making these performances feel a little more personal than the typical concert experience.
But this night was different.
Most of my previous experiences watching The Oak Ridge Boys had been in theaters, where the atmosphere tends to be a little more intimate. Seeing them command a massive arena stage in front of a sold-out crowd was something else entirely.
And command it they did.
The Oak Ridge Boys have a history stretching back decades, with roots that reach well before their rise to country music superstardom. Their unmistakable harmonies helped define an era, and their influence on the genre is undeniable.
Of course, nobody is getting any younger. Some of these guys are well into their 80s, an age when most people would be perfectly content sitting on the porch and yelling at the neighbors to stay off the lawn.
Apparently, nobody told The Oak Ridge Boys.
They worked the stage with enthusiasm, delivered those signature harmonies, and carried themselves with the confidence of performers who have spent a lifetime doing exactly what they love. There was no sense that they were simply going through the motions. They were there to entertain, and that’s precisely what they did.
The backing band was equally impressive. Tight, polished, and completely locked in, they provided the kind of musical foundation that makes a veteran act sound effortless.
From my position in the pit, I had the opportunity to capture the expressions, interactions, and little moments that make concert photography so rewarding. There’s something special about photographing performers who have spent decades onstage. They understand the audience, they understand the music, and they know exactly how to deliver a show.
After my allotted three songs, I packed up and headed back to join my family.
That’s when the evening took a slight detour.
A Little Girl, a Big Arena, and an Unexpected Break
I returned to find my youngest daughter having a bit of a meltdown.
Valen was missing her mother, and no amount of legendary country music was going to change that. At four years old, a sold-out arena can be an overwhelming place, especially when Mom is out of town.
So, rather than subject everyone around us to an impromptu screaming solo, I decided to take her for a walk.
We wandered around, spent some time together, and eventually I let her take my picture. That seemed to do the trick. Sometimes the solution to a difficult situation is surprisingly simple.
Once things settled down, we made our way back to Front of House, where Tony graciously allowed us to set up a few chairs near his mixing position.
For anyone unfamiliar with live sound, Front of House is where the engineer controls what the audience hears. It’s generally one of the best listening positions in the building, and in this case, it also gave Valen some much-needed room to dance.
Suddenly, everyone was happy again.
And just in time for Alabama.
Alabama: Fifty Years of Hits and Still Going Strong
There are successful country bands, there are legendary country bands, and then there’s Alabama.
More than five decades ago, cousins Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry, and the late Jeff Cook began a journey that would eventually reshape country music. From playing for tips at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach to selling more than 73 million albums, their story is the kind of thing aspiring musicians dream about.
Twenty-one consecutive No. 1 singles. Membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And a catalog of songs that has become part of the soundtrack of American life.
Alabama didn’t simply find success within country music. They helped change what a country band could be.
By combining traditional country storytelling with Southern rock energy, strong musicianship, and a willingness to push boundaries, they opened doors for countless bands that followed.
And on this particular Sunday night, they reminded everyone in Truist Arena why their legacy remains so important.
As the band prepared to take the stage, I gathered my cameras for another trip to the photo pit.
That’s when Lucy asked me a question I wasn’t expecting.
Could she photograph Alabama?
I’ve been teaching Lucy photography, and she’s been developing a real interest in it. The idea of her photographing her first concert, especially one featuring Alabama in a sold-out arena, was incredibly appealing.
But I also knew I had been given an extraordinary amount of access and hospitality already, and I wasn’t about to push my luck by bringing her into the pit.
Instead, we came up with a compromise.
I handed her one of my cameras and let her photograph the performance from Front of House while I returned to the pit for my three songs.
And just like that, we were both working the same show.
A Father-Daughter Moment Worth More Than the Photographs
As Alabama took the stage, I found myself doing what I’ve done countless times throughout my career: watching the lights, anticipating movements, adjusting settings, and trying to capture those split-second moments that tell the story of a performance.
But this time, I knew my daughter was doing the same thing from the other end of the arena.
There’s something incredibly rewarding about sharing your passion with your children. I’ve spent decades in recording studios, behind mixing consoles, and photographing performances, but watching Lucy begin to discover her own interest in this world added an entirely different dimension to the evening.
After my three songs were finished, I made my way back to Front of House, collected Lucy, and decided to take her up to the upper deck.
