Tippin takes the stage

Country music fans packed the stands at the Liberty High School football field in Mountain View Friday night for the first Give Back Summer event featuring Aaron Tippin. Mountain View’s own Levi Moore and Billy Randolph were supporting artists, warming up the crowd ahead of the show. 

“It feels surreal to be here at all opening for Aaron Tippin,” said Mountain View graduate Levi Moore. “I played football on this field so it’s neat to back out here to play some country music.”

With community support in purchasing tickets and VIP packages, the first-time event drew a few hundred for a night of live music and food trucks.  All proceeds from ticket sales were to benefit The Agape House, CareCenter Ministries, the Mountain View Youth Athletic Association and the Mountain View Family Youth Center.

“This was the first annual event and I bet you the second annual will be even bigger because you guys nailed it. This has been a fun night,” Tippin said. “Everyone came out to support the community and that’s exactly where it has to start. We like it up here in Missouri and you can see how folks all come together to better your own community. I think that’s wonderful.”

With a career spanning three decades in country music and still going strong, Tippin has earned six gold albums and one platinum. With more than 30 singles, he played over an hour of hits including “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” “My Blue Angel,” “There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with the Radio,” “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” and more.

“Out of all my songs, the ones I wrote with my wife, Thea, are the most special. My latest song “He Believed,” is one we wrote together about my dad,” he explained. “That’s my favorite to play.”

Tippin claims he’s the luckiest hillbilly that ever lived, and marrying Thea shows it. He told the crowd as he introduced his first song of the encore, “I’ve been struck by lightning twice, I’ve crashed two airplanes… and when you get up in age you realize you’re not invincible. There’s a higher power in charge of everything that happens. I feel lucky to be here and I’m glad “God’s Not Through With Me Yet.””

Thea and the couple’s son, Tom Tippin, also travel with Tippin and join him onstage. 

“It’s awesome having Tom out with us and he’s got a whole career of his own too,” Tippin beamed. “Tomtippin.com is where you can find his stuff.”

“I’ve been playing with my dad for my whole life. I remember being three years old and up on stage singing with him,” Tom said. “I’m absolutely just cherishing this time that I have touring with him.”

Tom’s recent EP, “Wasted Melodies” is now streaming on all platforms. 

To end the evening, Tippin, with Tom on guitar and Thea singing background vocals, played the hit song the couple co-wrote, “Kiss This.”

Tippin and his wife also just released a new Ready to Rock American Riesling with Stonehaus Winery out of Crossville, Tenn., which is available online. They invite anyone traveling through Tennessee to stop by for beautiful views and free tastings.

“This is definitely my part of the country… it’s Aaron Tippin territory,” he added. “I’ve played here a lot and people I've known for over 30 years came out to be here tonight. It's just like seeing old friends… kind of feels like coming home.”