Oliver Anthony made his first appearance in Music City for the 63rd annual Birthday Bash on Sunday (September 17), and the streets were packed with people waiting to see him.
Oliver Anthony was one of several acts in the lineup for the block party that occupies nearly all of Nashville’s Lower Broadway. Randy Hauser, Jamey Johnson, Lee Brice, and Colt Ford were among the other artists who performed at the free show.
But, it was Oliver Anthony who appeared to get the crowd fired up. Video captured by fans in attendance show the street packed with fans standing shoulder to shoulder. As Oliver sang his breakout hit, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” with Jamey Johnson and a full band, he crowd enthusiastically sang along.
Online reaction to Anthony’s performance was nothing less than positive. Everyone agreed that he did not disappoint.
Oliver Anthony, whose real name is Christopher Anthony Lunsford, shook the music world with the video release of his self-penned song, “Rich Men North of Richmond” in early August.
RELATED: OLIVER ANTHONY IS MARRIED WITH CHILDREN!
The song quickly became an anthem for blue collar workers and those against the current state of politics. Country music fans embraced the tune, sending it to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart and making it the only song to do so without any previous chart history.
The song also became the first by a solo male artist to sit atop both the Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts simultaneously in its debut week.
In the weeks following the release of “Rich Men North of Richmond,” Oliver Anthony reportedly turned down multi-million dollar offers from record labels, instead choosing to stay independent and in complete control of his career. Appearances by the singer have been in high demand with the few ticketed concerts he has performed selling out. So, it’s no surprise that Anthony’s appearance in Nashville was a huge hit.
Watch Oliver Anthony sing “Rich Men North of Richmond” in Nashville in the video below.