Stars Fell On ... Last night's Bama Rising concert brought almost 20 artists to Birmingham to raise money for disaster relief and, according to WDXB OM Tom Hanrahan, exceeded every expectation. "I've been doing this for 25 years and have been to a few concerts, but I've never seen anything like it," he tells Country Aircheck. "We all knew we were watching history. We will never see another lineup like this again." Alabama, Rodney Atkins, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, Martina McBride, David Nail, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker and Ashton Shepherd were among those playing two-song sets.

"The interesting part, from a spectator standpoint, was how it became a big experience for the artists to watch the other artists," Hanrahan says. "I was on the side of the stage much of the night, and it was amazing to see all the artists and their mutual admiration for everybody's talents. When the Commodores took the stage, everyone was up there watching.

"As the night progressed, the energy level just got better and better. When Paisley came out to close with Alabama at about 12:30, the place was at a fever pitch. The night ended with all the artists who hadn't had to leave singing 'My Home's In Alabama.'

"One of the most interesting moments for me was sitting in catering earlier in the day and watching Sheryl Crow watch the Commodores and the Commodores watch Sheryl Crow," Hanrahan says. "You could tell they were both thinking about what fans they were of the other, but didn't want to go over and bother anyone. By the time I left, they were all together, taking pictures with each other."

Hanrahan says the show raised "a little over $2 million. I didn't hear the final totals, but the original goal when Randy Owen held the press conference was $1 million, so they well surpassed that." He also gives props to Red Light Management. "They produced it, and it was flawless. To orchestrate all that chaos without a hitch, they deserve a lot of credit, along with AEG and the Messina Group." Text-to-donate funds are still being accepted ($10, BAMA to 501501); click for coverage from AP and NPR.