Men’s social club Tau Phi introduced new and old traditions to the audience in Collins Alumni Auditorium with the 36th annual Cowboy Show Saturday night.
This year’s show featured a wide range of talents including Nashville singer/songwriter and producer Pat Flynn and the first ever mother-daughter duo of alumna Michelle Robertson and sophomore Rebecca Robertson.
The performances featured songs by hit artists Lady Antebellum, Carrie Underwood, George Straight and Lipscomb alumna Kelsea Ballerini.
Junior psychology and political science major John Blake Parker directed this year’s show with assistant directors Stephen Ingram and Ashton Montgomery.
“I’ve been honored to put this production together, one that is so rich in history and features so much talent from Lipscomb students,” Parker said.
Parker said every girl who auditioned this year made it into the Cowboy Show.
“I believe this speaks volumes for the level of talent we have this year,” he said. “I honestly believe this year’s Cowboy Show is one of the best we’ve ever had talent-wise.”
The Cowboy Show began in 1979 on the steps of Collins Alumni Auditorium, but since then has grown into a full professional production.
Each performance is backed up with music played by Flynn and a band of professional musicians.
“Pat has played an enormous role in making the show the production that it is today,” Parker said.
Flynn said it all started 15 years ago with a group of Lipscomb students in a band called Crucial Smith who he was working on a record with. The band asked Flynn to come watch them perform in the Cowboy Show in the early 90’s and asked him to be a part of the show about a year later.
“As a Lipscomb alum myself, I’m so glad and proud to be able to do something at Lipscomb,” Flynn said. “The [other band members] are so impressed by the quality of people here that absolutely look forward to it.”
Parker added that the professional band makes the Cowboy Show one of the best student-led productions at Lipscomb.
“I think that the show captures what the Lipscomb community is supposed to be about—current students and alumni coming together for a night of showcasing the talent of students at Lipscomb,” Parker said.
Photos by Ben Davis and Becca Risley