Stagecoach 2022: Country legend Tanya Tucker pumps up the crowd, FaceTimes Brandi Carlile during set

Country legend Tanya Tucker couldn't believe that thousands of Stagecoach country music festival attendees decided to come to her set on Friday night, but the constant roars from the crowd should have been proof enough to prove their devotion.

Tucker has had a decades-long career since she started singing at age 13. During her 50-year career, she has earned a number of top 10 hits and award nominations. She released her first album, "Delta Dawn," in 1972, and had added more than two dozen since then.

Her Friday night set at the Palomino tent was a showcase of her hits that made people of all ages dance and sing along.

Tucker opened the show with "Some Kind of Trouble" and came out looking like a cool rocker chick with her blonde hair, black T-shirt and black vest with gold studs. She leaned into her sultry singing voice that also had confident rocker vibes to it. 

"Thanks for hanging in with me for so many years," Tucker said to the crowd before moving into her 1993 hit "Hangin' In." She is a two-time Grammy Award winning artist for best country album "While I'm Livin'" and best country song "Bring My Flowers Now."

Any time the singer addressed the audience or busted out a few dance moves, attendees would scream at the top of their lungs, showing Tucker just how much they wanted to hang out with her on Friday. At one point during her set, Tucker took a shot of her Cosa Salvaje brand tequila, and even gave a shot to a lucky fan.

Among those in the crowd was "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" host Guy Fieri, who is hosting his Guy Fieri's Stagecoach Smokehouse barbecue event at the festival site throughout the weekend.

Another famous face who joined the show, albeit virtually, was Brandi Carlile, who just days earlier had to cancel her planned Stagecoach set due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. The crowd cheered loudly for the country superstar, who has earned six Grammy Awards, and Tucker said she was dedicating her show to Carlile. During the FaceTime call, Tucker called Carlile — who is her friend and frequent collaborator —  her "hero" and "the greatest female singer who ever walked the Earth." Tucker even started singing a few verses from Carlile's song "That Wasn't Me."

Carlile could be heard saying: "I love you all so much, and I miss you. Thank you so much for saying hello to me, you made my whole day."

Another songwriter she paid tribute to was Paul Davis, who co-wrote the song "Love Me Like You Used To" with Bobby Emmons. The song was first recorded by Johnny Cash in 1985 before Tucker recorded it as the title track from her 1987 album "Love Me Like You Used To." She said Davis was one of her favorite songwriters before diving into the song that made everyone in the audience sway back and forth. 

Throughout her set, Tucker was appreciative of the fans who stopped by to watch her, and who supported her throughout her 50-year career, including getting her several No. 1 records. Throughout the 1970s, Tucker reached six No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

One of those hits was 1975's "San Antonio Stroll." Tucker was joined by violinists and guitarists on stage, who later showed off their boots in a kickline. 

"I can't believe I'm still doing this," Tucker said afterward. 

But as she's on a multi-city tour throughout the country and Canada, she better believe it. And it doesn't seem like she's going away any time soon.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasi