Hallie Walker
Shania Twain rises out of a box in the crowd to open her Queen of Me concert at PNC Arena on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Twain performed a fan inclusive concert that included bringing multiple fans on stage throughout the show.
Mother-daughter duos, couples, friend groups and fans of all ages donned glitter, fringe and light-up cowboy hats to watch country-pop star Shania Twain shine at PNC Arena.
Twain’s interactions with fans during the set and her lively stage performance made the show — which marked her fourth stop on the second leg of her 2023 “Queen of Me” tour, her first tour in nearly five years — memorable.
“I could meet you guys all night,” Twain said. “I’m having so much fun. It’s my favorite thing to do, is meet you guys.”
And meet her fans Twain did. She brought over a dozen crowd members on stage throughout the night to take pictures together, sing fan-favorite deep cuts and even do a gender reveal.
One fan she brought on stage told Twain his first concert at age three was hers, and together, the two belted the lyrics to his favorite song, “You Win My Love” into the microphone, which she said she hasn’t performed in a while.
While she took a moment to momentarily pare down her performance on a stool with her guitar, Twain riffed what she called “cool anthem” for the City of Oaks, which she led the crowd in singing several times: “Raleigh, North Carolina, I’m glad to find you here tonight/You are in my heart, you’ll be in my soul/Raleigh, North Carolina, I’m home.”
Twain opened the show at 8:30 p.m. with “Waking up Dreaming,” the third track from her latest album “Queen of Me.” She surprised the audience by beginning her set in the crowd on the floor, and fans craned their necks and stood on chairs to see her as she navigated her way toward the stage.
After the opening song, the entire night felt like a camp Western rave party, with two backup dancers hypnotizing the crowd with their dance moves and tumbling tricks and inviting the audience to dance along.
“This party is just getting started,” Twain said. “We’re gonna party like there’s no tomorrow.”
Aside from a glistening metal motorcycle Twain appeared on early in the set, the stage design was minimal, but the screen display enhanced the upbeat, flashy energy. Behind Twain, neon cowboy boots floated through space, a horse and an alien scampered across the deck of a Western saloon, and at one point, an enormous “Parental Advisory” logo appeared — and then burst into flames.
Twain launched into “Nah!,” “She’s Not Just a Pretty Face,” “Waiter! Bring Me Water!,” “When” and “Thank You Baby! (For Makin’ Someday Come So Soon),” which she said she’s heard many requests for over the years and is having fun revisiting.
Throughout the show, Twain encouraged the crowd to sing along multiple times, and with an interactive version of “Honey, I’m Home,” she got different sections of the arena singing the word “honey” in a disharmonic but joyful tune.
After two hours of singing, dancing and meeting with fans on stage, Twain was not done rocking. She kept the energetic and eclectic vibe until what appeared to be the end, when she disappeared from the stage after performing “(If You’re Not in It for Love) I’m Outta Here!”
With a pitch black arena and band members and backup dancers leaving the main stage, tension hung in the air as the audience waited in hopes of Twain’s return. Once the leopard print visuals appeared on the screen, it was clear –– Twain was coming back for an encore.
And she did, dressed in the original outfit from the “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” music video, which was featured in “The Power of Women in Country Music” exhibit at the NC Museum of History earlier this year.
“I only got a chance to wear it once,” Twain said, explaining her outfit change. “So I said, ‘Okay, well, 25 years later, I resurrected her from the museum.’”
The crowd exploded into cheers as Twain began her encore with “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” followed by the most highly-anticipated song of the night, “Man! I Feel Like a Woman!”
During the encore, the packed arena was electric, and fans wearing light-up cowboy hats scattered throughout the venue made the view of the spirited audience even more exhilarating.
After her encore, Twain took a moment to thank the audience.
“What an awesome crowd,” Twain said. “I just want to say thank you so much for this welcome here in Raleigh. You guys are so beautiful.”