Charleston doesn’t usually feel like the center of the music world, but on Friday, September 12, it really did. The drive to Credit One Stadium was buzzing with excitement. Car radios blasted country hits, fans laughed, and debated which song Megan Moroney would open with first. By the time I arrived, the stadium loomed large under the late afternoon sky, its steel and glass reflecting the soft oranges and pinks of a Charleston “fake fall” sunset. The air was crisp and fresh. Lines of fans wound around the entrances, clutching glittery signs, cowboy boots clacking on the pavement, and phones out to capture the first glimpses of what promised to be a special night.
The crowd was a colorful mix of people, mostly girls between 13 and 25. Families strolled in with toddlers in cowboy boots, some clinging to parents’ hands and wiggling in excitement. Groups of college students in sparkly tops squealed and took selfies, while couples leaned on each other, swaying and holding hands as the excitement built. Even before the first notes were played, you could feel a collective energy, a buzz that connected everyone under the stadium lights.
By the time Kasey Tyndall came on as the opening act, the stadium was packed to the brim. Her set had the crowd moving and singing along, setting the stage for Megan Moroney. Megan’s rise in the country music scene has been quick. With her debut album Am I Okay?, she has built a following of devoted fans who resonate with her heartfelt lyrics and catchy melodies. Seeing her live was not just about the music. It was about witnessing a young artist taking a massive step forward, commanding a stage that could have easily felt too big for someone so new. Megan owned it effortlessly.
The moment Megan walked on stage, the crowd erupted. She opened with “Man on the Moon” and immediately had everyone on her side. All 10,000 fans screamed, jumped, and waved their hands in unison, a wave of excitement that nearly shook the stadium. She moved seamlessly into fan favorites from her album, including “Indifferent” and “I Know You.” Each song had its own energy. Some were upbeat and danceable. Others pulled at your heart. The crowd was there for all of it, singing along word for word.
One of the most electric moments of the night came during “I’m Not Pretty.” As the opening chords hit, the stadium felt alive in a way that is hard to describe. Every single girl in the audience was shouting the lyrics. Some had tears in their eyes. Some held up phones to capture the moment. You could feel the vibrations of the screams in your chest. It was a physical reminder of how music can connect people. It was more than a performance. It was a shared experience. Everyone was connected, sharing a feeling too big to put into words.
Later, the pace slowed with songs like “Hell of a Show” and “28th of June.” These were not the flashy, chart-topping hits, but every person in the stadium knew every line. These quieter moments showcased Megan’s raw emotion, giving fans a glimpse into her personal storytelling. Watching her perform those songs felt intimate, like being let into her world for a little while, experiencing the highs and lows she sings about.
Watching her perform those songs felt intimate, like being let into her world for a little while, experiencing the highs and lows she sings about.
Then came the surprises. Halfway through the set, Megan asked the audience to “please make some noise for the King of No-Shoes, Mr. Kenny Chesney.” The crowd went wild before he even stepped on stage. Megan explained that Kenny had surprised her just five minutes before her set. Together, they performed their collaboration “You Had to Be There” and the energy in the stadium soared to a new level. Seeing a legend like Kenny Chesney sharing the stage with Megan Moroney was a reminder of how far she has come and a hint of where she is headed.
The most beautiful moment of the night came when Megan debuted an unreleased song called “Beautiful Things.” She shared the story behind it: “I just don’t want anything sad to happen to her, or inevitably one day she is gonna get older or inevitably she’s gonna get her heart broken one day and I literally in crazy auntie mode said I have to write her a song so she never has a bad day.” For the first time all night, the crowd went silent. Nobody knew the words, but we swayed, listened closely, and felt like we were being let in on a private secret. It was a powerful reminder that concerts are not just about entertainment. They are about moments that cannot be recreated.
After that, the energy picked up again as Megan led the crowd into the final songs. She closed the main set with “I’ll Be Fine,” a slower track reflecting on life’s challenges but affirming the resilience to move forward. As the final notes rang out, the crowd erupted into chants. “Megan, Megan, Megan, Megan.” The stadium shook with anticipation for an encore.
Megan returned one last time wearing a sparkly jersey dress with the number 97 on the back, a nod to her birth year. She ran across the stage filled with energy and performed “Am I Okay?,” the title track of her album. Some fans had already left to beat the traffic, but that only made more room for the rest of us to jump, dance, and sing. By the end, it felt like we had been on a journey with her. We laughed, screamed, and shared every feeling from heartbreak to joy.
Walking out of Credit One Stadium, the energy lingered. Friends recounted their favorite moments. Couples laughed as they recounted shared memories. Charleston may not usually feel like the center of music, but for one unforgettable evening, it truly was. Megan Moroney gave more than a concert. She gave a night that everyone in that stadium will remember forever. A night filled with music, emotion, surprises, and the feeling of being part of something bigger than ourselves.
