Sheryl Crow's Music Takes on New Meaning at Kent State Show

Sheryl Crow has played venues such as the Forum in Los Angeles, but on Saturday night, Kent State University got a huge does of her, as the Centennial Concert --an event that marked the end of a fundraising campaign which exceeded its goal of raising $250 million by over six million on Saturday night-- had the nine time Grammy winner as its headliner.

Crow had the crowd on their feet especially when she walked out on stage and screamed "How ya all doing Kent State" before going into All I Want to Do is have Some Fun to start her set.

The Missouri native, who has performed duets with the Rolling Stones and also Michael Jackson also sung Can't cry no More, and her hit, Soak up the Sun, as part of her set.

There was also a personal side to being in the Northeast Ohio area for Crow. A breast cancer survivor, she spoke for the first time about being diagnosed with a benign brain tumor, something she discussed more on Monday during the Katie Couric show.

Instead of being a downer, the 50-year-old rocker praised the Cleveland Clinic for everything they have done for her.

"The doctors there told me I would be fine. They do real miracles up there," she said, garnering perhaps the loudest roar of the night, except for when she told the crowd, "Kent ain't no party school."

Always the political activist, Crow also had a chance to send a message out to all the young people in the crowd.

"This is your chance to vote, don't be discouraged, you can make a change." She  then got the crowd moving and grooving once again with her version of Cat Stevens song, The first cut is the deepest.

O.A.R really put the crowd in a rocking spirit prior to Crow taking stage. It was the main reason Terry Costello of Cleveland made the trek to Kent.

"They are a cult favorite in Ohio," said Costello. "Their music really rocks."

The group, who hails from Rockford Maryland, but all went to Ohio State, was terrific especially when they closed the night with their hit That was one Crazy game of Poker.

Singer/guitarist Marc Roberge didn't miss a beat the entire set, which also included one of their new songs, Shattered.

The “Centennial Campaign” concert was kicked off by Los Lonely Boys, a band from Texas whose debut single, Heaven, won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2005. 

More important than the music though was what some of the proceeds from the concert went to.

Kent State’s Campaign for Change Scholarship Fund, the university’s student philanthropy initiative,which enlists student volunteers and encourages students to “pay it forward”  by supporting an endowed scholarship fund, was the real winner of the evening.