For her daughter’s 22nd birthday, Beverly Shelton took off work to stand in line outside Diddle Arena. She arrived at 1 p.m. Thursday to hold a spot for her daughter, Glasgow junior Lee Ann Weatherholt, until doors opened to the Dierks Bentley concert at 7 p.m. Shelton even got backstage passes for her daughter to meet the country singer.

“Lee Ann’s a big Dierks Bentley fan,” she said. “I want her to be up close. You just try to do everything special for your kids.”

Shelton wasn’t the first person in line. About seven students were in front of Diddle’s doors when she arrived and had been there since noon.

Elizabethtown junior Amanda Waters was among the first people to get in line. She talked with her friends, snacked and made signs to pass the time until the doors opened. One bright pink sign she made read, “Wanna get lucky in Kentucky?” Another said, “I’m finally legal today. 21 baby!” in honor of her friend, Nashville junior Amber Hager, who kicked off her birthday celebration by attending the concert.

“I want front row seats,” Waters said before the show. “I want to be able to touch him.”

And her wishes came true. She was in front of the stage and grabbed Bentley’s hand several times during his performance.

Although the weather was rainy and cool, many students and Bowling Green citizens gathered before the doors’ opening with the same hopes as Waters. Some had coolers and lawn chairs while others read magazines to pass the time.

Once inside, they watched a rowdy, almost four-hour-long concert featuring performers The Randy Rogers Band, Miranda Lambert and Bentley.

Bentley, the headliner of the Locked and Loaded tour, serenaded the packed arena with hits such as “What Was I Thinkin,’” “Settle for a Slowdown” and “Come a Little Closer.” He played a couple of bluegrass songs in honor of being in the Bluegrass State, performed tributes to Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash and gave a preview of his newly released CD, “Long Trip Alone.”

And Bentley received some entertainment himself during the show. Fans threw several bras and white tank tops onstage. One woman showed him a cell phone, on which she’d texted a message asking for his shirt. Numerous women sat atop shoulders to have a better view and catch his attention.

Jamestown senior Britney Hadley said the concert was fun and more than satisfying for big country music fans like herself.

“He put on a really good show,” she said. “He was really into the audience. Just him being here in Bowling Green is huge. It’s not every day that a big country singer comes to town.”

Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.