Even with icy trees, snow-covered streets and rigid temperatures taking over Lexington, the show must go on. And go on it did. Spending three hours in traffic just to get here, Rascal Flatts finally arrived at Rupp Arena for their fifth show back on tour since the holidays.

Strutting to center stage in her boots, Jessica Simpson kicked off Friday’s Rascal Flatts’ concert with a more tender, heart-felt side of her that some attendees were not use to.

Going from “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’” to “Still Beautiful,” Simpson introduced the next song in her set by talking about her highly publicized relationship with the Dallas Cowboys leading quarterback, Tony Romo.

“I like to write about the buttheads, but I also like to write about the good ones,” Simpson told the audience as she introduced the next song, which she wrote for her man, “You’re My Sunday.”

After talking about her past, growing up in a religious family and being in an abusive relationship, Simpson couldn’t get away totally unscathed. About a minute into “Come on over,” she had the band stop because she forgot the words to the song.

“I forget the words I actually write,” Simpson said. “I am a nerd; I do it all the time.”

After a few tries, Simpson finished the song with a smile on her face as she prepared for her closing song, “Do You Know,” wrote by Dolly Parton who just so happened to make a guest appearance in the studio, recording the track with Simpson for her pop to country transition CD, “Do You Know.”

As Simpson gave a final bow, the crowd, which slowly made their way in, was ready, sitting in anticipation for the show they had trucked through snow and ice to see. After a 30-minute break, the stage was set, the fireworks ready and as the comet made its way to Lexington, landing with a bang in Rupp Arena, the crowd went wild.

With different pictures, designs and images flashing on the enormous screens behind them, Rascal Flatts had prepared, by far, one of the best concerts of all time.

“Kentucky, you have no idea what’s fixing to happen,” said lead singer Gary LeVox who later took a breather back stage as guitar player Joe Don Rooney showed off his skill by having what some would see as a battle with the Flatts’ fiddle player. Of course, if it was a battle, Joe Don won with all the girls in the audience holding out their hands hoping for just a brief touch.

The Flatts went on to perform “Life Is A Highway,” “Love You Out Loud,” “Every Day” and “Stand,” but what was different than most concerts – the boys have completely mastered the art of interacting with the audience.

First their was bass player Jay DeMarcus, who got the audience warmed up saying there is nothing better than partying with all the pretty “rednecks” from Kentucky, and party they did.

With the sound system blasting out song after song from past albums, and their more recent album, “Still Feels Good,” there were moments when it would have seemed that the microphones needed to be turned up. During most of the songs, the audience could be heard singing just as loud as the singers, with a few even getting the opportunity to put their vocals chords to good use as LeVox made his way around the rectangular stage finding what DeMarcus referred to as the “pretty girls.”

After a few more songs the audience got the chance to see a more comical side of DeMarcus as he came out with a towel. Yes, a towel. It may have been full of sweat, but no one minded as he went on to perform 10-minute comedy routine about girls in short skirts, which was fitting seeing as many girls were braving the freezing weather Friday in skirts and cowboy boots.

Of course the audience enjoyed the songs the band played together, but what seemed to get a few extra screams from fans was Joe Don as he told the audience to look past the obstacles in their way and sing with him in his solo performance of “I Movin’ On.” Following Joe Don was DeMarcus’ piano performance of “Sarah Beth.”

As “Feels Like Today” and “Fast Cars And Freedom” filled the packed stands of Rupp Arena, Joe Don and DeMarcus decided to clean their band mate up a little. Coming up behind LeVox as he sang “Bless the Broken Road,” DeMarcus started patting at him with a towel wiping the many beads of sweat from his head as Joe Don gave him a few good, massage-like squeezes on the shoulder.

With the band preparing to end the evening, the Flatts sang “Here’s To You,” which gave the audience the impression that the show was over. Some in the arena started to clear out, hoping to beat some of the crazy, end-of-the-show traffic. But for the hardcore fans who remembered the name of the tour, they knew the show wasn’t over and waited as the band come back to close the evening with an amazing performance of “Bob That Head.”

As balloons fell in Rupp Arena, Kentuckians kept bobbing their heads and waving their hands along with the music. Now, with the concert over, Rascal Flatts are back on the bus heading to a new town. But no one will forget that “redneck” party that went down at Rupp last night. Keep bobbing that head until April 7, when their latest album, “Unstoppable” hits stores, which ultimately leads to another tour and maybe, if we are lucky, another stop in Lexington.

Guest Blogged by: Kelly Wiley