Tanya Tucker's 49th Birthday Bash at Tootsie's

The Totally Unofficial Tanya Tucker Fan Site

Concert Photos

Tanya's 49th Birthday Bash at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge - Nashville, TN

October 10, 2007

Photos may not be copied or used without permission from the photographer, Natalie (TN); The unembellished story by Alabama Dee

Wednesday night, October 10th, Tanya Tucker's 49th Birthday - Bobbie, Natalie and I (Alabama Dee) attended the '2007 Steve Cropper Classic' at the historic Ryman! Note: Cameras were not allowed, professional photographers only.

I had never been there before, but everything you've ever heard about the Ryman is absolutely TRUE!! There is a total 'reverence' about the building when you just stop and think of all the famous people who have performed there! What an awesome experience!!

The proceeds from the event went to the T. J. Martell Foundation which supports research for leukemia, cancer and AIDS.

The event was emceed by T.G. Sheppard and the performers included Steve Cropper, of course, Ray Benson of "Asleep At The Wheel" and T. Graham Brown who unfortunately had to cancel due to emergency dental surgery... I was sooooooo looking forward to seeing and hearing him perform again, but 'oh well....stuff happens"!

Other performers included "Sam the Sham" who you probably remember as "Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs" who put out the hits "Wooly Bully" and "Lil' Red Riding Hood"; Delbert McClinton (no explanation needed for Tanya Tucker fans here, we all LOVE Delbert); Gary Morris whose #1 hits included "Baby Bye Bye." "100% Chance of Rain", and "Leave Me Lonely" ... but he created his career with "Wind Beneath My Wings" which won Song of the Year honors from both CMA and ACM in 1984; the FANTASTIC Kim Carnes who sang two of her hits "Angel" and "Betty Davis Eyes" (Natalie was in hog heaven, she loooooves "Betty Davis Eyes"; Eddie Floyd who performs with Steve Cropper but is perhaps best known for his hit "Knock on Wood" and the song he wrote for Wilson Pickett, "635-5789" and Sam Cooke's hit "Bring It On Home To Me"; Con Hunley (who was fantastic); William Bell who is probably best know for his hit debut single "You Don't Miss Your Water" in 1961; B. B. Cunningham who co-wrote the hit "Let It All Hang Out" and currently plays bass for Jerry Lee Lewis; Wendy Moten who started her career with the Billboard hit ballad "Come in Out of the Rain" and is currently touring world-wide as a featured vocalist with Julio Iglesias.

Then there was Craig White, Rob Haynes, David Michael Santos, Randy Leago, Mark Beckett, Bob Britt, Mark Jordan, Roy Agee, Steve Hermman and Same Levine.

But the lady who brought the house down was none other than our very own.....TANYA TUCKER!!!!!! She came pouncing out on the stage just like she 'owned' it... she looked absolutely fabulous and sounded even better!! Her hair was long, her outfit totally awesome...black and sparkly ... and she was 'full of it'...it being her birthday and all...she was in rare form!!! I would say she sang..but that just doesn't do it justice.. she "PERFORMED"... 'Old Weakness", then her duet with Delbert McClinton..'Tell Me About It' and man, did they totally rock the Ryman!! Those two just have a chemistry that won't quit..and when they get on that stage together...it's AWESOME!!! They had the entire audience on their feet and a standing ovation!

After her duet with Delbert, Tanya thanked everybody and started to leave the stage when T.G. Sheppard asked her where she was going? Then he told her we had one more song for her and everybody came out on stage and the entire audience stood and sang her "Happy Birthday" as Presley, Grayson and Layla rolled out a birthday cake!!! She introduced her kids, then told Presley and Layla to grab a mic and Grayson to grab a guitar or a fishing pole...and she belted out "Delta Dawn"... and that brought the entire audience to their feet again and everyone sang along and gave her yet another standing ovation!!! It was totally awesome!!!

During the intermission, Natalie and I overheard several of the performers and most of the audience talking about how Tanya "rocked the house" and "brought the house down" so it wasn't just Natalie, Bobbie and I that thought so...everybody did!!!

