PANAMA CITY BEACH − There is “no question” in Rendy Lovelady’s mind that Post Malone gave the best performance in Gulf Coast Jam history.
As executive producer of the four-night country music festival, Lovelady said nightly attendance for this year’s concert was about 25,000 people, meaning combined attendance was about 100,0000. It was held May 28-31 at Frank Brown Park in Panama City Beach.
The festival was rounded out with a booming and firework-packed show from Malone, who wasted no time getting the party going once he took center stage.
“We feel like this year’s festival was the biggest show we’ve ever produced,” Rendy Lovelady, executive producer of the event, wrote in a Monday morning text. “Post Malone had the biggest production and captivated the audience. It will be a world renowned performance. No question in my mind the best show Gulf Coast Jam history.”
Malone, who is relatively new to the county music scene and more well-known in the hip hop and rap world, began his Sunday night set − which leaned more into his old stuff − with “Wow.” This was followed by songs including, “Fall Apart,” “Better Now,” “Go Flex,” “White Iverson” and “I Had Some Help.”
He then ended with what appeared to definitely be a crowd favorite: “Sunflower.”
Though the 2026 Gulf Coast Jam grappled with rainy conditions this year, skies were clear during the event on Sunday. It was not until right after Malone’s performance ended, just as crowds were headed home, that it began to rain.
“Big thank you to all of our management and maintenance team for keeping that field in shape becaase it was so wet,” Lovelady wrote. “(And a) big shout out to the fans because they were so compatible in bad weather and hot weather. Lastly, (a) big shoutout to our security team for being on spot with everything.
“What a great year.”
For Amanda Yost, a 34-year-old from Maryland, Post Malone was a big reason she wanted to come back to the 2026 Gulf Coast Jam. It was her sixth year attending the festival.
“I just love his vibe, and that’s what I’m here for − just to party with Post Malone and everyone at Gulf Coast Jam,” Yost said.
Cindy Vonner, a 55-year-old from Pensacola, agreed.
“That’s my draw,” Vonner said of Malone. “I think it’s awesome (he’s performing). It speaks to all ages. I think putting some mix of different styles of music in here is great.”
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Gulf Coast Jam official: Post Malone was best show in event’s history
Reporting by Nathan Cobb, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
