"Penn State's gone country," Alan Jackson adlibbed into his opening song about people from all walks of life embracing country music.

The track's title, "Gone Country," seemed to be the motto for the evening.

A predominantly middle-aged crowd nearly filled the Bryce Jordan Center Friday to hear a catalog of work promoting simple living and working-class values. Jackson, the man of the night, did not disappoint.

Jackson put on a show that was a far cry from any Shania Twain-style concert, embracing a more traditional stand-and-sing style any Grand Ole Opry-loving country music fan would love.

And from the reaction of the crowd, those were just the kind of fans who showed up.

Jackson sang through hit after hit without much pause as an energized audience echoed back nearly every word, a testament to the veteran performer's star power. Fan favorites such as "Chattahoochee" and "Summertime Blues" were sung with the same emotion they were recorded with nearly a decade ago.

Women swooned for the mullet-topped crooner, showering the stage with flowers and even stuffed animals. On the rare occasion he took time to talk, Jackson could barely speak between songs without being interrupted with "We love you, Alan," or chants of "A-J" surging through the crowd.

The modest superstar made sure his fans knew they were appreciated.

"There are a lot of country music fans up here, and you've always made [the band] feel at home," Jackson said during a rare pause in his rapid-fire performances.

He broke up his own string of hits with "Man of Constant Sorrow," a song that showcased his bluegrass roots. Before singing the song, he expressed his delight in the resurgence of bluegrass, a genre he came to love while playing with one of his first bands in Georgia.

Two new artists, Jennifer Hanson and Darryl Worley, opened for Jackson. The two artists, who replaced Joe Nichols on the tour, got lackluster reaction from most of the audience.

Only Worley seemed to win over the crowd at points despite good material from both artists. Especially poignant was Worley's "Have You Forgotten," a new song written in response to American anti-war sentiments.

"Some say this country's just looking for a fight, but I say after 9/11 that they're right," Worley sang. The crowd responded with a standing ovation.

But it was Jackson who brought the house down, closing his first set with his post-Sept. 11 anthem "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)." The lighter-producing ballad received the largest ovation of the night.

Concertgoer Jason Dill said his drive from Lock Haven to the Jordan Center was well worth it. He liked all parts of Jackson's performance equally, simply saying, "It was Alan Jackson."