After the intermission I got a phone call for us to get our TUTTFS butts back behind the Ryman, because Tanya was in her bus and getting ready to head over to her party at Tootsie's.

After a few minutes, TT came off her bus and was immediately swarmed with camera crews, photographers, and fans -- everyone bidding for her attention! I swear, I don't know how she does it..she seems to remember everyone, and is so nice and gracious to everybody!! It must take a very special person to put up with all that..I don't think I could, and thankfully will never have too!

Tanya stepped off that bus lookin' like a million bucks!!! She changed her hair style and outfit from her performance at the Steve Cropper gig...she was wearing black pants, a black halter top which displayed just enough cleavage to make the guys drool..LMAO..and a light black short/jacket over the halter top. I'm no fashion expert, so I may not be describing everything properly...but she had her hair up and she looked hot!! I'm quite sure ya'll will all agree. But not only did she look fabulous, she was totally at ease and enjoying every single minute of it!!! I guess you would call it.. "Basking in the moment"???

A camera crew was filming every single moment... (I think they were from CMT, but I don't know that for certain) and she stopped and did a short interview with them..I hope they air it. But I remember the guy asking Tanya what was the best thing she got for her birthday...she paused for a minute, then said very "matter of factly"..the best birthday gift she received was having all her family, friends and fans and thanked Laura Lacy for throwing her this fabulous party at Tootsies!!! Then he asked her what gifts she got and she raised her wrist and showed off her brand new Rolex watch...it was gorgeous. He asked her who gave it to her and she said, "I gave it to myself"...you go TT!!!

Somehow I managed to worm my way up to her before she got to Tootsie's and asked her to sign my cast..which she so graciously did and asked how I broke it..and of course I told her the truth....how we all went out after the Opry..got drunk and ended up at Tuckerville at 2 am trying to get a group picture of us standing on her rock wall by the front gate and I fell on my ass and broke my wrist...she laughed and said "OMG!"

Tanya finally made it into Tootsies. Natalie and I had to stop and get our passes and Laura Lacey went all out welcoming us and thanking us for coming and told us how much Tanya appreciates all we do for her on "The Totally Unofficial Tanya Tucker Fan Site"....what a great and dedicated group of fans we have at TUTTFS and how much they all love to read the site!! I told her I would most definitely pass that on to everyone at TUTTFS and especially to FL Dee, who actually does all the hard work and wasn't able to come and enjoy the party.

Then we went inside where we squeezed in tight as sardines...but NOBODY was complaining. Natalie managed to work her way to the front of the stage so she could get some good pictures. I stayed in the back and hit the buffet spread... and OMG ... What a spread it was!! There were finger sandwiches made with prime rib, two dips that were outstanding..one tasted like a crab dip...I loved it...the other was like a white spicy cheese dip and it was fantastic...I made a meal off those two and got a Margarita to go with it!! I tell ya, it just didn't get any better than that ... eating great food...surrounded by the nicest people you'd ever meet anywhere...drinking a margarita and watching TANYA TUCKER up on stage rockin' out and entertaining us all at her own birthday party!!!

Porter has rejoined Tanya's band after a three month vacation, Jack was there, her keyboard player, and I'm not sure who all else was there on stage with her. She asked for requests from the audience...and sang "Jamestown Ferry", "What's Your Mama's Name", "Would You Lay With Me", "Texas when I Die", and my request "Love Me Like You Used Too" just to name a few. Presley sang one song (Sorry, I can't remember the name of it) but she sounded and looked fabulous, then Layla sang "I'm Gonna Live Forever" (I swear that little firecracker is gonna carry on the family tradition) then Cali (LaCosta's daughter) sang a chilling rendition of Patsy Cline's "Crazy"...it was totally awesome, she's got the voice and the stage presence to be a star without a doubt!!!

Tanya was urging everyone and anyone to get up onstage and sing and quite a few did, I'm not sure what all their names were, sorry, but I was in awe of the entire experience and on "information overload"..LMAO!!! Quite a few people got onstage and danced...Nancy (TT's friend from Tuckerville) got onstage and did her "bootie dance"...she was absolutely hilarious!!!

