Fans endured traffic tie-ups to make tailgate parties for the biggest concert event of the year -- the Kenny Chesney Sun City Festival at Heinz Field.

Country Music Association's new artist of the year, Lady Antebellum, kicked off the country music extravaganza with a string of hits from their self-titled debut CD. Miranda Lambert took the stage with an army of pink guitars and closed her set with Joan Jett's "I Love Rock-n-Roll."

Country music veterans Montgomery Gentry had the crowd singing along to such hits as "Back When I Knew It All" "Lucky Man" and "It Ain't About Being Easy." The duo and their great band showed handily why they have had such staying power for a decade.

Sugarland, the super-duo featuring Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, was next up with stunning set that wowed the crowd and was sure-fire showcase for the amazing Nettles, who kept them eating out of her hand.

Featuring such hits as "Settlin," "Already Gone," and "All I Want to Do" the ever-energetic pair had the crowd singing along to every tune and revving up to a party-fever-pitch.

Nettles was joined by Bush on acoustic guitar center stage for the heart-wrenching ballad "Stay," which was delivered with a delicate mix of ferocity and longing. The talented singer with a rare mix of torch, twang and new country is right up there with the greats of country music, including Faith Hill, Reba McIntyre and Dolly Parton.

The pair ended their set with some fun when they put themselves inside massive inflatable balloons and body surfed the crowd.

Kenny Chesney opted for a grand entrance out of a tent in the middle of Heinz Field. The country superstar floated over the crowd suspended in a chair -- much to the delight of the crowd. The perfect, summer-like weather was punctuated by a nearly full moon, while the echoes of carefree living rang out from the stage in a power set of top hits that included "Summertime," "Beer In Mexico" and "Keg in the Closet."

Once the summer-beer songs were put to rest, Chesney got to the business of one of country's music's biggest themes -- love lost and won -- performing "I Go Back," "Anything But Mine" and "Down the Road," among others.

He recounted an impromptu visit on a houseboat that was docked on the Point earlier in the day when he sang "Old Blue Chair" with his acoustic guitar.

"Back Where I Came From" featured the montage of city highlights and went right into "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven." There wasn't much of an encore, just "Don't Blink." The band played on while Chesney signed tons of autographs for the adoring crowd.

There is no doubt that Pittsburgh loves Chesney, and vice-versa. Recession be damned, the audience turned out to see what is always a good deal.

Kenny Chesney's summer bash at Heinz Field? It's almost as American as apple pie.