by Michael Bialas

Created on: August 11, 2009   Last Updated: August 12, 2009

Which of the following don't seem to go together?
A. Johnny and June.
B. Sonny and Cher.
C. Kristian and Jennifer.

At first glance, the obvious answer is C, those first names not as identifiable as two of America's dream matchups. Unless you're living in Sugarland, that is.

And while Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles might not rank with the great power couples of all time - Bush is married with two children, for God's sake - they do belong together on stage.

The powerhouse country-pop duo that is Sugarland, currently scheduled to be on the road throughout the summer and into October, has the unenviable task of opening 20 or so dates for mega-hunk Keith Urban on the "Escape Together World Tour." A July 15 stop at the Pepsi Center in Denver, a 19,000-plus-seat venue that was nearly sold out for the twin billing, turned out to be one of the city's best concerts so far this summer.

If this is the future of our New Country, get in line now to apply for citizenship. Sugarland, a Grammy-winning act that has sold almost 7 million records since signing with Mercury Nashville in 2004, put on a razzle-dazzle show that can (and often does) stand on its own.

Their genre-bending, 15-song set lasted 60-plus minutes and included in-and-out-of-love anthems, tender ballads and country-fried rockers, featuring six selections from their third (and most recent) record, 2008's Love On The Inside. They made sure to include all five of their No. 1 hits (Want To, Settlin', Stay, All I Want To Do and It Happens). With five supporting players on tour (including Bush's brother Brandon on keyboards and appealing Annie Clements on bass), the sound was stimulating, but not overpowering.

As possibly Urban's hottest warm-up act ever, Sugarland met the challenge by presenting themselves on a visually stunning stage that included white-light umbrellas (even if it was indoors), cozy lanterns and crystal-clear video screens that followed every move they made.

And move they did. Nettles and Bush took center stage from the opening notes of the hopelessly romantic yet undeniably moving Love, but didn't stay side by side too long. They often went in opposite directions to play to the crowd, Nettles usually going to her right and Bush, with the ever-present fedora and mandolin, to his left. Of course, they'd always meet back in the middle for a choreographed finish every bit as polished as a Las Vegas review.

With a bright, expressive and cherubic face, Nettles looks like actress Kirsten Dunst but

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>