Then LaCosta presented Tanya with another birthday gift...a huge blue turquoise and diamond ring that was absolutely gorgeous!!

Tanya made her way back to her bus to take a break and freshen up. Natalie and I went outside to smoke and mingle...we talked to Laura Lacy and she introduced us to a whole slew of people. We asked her to pose for a picture with us for the fan site and she said she'd be 'honored'... and introduced us to Betty Prince (who just opened up "Mama's Country Dance Club" in Lewisburg, TN - phone # 615-359-7125 - ya'll be sure and check it out if you're ever close to Lewisburg) and Laura's friend, James Prince who owns 'Sweetea Records'. Now that's the kinda name of a record company I love, cause ya'll know how much I love sweet tea.

After that, we met the guy that made TT's birthday cakes, and yes, there were two of them...both white cake with white icing and Tanya's Logo on them outlined in hot pink and black! They were beautiful!!!

After about 10 or 15 minutes Tanya returned to the party, she had changed clothes again. This time she had on a black skirt and knee high boots with a brown/black top that was waaaaaaaaayyyyy off her shoulders. Needless to say, she looked fabulous again!!! She sure knows how to make the most of her "assets"...LMFAO!!! If I looked like her... I would too!!!

Then Tanya went over behind the birthday cake with all the candles on it, and no I didn't count them...We all sang "Happy Birthday" to Tanya and she took awhile and made a wish..then proceeded to blow out the candles! But Laura Lacy pulled a fast one on her and they were the candles that keep re-igniting after you blow them out...Tanya made some hilarious faces and Layla and Presley finally helped her blow them all out!!!

I asked Tanya if she would mind posing with Natalie and I with her birthday cake for the fan site and she said "absolutely"!! Natalie wanted her to do a crazy pose with her, and it was funny, neither one knew what the other was going to do but they both ended up making the same face!! Way too funny!!! Then she cut the first couple of pieces of cake, and she, Presley and Layla started eating their pieces, meanwhile, the guy that made the cakes, sorry, I can't remember his name (I suffer from CRS) but he was really cute and one of the nicest people I've ever met...not to mention that the cake was scrumptious!!!

As Tanya was leaving the party...with the camera crew leading the way..(It's amazing how those camera guys learn to walk backwards) I asked her if she would pose for one more picture with Bobbie, Natalie and I with her for the fan site and she said "sure"! After the picture she turned around and said to be sure and tell FL Dee and everyone of the fans at TUTTFS how very much she appreciates all the work we do and how much she loves the fan site!! And I promised her I would do that...so I've just done it!!! LOL

After Tanya left the party and finally made her way back to her bus, Bobbie, Natalie and I stayed around and mingled awhile. We met Wayne's friend from Atlanta, Jason - and he is a super nice guy and went on and on about how much he loves our fan site! We also saw Jim and Virginia, and just everybody there were super nice, fantastic people! We also each got a piece of birthday cake to take home with us.

We hung around for another drink or two chit-chatting...then as we started to leave I went up to Laura Lacy and thanked her again for letting us attend and what a fabulous party it was!! And IT WAS!!! It was truly one of the highights of my life and I'm quite sure Natalie feels the same way. The only sad part was that FL Dee and all the rest of ya'll couldn't be there too!! But if we can get enough people to come to Fan Fair this year, MAYBE we can get Tanya to have a "TANYA TUCKER FAN CLUB PARTY"!!!

P.S. I ate my piece of cake that night before I went to bed, but Natalie wrapped hers all up and put it in the fridge. I got up really early Friday morning, about 2 or 3 a.m. and saw that it was still in the fridge and she hadn't eaten it yet...so I ate it ALL!!! Now she is so freakin' mad at me she can't see straight! I told her I thought she wasn't gonna eat it, but Natalie said she was savoring it for just the right moment!! She has sworn revenge on me...LMFAO!!! Ohhhhhh....what an AMAZING NIGHT WE HAD AT THE PARTY!!!

CAN'T WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR...FOR TANYA'S 50th!!!

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