When a rising artist steps onto an arena stage for the very first time, the transition can be daunting. Opening for Sugarland’s Ride or Die Tour at the North Charleston Coliseum, Payton Sullivan proved instantly that she belongs in front of thousands.
Dressed in a yellow skirt, denim halter top, and a yellow flower in her hair, Sullivan commanded the floor with a natural, humble charm. Her stage movement seamlessly wove in subtle hula dance influences, bringing an organic fluidity to her performance that had the audience hooked from her opening notes.
Building Suspense & Winning Over the Crowd
The defining moment of her opening set came during a cover of Dolly Parton’s "I Will Always Love You." Right before reaching the song's iconic high note, Sullivan paused—just long enough to build palpable suspense throughout the arena. When she unleashed her vocal power to hit the climax, the crowd erupted into a roaring standing ovation, leading effortlessly into "Islands in the Stream."
Navigating unfamiliar material with a brand-new crowd is always a challenge, but Sullivan’s crowd-work strategy paid off during her new single, "F150." Before launching into the track, she walked the audience through a quick tutorial of the chorus lyrics. The strategy worked so well that the arena unexpectedly shouted the final line of "150" completely unprompted. A visibly delighted Sullivan rewarded one observant fan with a tour t-shirt right from the stage.
Connecting Off the Mic
Throughout her performance, Sullivan treated the vast arena like an intimate room, openly sharing personal stories about her childhood, her sisters, songwriting inspirations, working with Kristian Bush, and laughingly admitting she had initially been calling the venue an ice rink. That candid vulnerability created an immediate bond with the audience.
The connection extended long after her last note. Following her set, a long line formed at the merchandise table, where Sullivan spent time chatting with fans, posing for photos, and signing autographs. Among the crowd, three young fans were overheard raving about her set, with one summarizing the night perfectly: "I’m just obsessed with her."
Setlist:
- Blondie
- My Girls
- Country to Me
- Dolly Tribute - I Will Always Love You + Islands in the Stream
- F150
- Pretty Little Divorcee
- Cowgirls Just Wanna Have Fun
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