Hundreds of teachers and teacher supporters packed into the Nokia Theater L.A. LIVE Tuesday night, August 14th, to celebrate Teachers Rock 2012. On the evening’s menu…a little Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Josh Groban and many more. The taped version of the show will air on Friday, August 17 on CBS at 8 p.m.

As the show started, school aged kids flooded the stage, much like kids in a classroom, sat down and listened as Garth opened with “The River.” Not a dry eye in the crowd as the young kids joined him for the chorus.

#GarthBrooks and friends getready to take the stage at #TeachersRock twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic… — David Wild (@Wildaboutmusic) August 15, 2012

FUN., joined by the Inglewood High School Drumline sang their new hit “Some Nights” followed by their popular hit “We Are Young.” FUN. was thrilled to be given the opportunity to honor teachers who had shaped their lives.

While the crew reset the stage for the next big act, country superstar Carrie Underwood spoke of her most inspirational teacher, her mom, Maroon 5’s frontman Adam Levine spoke of a teacher ensuring his success, and famed actor Morgan Freeman exclaimed, “teachers rock!”

Via satellite, Carrie Underwood surprised the audience with “Nobody Ever Told You,” a track from her newly released Blown Away. She had a parent/teacher/student conference with her mom/teacher. Carrie explained to her mom that, as a teacher, she was always tougher on her than the other students. A big thanks to Mrs. Underwood for being a great teacher!

Next up was Dierks Bentley with the classic, “Forever Young.” He followed with a song he could “rock,” just like teachers, the lead single from his 2012 album Home – “Am I The Only One” and finished it off with a tribute his wife’s family, and all teachers, with his hit single and title track “Home.”

Los Angeles High School For The Arts, 1999 graduate, Josh Groban kicked off his set with “Changing Colors.” Following an introduction explaining his “questioning state,” prior to having met some of the great teachers in his life, he performed his hit “February Song.”  Lastly, joined by his former high school choir, Josh performed an emotional cover of the Simon & Garfunkel classic “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Not a dry eye in the theater to close the show.

The spectacular tribute to teachers was emceed by Pauley Perrette of NCIS fame, with commentary from iCarly’s Miranda Cosgrove, The Hunger Games Josh Hutcherson, award winning actress Viola Davis and Criminal Minds profiler, Joe Mantegna.

Tune in Friday, August 17th at 8 p.m. on CBS to see “Teachers Rock!”

Ashley Pedroza/HS Biology Teacher/Southern California
Nanci Haskin/99.5 WYCD