May 9, 2026 – Stir Cove – Council Bluffs, IA
Saturday night, May 9, 2026, was the perfect night for country music in Council Bluffs, Iowa, as Jo Dee Messina kicked off the Stir Cove summer concert series. The weather was beautiful, the energy was high, and thousands of fans came out to celebrate the first night of another summer of live music at Stir Cove.
The night started with Alexandra Kay, and she was a fantastic choice to open the show. Kay is a country singer-songwriter from Waterloo, Illinois, who built a strong following by sharing covers of 90s country songs on social media. That online buzz helped launch her career in a big way, eventually leading to her Grand Ole Opry debut in 2022.
She self-released her debut album, All I’ve Ever Known, in 2023, and in 2025 she signed with Wheelhouse Records. Her second album, Second Wind, was released later that year, and her single “Straight for the Heart” made its way into the top 40 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.
Kay looked and sounded great on the Stir Cove stage. She has a really smooth voice that fits perfectly with modern country while still carrying some of that classic 90s influence that helped her build her fanbase in the first place. She currently has over 825 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, and her latest single, “All I Really Want,” is definitely worth adding to your soft country playlist. It was a great way to kick off the show.
After a brief intermission, it was time for Jo Dee Messina, and the second she took the stage, the crowd showed her a lot of love.
Messina has been a major name in country music since her 1996 debut single, “Heads Carolina, Tails California.” Over the years, she has charted six number-one singles on the Billboard country charts, released multiple gold and platinum-certified albums, and sold more than 5 million records worldwide. Her second album, I’m Alright, was a huge moment in her career, producing five top-10 country hits and selling more than a million copies in the United States.
Her accomplishments speak for themselves. Messina has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, including Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “That’s The Way” and Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “Bring On the Rain” with Tim McGraw. She has also won an Academy of Country Music Award, a Country Music Association Award, multiple Billboard Magazine honors, and three Boston Music Awards. In 1998, she won ACM Top New Female Vocalist, and in 1999, she won the CMA Horizon Award.
Seeing her live made it clear why her music has connected with fans for so many years. She looked and sounded great, and her voice still has that same power and personality that made songs like “Bye, Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Lesson in Leavin’,” and “Heads Carolina, Tails California” country radio staples.
One of the biggest highlights for me was when she performed a cover of Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles.” It was unexpected, fun, and the crowd absolutely loved it. She also worked in a really cool medley of songs from the 80s, which added a nice surprise to the set and showed off her range as a performer.
The whole night had the feeling of a perfect summer concert. Great weather, a packed crowd, and an artist who knows exactly how to entertain an audience. Alexandra Kay was a strong opener, and Jo Dee Messina delivered a show full of nostalgia, energy, and great country music.
Stir Cove picked a great artist to kick off the summer concert series. If you have the chance to see Jo Dee Messina live, make sure you do.
Jo Dee Messina Setlist:
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