Rascal Flatts braved below-zero temperatures Friday night to perform a sold-out show at the Convocation Center.

Polo resident Ellie Dyer was one of the first people into the stands. Donning a Rascal Flatts t-shirt, she was excited for the show to begin.

“This is the first time we’ll be seeing them in concert,” Dyer said. “It is awesome music and a great show, plus we get to see Joe Don’s butt. That’s what we’re here for.”

Rascal Flatts took the stage around 9 p.m. before a curtain of TV screens and twinkling lights.

The band wooed and wowed fans by performing all of their hits, as well as a number of covers, ranging from The Eagles to Elton John.

Fans were invited to sing along to songs such as “Mayberry” as Gary, Joe Don and Jay strutted the catwalks into the audience.

After taking flight on a platform that took them all the way to the back of the stage, Rascal Flatts performed their heartfelt single, “Skin,” and everyone sang along.

“Rascal Flatts has a younger following than most country musicians,” said Kevin Selover, assistant director of marketing for the Convo. “[We] expect a nice mix of NIU students, faculty and alumni along with surrounding community members.”

The concert continued as the band sped things up before finishing their set with their ode to the fans “This is For the Fans” complete with oodles of confetti.

Fans screamed, yelped and yeehawed as the band came out for one last encore, finishing the show with their rendition of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.”

“It’s a dream come true,” said Steve Summers, morning program director for Rockford’s Country Q98.5. “They probably could have sold out at least one more show. Country’s hot right now. Rascal Flatts was the third grossing tour of 2005.”

Opening act Blake Shelton was the first to take the stage. After playing several of his hit songs, he joked around with the audience about how some people might think he is “too country” to be touring with Rascal Flatts.

Tickets for the show sold out in an all-time record of 25 minutes, making it one of only a few acts who have been able to sell out at the Convo. While many tickets were sold to NIU students, the majority were sold online through Ticketmaster with concert goers coming from far and wide.

“I really applaud the Convocation Center for bringing out country music acts,” Summers said. “I wish there would be more country concerts.”