I love Benson Boone, and last night proved why. His voice, his fashion, his humility, his humor, his way of commanding an arena — every part of him resonates with me.
The American Heart Tour is Benson Boone’s first all-arena headlining trek, and Music City embraced him and gave him its all. The tour supports Boone’s second studio album American Heart, and spans 50 shows across North America and Europe, marking another milestone in his meteoric rise.
Opening the night was Elliot James Reay, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter from Bury, England. With a voice that feels plucked out of the 1950s but dressed for a modern audience, Reay bridges the gap between doo-wop nostalgia and today’s pop. His velvety tone, vintage style, and playful charisma made for the perfect warm-up. Covers of Elvis and Roy Orbison blended seamlessly with his own material from All This To Say I Love You, proving why he’s quickly gained millions of followers online and a fanbase that spans generations. For Nashville, he was pure fun — a reminder of why rock ‘n’ roll never dies.
The stage stretched wide across the arena floor, designed like an infinity symbol, so no matter where you sat, you had a piece of Benson right in front of you. A massive screen lit up with a lighthearted, hilarious video of Benson promoting the tour — a wink at his self-deprecating humor. From there, the show never let up.
Act One opened with I Wanna Be the One You Call and Wanted Man. Spotlights cut across the infinity stage, while flashing lights and bold graphics wrapped the entire arena in color. By Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else, the emotion started to hit. Boone’s voice was soaring, flawless, and I screamed like my life depended on it. His band matched his fire — the bassist grooved, the guitarist shredded, and the drums carried a pulse that made the floor shake.
Man in Me and Drunk in My Mind turned up the heat, Benson flipping his hair and sprinting across the stage like a rock star possessed. On Slow It Down, the lights dimmed, the screen went soft, and Boone’s vulnerability filled the air. He spoke about what the song meant to him, visibly emotional, and the arena hung on every word. By the time Be Someone rolled in, we were no longer just an audience — we were his choir, shouting every lyric back.
Act Two brought the magic. Mystical Magical saw Benson lifted high on a chandelier, spinning above the crowd as confetti glittered down. It was breathtaking, surreal, and the screams around me were deafening. Then came yet another stunning moment: In the Stars. Sitting at a piano that rose on a platform at the edge of the infinity stage, Boone was lifted into the sky, surrounded by cosmic visuals on the giant screen. He looked like he was floating in the middle of the universe. Tears rolled down my face, and I wasn’t alone — I held hands with a stranger beside me, and this was magic.
The middle stretch kept spirits high. The mashup of Let Me Go / There She Goes / Sugar Sweet turned Bridgestone into a party, Young American Heart carried the tour’s spirit, and Mr. Electric Blue let his band shine again, all groove and grit.
Then came the intimate turn: Cover Me Up by Jason Isbell. A Nashville song, sung in Nashville, stripped and raw. Boone honored it with tenderness while still making it his own. Momma Song and Love of Mine followed, heartfelt and aching.
The final run was fireworks. Reminds Me of You and Beautiful Things shook the arena, confetti pouring like rain as fans jumped, sobbed, and sang until voices cracked. The visuals — dazzling lights, endless color — made the space feel infinite.
For the encore, Boone reemerged in that unforgettable red suit and wide-brimmed hat, glittering under the lights like the star he is. Cry closed the night, raw and cathartic, with red heart-shaped confetti bursting into the air one last time.
I screamed all night long. I laughed, I cried, I danced until I couldn’t breathe. Benson Boone is one of the greatest showmen of my time. Humble, funny, stylish, and so deeply connected to his fans, he gave us everything.
Stream American Heart. Go see this tour. Support the band that grooves behind him. Because nights like this don’t come around often, and if you miss it, you’ll wish you hadn’t.
