CMA Music Week kicked off with a bang as Darius Rucker hosted his 9^th Annual “Darius and Friends” benefit concert at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.  The sold out benefit was chalked full of surprises as it raised money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  The “Darius and Friends” shows have raised more than $1 million for St. Jude.

The show, which advertised performances by Darius Rucker, Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Bobby Bones, Ashley McBride, and Rachel Wammack, also had several great surprise appearances throughout the night that included performances by Backstreet Boy’s A.J. MacLean, Edwin McCain and superstar Brad Paisley.  The show, which was backed by Rucker’s band, brought out the artists throughout the night to perform 2-3 songs each, in between Rucker’s performances. 

Some of the great highlights was Lauren Alaina’s performance of “What If,” her hit song that she recorded with Kane Brown, which electrified the crowd. Bobby Bones performed his song, “I want Chick-fil-a, but it’s Sunday” and brought Rucker out on stage to perform with him the Beastie Boy’s hit, “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!).”  

Newcomer Rachel Wammack was a pleasant surprise as she made her debut at the historic Ryman Auditorium.  She performed songs from her debut RCA Record’s Nashville EP.  Her voice was great and we are definitely looking for big things from her in the coming years.

Backstreet Boy AJ McLean, who’s debuting a country record this week, first took things back to 1999 with his solo rendition of the boy band’s “I Want It That Way.” His first single, “Back Porch Bottle Service,” dropped on Monday night, ahead of his “Backyard Party” launch event in Nashville, on Tuesday.  Afterwards Singer-songwriter Edwin McCain performed his hit, “I’ll Be,” as well as covers of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” and Seal’s “Crazy.”

McBryde’s performance of Cyndi Lauper’s ballad. “Time After Time,” was one of the highlights of the night.  Another great moment was when Brad Paisley, the night’s surprise guest, turned in an epic guitar solo when he and Rucker teamed up for Prince’s “Purple Rain,” which earned a standing ovation from the capacity crowd.  Paisley told Rucker during the show, “We are so lucky that you decided to bail on pop music.”

Rucker’s two-song encore, which included “Only Wanna Be with You,” from his days with Hootie and the Blowfish, and “Wagon Wheel,” brought the crowd to its feet.

It was a great night of music and all for an amazing cause raising lots of money for St. Jude’s.

For more photos from Darius and Friends, please click here.