ATHENS, Ala. — Country singer Keith Stedelijk gave only a few hours’ notice that he would perform a free concert Friday night in the parking lot of a major grocery store and gas station in northern Alabama.
Hundreds of people showed up for the show in Athens, about 100 miles (161 kilometers) south of Nashville, outside a Buc-ee’s, a chain of roadside stores known for barbecue.
“I came to this Buc-ee’s about a month ago. And when I left, I said, ‘It would be fun to do a show there,’” Urban told the audience at the concert, according to an Instagram video posted by WAFF-TV in Huntsville, Alabama.
Urban said his “caveman brain” told him it would be fun to set up a small stage for a small audience.
“I swear to you, I thought maybe 100, 200 people,” Urban said as video showed a larger crowd.
News sources reported that people had been gathering for hours before the show.
“I was at work and we heard on the radio that there was going to be a surprise concert at Buc-ee’s in Athens,” Cindy Wilson said FOX 54 WZDX-TV in Huntsville. “And I thought, ‘Oh my God, it’s on the way home.’ And it’s 15 minutes from my house. So I couldn’t believe it.”
While working in the store, Urban also worked behind the counter. A video The photo shows him wearing a Buc-ee’s T-shirt and apron as he poured barbecue sauce over a piece of brisket and cut the meat into smaller pieces.