Review: Cyndi Lauper Kicks Off Her Detour Tour at the Ryman Auditorium [PICTURES]

Cyndi Lauper could not have selected a more appropriate place to begin her Detour Tour, in support of her recently released country album of the same name. On Monday night (May 9), the pop icon opened her trek at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

After an opening set from Los Angeles-based indie duo the Peach Kings, Lauper started her show with Wanda Jackson's "Funnel of Love," Detour's first track, followed by Lauper's own 1984 hit "She Bop" -- and earned herself the first of many standing ovations throughout the evening.

"In the end of the whole world, there will be the Cockroaches and Cher and me," Lauper quipped. "This is our first show of the tour. I'm really nervous, because I just get nervous. But it's a church, so how bad can it be, except the F-bomb has got to stop."

Lauper next delivered her own take on the Ray Price classic "Heartache By the Numbers," explaining to the audience, "I did try to sing it like Ray Price, but I sounded a little like Ethel Merman, so I decided to sing it my own way." She followed with her own "I Drove All Night," which she sang partly while laying on her back onstage, her long pink tresses dangling off the edge.

"The End of the World" led into both an energetic version of the title track of Detour and "Cowboy Sweetheart," before Lauper began a set of some of her most-beloved hits, including "You Don't Know" and "Money Changes Everything." After a short break, the artist sang all of "Misty Blue," from Detour, while on a pay phone, and followed that up with "Time After Time."

In addition to mixing her own hits with her country covers, the 62-year-old also took time out of her show to honor music legend Prince, who passed away last month.

"He was always kind. He was funny. He was a great businessman," she recalled. "He was funny, and he was a great artist, and, bottom line, he really gave everything onstage. Everything.

"So, this one's for him," Lauper concluded, leading into "When You Were Mine" and then her most iconic hit, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." After leaving the stage with her band, Lauper returned by herself to close out the night with "True Colors."

Throughout the evening, Lauper proved that she is ageless, timeless and limitless. A few opening night glitches aside, the legendary singer handed out one of the most memorable performances this reporter ever recalls.

Detour, which Lauper largely recorded live, includes collaborations with Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss and Jewel.

“The reason we do it live is for life, is for the point of discovery,” Lauper tells The Boot. “You want the point of discovery when everyone kind of connects together, and then everyone listens to each other, including you. You’re all listening, and you arrive at that place together, and that’s music with connection.”

The album is available for purchase on Amazon and iTunes. A list of Lauper's upcoming shows on her Detour Tour is available on her website.

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