Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic presidential contender and Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, hosted a grassroots event which kicked off with a special performance by country singer Brooke Eden at Nashville's Cannery Ballroom on Wednesday night (July 17)

The sold-out crowd of approximately 1,000 supporters got a pre-speech performance by the “Act Like You Don’t” vocal powerhouse. Joined onstage by three band members and wearing white pants, white boots, and a lavender fringe top, Eden belted out a 30-minute setlist including "Honey," "I’ll Have What She’s Having," "Got No Choice," "Call It Country," "Just By Being You," "Rather Be Lonely," "American Dreamin’", and "Honky Tonks in Heaven".

Tickets to the fundraiser ranged from $25 to $500,

Mayor Pete’s husband, Chasten, went behind-the-scenes during Eden’s performance, much to the delight of social media as he posted video from the concert.

Backstage jamming to the incredible @BrookeEdenMusic opening up for @PeteButtigieg here in Nashville! pic.twitter.com/Luadk55mvT — Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) July 17, 2019

Eden isn’t currently on tour but recently opened for Garth Brooks’ Stadium Tour sold-out show in Eugene, Oregon on June 29, 2019 - the largest paid attendance performance in the history of the Autzen Stadium.

So what’s the connection between Nashville and South Bend? Turns out it’s personal as one of Brooke’s close friends is from Indiana and follows the Democratic presidential candidate’s campaign.

When asked why she agreed to play for the political event, she said Buttigieg’s message inspired her and when she heard the campaign was looking for a music act in Nashville, she was excited to perform.

Following the concert, Buttigieg spoke to supporters at the venue and offered highlights of his plans for immigration, climate change, and “the security threat posted by violent white nationalism that needs to be named, not coddled.”

In response to recent attacks by President Trump, Buttigieg told a cheering crowd: “Lately, he’s been trying to get my attention. Poor guy. President of the United States, trying to get the attention of a 30-something-year-old mayor from Indiana, that tells you something. Poor fella.”

With less than two weeks until the next Democratic debate, Buttigieg isn’t sitting on his laurels having raised $24.9 million according to the latest Federal Election Commission numbers for the second quarter of 2019 released last week.

While he’s been the No. 1 fundraiser to date, his polling numbers haven’t kept pace with a solid fifth place according to NYT’s latest data.

Mayor Pete and 19 other presidential candidates are confirmed for the second DNC sanctioned debate which will take place at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, MI over two nights, July 30-31.