Photos: Country Thunder
Country Thunder 2012 in Florence. Photos by Lisa Sullivan and Cathalena E. Burch
Country Thunder: Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton at Country Thunder
Country Thunder: Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton, Country Thunder
Country Thunder: Fan shot
Country Thunder: Fan shot
Country Thunder: Keifer Thompson
Country Thunder: Shawna Thompson
Country Thunder: Neal McCoy
Country Thunder: Blake Shelton
Country Thunder: Joe Nichols
Shelton in the spotlight
Blake Shelton made his headlining debut at Country Thunder Saturday night. Also on Saturday's lineup: Neal McCoy, Joe Nichols and Thompson Square. Some images from a night with 21,000 country fans.
Bentley caught in the spotlight
Arizona native Bentley had the crowd hopping.
Dierks Bentley
The Arizona native revels in playing for a hometown crowd, like this one at Country Thunder in 2012. Today he plays at his namesake club in Scottsdale.
Sure, I'll sign that
Eli Young Band frontman Mike Eli reaches over and signs a fan's cowboy hat without missing a beat.
Country Thunder
Kellie Pickler performs.
On the Rascal Flatts tour
Mike Eli, frontman of the Eli Young Band, performs at Country Thunder. His band is on tour with Rascal Flatts.
Morgan and Bentley whip up a country storm
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Country Thunder
Fans crowd the Kiim 99.5 FM tent to enter a drawing for a chance to sit onstage during Kellie Pickler's sniper Friday afternoon.
Country Thunder
Kellie Pickler performs.
Appreciating the fans
John Rich signs autographs during his and Big Kenny Alphin's triumphant return to Country Thunder.
Toasting a country music
John Rich offered fans a drink of Crown during his show.
Bonding with the fans
Shelton spent a bit of time Saturday night signing hats thrust at him from fans.
Thompson Square
The husband and wife duo of Keifer and Shawna Thompson were a hit the first time they played Country Thunder in 2012.
Alan Jackson
Veteran singer returns to Casino del Sol's AVA next Thursday and you could win free tickets.
'I'm A Country Boy'
Jackson's show to close the 2012 Country Thunder festival on Sunday surveyed his 20-plus-year career.
Hats off to emergin talent
Kellie Pickler's solid show was a highlight of the four-day Country Thunder weekend.
Phil Vassar
A favorite at Country Thunder, Vassar, performing at Country Thunder two years ago, is often called Nashville's Billy Joel.
Center of attention
Vassar found himself with tons of fans at his feet during his show Sunday.
FLORENCE - On a day when country music's past - Sawyer Brown - shook hands with its present - Kellie Pickler - the genre's future was playing …
FLORENCE — Blake Shelton looked out in utter disbelief at the audience at Country Thunder Saturday night.
FLORENCE - Country Thunder has long billed itself as a family event, but take a look around this year's event and another picture emerges: spr…
FLORENCE - Here are some fun facts from Country Thunder 2012: