Pam Tillis performs in Havre

Country music icon Pam Tillis played a show in Havre Thursday evening at the Armory Gymnasium at Montana State University-Northern for the Havre Police Protective Association, her second time playing for the organization and her third show in the Havre area.

Tillis, who hadn't been able to tour since the start of the pandemic, said in an interview before the show that she was very happy to be back in Havre playing for Montana audiences, which she described as rowdy enough to be fun, but relaxed enough to listen to the music.

She said, similar to her last show in Havre in 2014, she hasn't had a chance to really see the area, but she hopes that may change with a few more visits.

"I'll have to come back a couple more times and I'll have it figured out," she said.

Tillis said her lineup of songs that evening is made up of her hits along with a few covers, and a song from her father, country music legend Mel Tillis.

She said she's happy to be able to play for an audience while benefiting a good cause, fundraising for the Police Protective Association's programs for youth in the area.

The concert was opened by Missoula musicians Kelley Sinclair and Matt Brua, who played a half-hour set for the audience before Tillis came on stage.

Tillis said not being able to tour for the last couple years due to the pandemic has been strange. She said she caught COVID-19 in January of last year but, thankfully, had a mild case, though she said that hasn't been the case for everyone, unfortunately.

"We have lost some good friends over it," she said. "... Everyone I know has been touched by it."

She said after her tour is over she's going to start working on some new music and start preparing for her part in the upcoming season of the comedy "Fairwood."

Tillis said during the pandemic she focused on mentoring young musicians including some work in fashion, which evolved into helping those artists with video production, something she's continuing to do now.