Athens, Ala. — Country music star Keith Urban stunned fans in northern Alabama on Friday night by performing a free, impromptu concert in the parking lot of a Buc-ee’s convenience store and gas station. With just a few hours’ notice, hundreds of excited fans gathered in Athens, about 100 miles south of Nashville, to catch the unexpected show.

The surprise performance took place outside the popular roadside store known for its massive selection of snacks, clean restrooms, and mouthwatering barbecue. Urban shared with the crowd that the idea for the concert struck him during a recent visit to the store.

“I came down to this Buc-ee’s about a month ago. And when I left, I went, ‘It’d be kind of fun to do a show there,’” Urban said, according to an Instagram video posted by WAFF-TV in Huntsville. The singer joked that his “cave man brain” had led him to set up a small stage for what he assumed would be a modest crowd.

“I swear to you, I thought maybe 100, 200 people,” Urban said. However, as videos from the event show, the turnout was much larger than he anticipated, with fans flocking to the location well in advance of the concert.

Cindy Wilson, a resident, described her excitement upon hearing about the surprise show. “I was at work and we heard it on the radio that there was going to be a surprise concert at Buc-ee’s in Athens,” Wilson told FOX 54 WZDX-TV in Huntsville. “And I was like, ’Oh my God, it’s on my way home.’ And it’s 15 minutes from my house. So I couldn’t believe it.”

In addition to performing, Urban took on a different role during his visit to Buc-ee’s. Donning a Buc-ee’s T-shirt and apron, the singer stepped behind the food counter, where he was filmed pouring barbecue sauce on brisket and chopping it into smaller pieces, much to the delight of onlookers.

Urban’s spontaneous concert and hands-on approach behind the counter made for a memorable night for the fans who were lucky enough to be there. The unique experience perfectly captured the down-to-earth charm that has made Urban a beloved figure in the world of country music.