From there, we were able to capture some fantastic overhead perspectives of the stage and the crowd. It was a great opportunity to show her how changing your position can completely transform a photograph.
The lighting, the stage, the audience, and the overall scale of the production looked entirely different from above.
And there we were, father and daughter, cameras in hand, photographing one of the most influential bands in country music history.
I’ve had some remarkable experiences throughout my career, but that one will stay with me for a long time.
A Band That Knows Exactly Who It Is
Eventually, we returned to Front of House to enjoy the remainder of Alabama’s performance.
And I have to say, the longer the show went on, the more impressed I became.
Alabama has one of those catalogs where you almost forget just how many hits they have until you hear them one after another. Their music has been woven into country radio for decades, and the familiarity of those songs creates an immediate connection between the performers and the audience.
But a collection of great songs doesn’t automatically translate into a great live performance.
You still need musicians who can deliver.
Fortunately, Alabama has no shortage of those.
The band sounded fantastic. The arrangements were tight, the musicianship was first-rate, and the entire performance had the kind of confidence that comes from years of experience.
Behind the drums was Tommy Harden, someone I’ve had the pleasure of working with several times in the studio. Watching a familiar musician perform in a different environment is always enjoyable, especially when you already know what they’re capable of.
Tommy and the rest of the band delivered an outstanding performance, providing the rhythmic foundation and musical precision that allowed the songs to shine.
And from my position near Tony Cottrill at Front of House, I had an especially good opportunity to appreciate the sound.
Having spent much of my own career behind a mixing console, I know firsthand how much work goes into making an arena show sound the way it should. It’s a job that requires technical skill, musical instinct, and the ability to make a thousand decisions without anyone in the audience realizing you’re making them.
Tony had everything under control, and the result was a powerful, balanced performance that let the music speak for itself.
As the hits continued, the crowd responded with the kind of enthusiasm you would expect from an audience that had grown up with these songs.
There was something refreshing about watching a band whose reputation has already been cemented in music history simply go out and do what they do best.
No need to reinvent themselves. No need to chase whatever happens to be popular this week.
Just great songs, great musicians, and a connection with the audience that has taken decades to build.
The Perfect Ending to an Unplanned Night
Somewhere during Alabama’s set, Valen finally ran out of steam.
After all the excitement, the walking, the dancing, and the emotional roller coaster of missing her mother, she eventually fell asleep in my arms.
So there I was, standing near Front of House, listening to Alabama perform, holding my sleeping four-year-old daughter.
Not exactly how I pictured the evening when I first accepted the invitation, but I wouldn’t have changed it.
Once Alabama finished their performance and left the stage, Tony invited us backstage so I could take a few photographs of him and his guests.
It was a nice way to wrap up the night, catching up with friends and documenting a few final memories before heading home.
Looking back, what stands out most isn’t necessarily one particular song or photograph.
It’s the entire experience.
Seeing The Oak Ridge Boys perform with the same passion that has carried them through decades of country music history. Watching Alabama deliver a performance worthy of their legendary reputation. Spending time with Scotty, Tony, William Lee Golden, and Tommy Harden. Meeting new people who share the same appreciation for music.
And, perhaps most importantly, getting to share the experience with my daughters.
Lucy had the opportunity to photograph her first arena concert, and I had the opportunity to watch her take another step toward developing a skill and passion of her own. Valen got to dance, explore, take a few pictures, and eventually fall asleep listening to some of the most recognizable music in country history.
Not a bad Sunday night.
Final Thoughts
Alabama and The Oak Ridge Boys delivered exactly what a night featuring two legendary country music groups should deliver: exceptional musicianship, timeless songs, and a reminder of why these artists have remained relevant for so many decades.
The Oak Ridge Boys proved that age is little more than a number when you still have the passion to entertain. Alabama demonstrated that a great catalog, paired with outstanding musicianship, can still fill an arena and keep an audience engaged from beginning to end.
But for me, this concert will always be remembered for something beyond the stage.
It was a night of friendship, generosity, family, and the kind of unexpected moments that remind me why I still love doing this after all these years.
A special thank you to Tony Cottrill and Scotty Simpson for their friendship, hospitality, and generosity. Without them, none of this would have happened.
And to Lucy, I hope this is the first of many concerts we get to photograph together.
Funny how things work out.
I almost didn’t make it to this show.
Turns out, it was exactly where I needed to be.
Every Show Has a Story. This one just happened to be ours.
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