Stagecoach: Watch Axl Rose join Carrie Underwood to perform Guns N’ Roses classics
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
ByKelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
INDIO, Calif. — Carrie Underwood was definitely a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n roll during her Stagecoach Festival set Saturday night in Indio, California.
Fans of the crossover-country superstar have learned to expect the unexpected at her often high-octane shows, but when Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose strutted onto the stage after Underwood’s band zinged the opening chords of GNR’s “Sweet Child of Mine,” the crowd went nuts.
True Underwood fans know the ‘90s rockers heavily influenced their girl, as she’s known to appropriate Rose’s signature moves during her shows and often works GNR’s hits into her playlist, Variety reported.
“Welcome to the greatest night of my life,” Underwood shouted. “Give it up for Axl Rose!”
For his part, Rose, 60, “nailed the winding melodies and staccato rhythms of ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’ and ‘Paradise City’ with precision and just the right amount of villainous charm,” the Los Angeles Times reported.
“Clutching one of his signature clown-nose microphones, his swept-back hair blowing in the desert wind, Rose snake-shimmied across the stage, a little slower than in the old days but wearing a grin that suggested he was having a ball,” the Times reported.
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood, not pictured, to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood, not pictured, to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs onstage with Carrie Underwood during Day 2 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 30, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
Underwood and Rose INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs onstage with Carrie Underwood during Day 2 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 30, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
Underwood and Rose INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs onstage with Carrie Underwood during Day 2 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 30, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs onstage with Carrie Underwood during Day 2 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 30, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
Underwood and Rose INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: (L-R) Carrie Underwood and Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses perform onstage during Day 2 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 30, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood sings with Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose, not pictured, as he makes a surprise appearance to sing a couple of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose INDIO, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 30: Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses performs onstage with Carrie Underwood during Day 2 of the 2022 Stagecoach Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 30, 2022 in Indio, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach) (Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Stagecoach)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Underwood and Rose Indio, CA - April 30: Guns n Roses lead singer Axl Rose makes a surprise appearance with Saturdays headliner Carrie Underwood to sing a pair of the groups famous songs on the Mane Stage during the second day of the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio Saturday, April 30, 2022. It is the first Stagecoach since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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