CMA Fest Returns to Nashville With More Than 80,000 Fans

CMA Fest, the longest-running Country Music festival in the world, marked its grand return to Nashville this past weekend (June 9-12), following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic. With four straight days of sold-out shows, surprise collaborations and music discovery, the 49th edition of the legendary festival brought fans everything they've been waiting for!

"We did it! It had been 1099 days since we last kicked off CMA Fest (in 2019), and to finally be here feels incredible!" says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "So many emotions have gone through my head this week, but I think gratitude sums it up best. Seeing the fans return to Nashville or visit us for the very first time is so heartwarming, and welcoming back our artists and the music community after two difficult years means so much. It truly takes a village to pull off this event-thank you to all of our partners within Nashville and beyond for helping us bring CMA Fest back!"

From sunup to sundown, there was no denying the energy of more than 80,000 estimated attendees from all 50 states and a record-breaking 39 foreign countries as they filled Music City in anticipation of seeing more than 260 acts taking part in CMA Fest. Officially kicking off on Thursday morning with reigning CMA New Artist of the Year Jimmie Allen taking the Chevy Riverfront Stage, CMA Fest brought an eclectic mix of music to downtown Nashville throughout the entire weekend. In addition to the Chevy Riverfront Stage, free outdoor daytime activity included performances at the Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage and Maui Jim Reverb Stage. Fans also experienced one-of-a-kind programming at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center, along with several brand activations and partners that took over Lower Broadway.

Fans also packed the house at Nissan Stadium every night and in true CMA Fest tradition, there was no shortage of surprise collaborations. Kicking things off on Thursday night was Darius Rucker joining Zac Brown Band to a fan rousing performance of "Chicken Fried." Zac Brown Band also brought out two special guests-Marcus King for "Stubborn Pride" and King Calaway for "When I Get Home." Dustin Lynch and MacKenzie Porter brought the energy way up with a performance of "Thinking 'Bout You."

Taking the stadium stage on Friday night, for the first time since 2015, Wynonna Judd joined reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carly Pearce for a touching rendition of "Why Not Me" that brought the fans to their feet. Cole Swindell also welcomed Lainey Wilson for an electric performance of "Never Say Never."

Fan reaction was deafening in the house on Sunday night as well, when Billy Ray Cyrus took the stage alongside Dierks Bentley for "Achy Breaky Heart," followed by Elle King stepping in with Bentley during "Devil Went Down To Georgia." Elle King also hit the stage to perform "Ex's and Oh's" with Ashley McBryde. Additional surprises included Lady A bringing BRELAND out for a heartwarming performance of "Need You Now," while Russell Dickerson was joined by Jake Scott for "She Likes It."

Other Nissan Stadium highlights throughout the weekend included Luke Bryan lighting up the house during a touching performance of "Drink A Beer," followed by fan favorites "Knockin' Boots" and "Country Girl (Shake it for Me)." Keith Urban brought fans to their feet during "Days Go By" and "Wasted Time." Luke Combs brought the house down with "Beer Never Broke My Heart."

Old Dominion performed "Chattahoochee" as a tribute to Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson and capped their set with a rousing version of "I Was On A Boat That Day." Fans danced in their seats during Jason Aldean's "Dirt Road Anthem," Kane Brown's "One Mississippi" and Thomas Rhett's "T-Shirt." Brothers Osborne brought large dancing skeletons onstage during their energetic performance of "All Night," closing with the upbeat anthem "It Ain't My Fault."

Carrie Underwood's soulful performance of "Jesus, Take The Wheel" took fans to church when she transitioned the song into "How Great Thou Art." Fans leapt to their feet, singing along to Gabby Barrett's "I Hope," Kelsea Ballerini's "Half Of My Hometown" and Parker McCollum's "To Be Loved By You."

Additional performers at Nissan Stadium included opening acts Deana Carter, Sara Evans, Everette, Randy Houser, Angie K, Kylie Morgan and Shenandoah, as well as performances from the new Platform Stage in the center of the stadium, featuring Priscilla Block, Madeline Edwards, Kat & Alex, Maddie & Tae, Frank Ray, Lily Rose, Dylan Scott, and Mitchell Tenpenny. Brittney Spencer also welcomed the Nissan Stadium crowd Thursday night performing the National Anthem.

The Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater also returned for a fourth year, with packed crowds both Friday and Saturday night. The party kicked off Friday night with headliner Chris Janson exuding his all-in energy. Additional acts taking the stage included Boy Named Banjo, LANCO, Mitchell Tenpenny and Peytan Porter. Saturday night attendees were treated to headliner Cole Swindell, who brought the audience to their feet when he welcomed Country Music Hall of Fame member Randy Travis to the stage. In addition to Swindell, Ingrid Andress, Avery Anna, Randall King, Shy Carter and Tyler Braden took the amphitheater stage.

Throughout the four-day event, fans enjoyed more than 173,000 square feet of air-conditioned fun at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center where artists participated in meet-and-greets and programming on two indoor stages, including the CMA Close Up Stage, which hosted the popular Artist of the Day sessions featuring Russell Dickerson on Thursday, Kelsea Ballerini on Friday, Luke Bryan on Saturday and Chris Tomlin on Sunday.

Other standout programming included a She Is the Music songwriters round led by Hillary Scott with Catie Offerman, Sacha, and Caitlyn Smith; a round of acoustic performances curated by the Black Opry featuring Tylar Bryant, Roberta Lea, The Kentucky Gentlemen and Julie Williams; a fashion show featuring Jessie James Decker's Kittenish line modeled by several of CMT's Next Women of Country including Alyssa Bonagura, Laci Kaye Booth, Callista Clark, Julie Cole, Lindsay Ell, Maddie & Tae, RaeLynn and Sacha and a discussion hosted by Black Music Month co-founder Dyana Williams, featuring BRELAND, Blanco Brown, Shy Carter and Frankie Staton highlighting Amazon Music's "For Love & Country."

Fan Fair X also hosted daily performances on the Spotlight Stage from nearly 50 artists performing to full audiences. Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson along with Deana Carter, Cowboy Troy, Chris Janson, Kat & Alex, Maddie & Tae, Madeline Edwards, Joe Nichols, and dozens of other artists, participated in the much-anticipated meet-and-greets with excited fans. Comedic magician Justin Willman concluded Fan Fair X activities on Sunday, sharing magical inspiration for Papa Murphy's new program "Bake Outside The Lines," where fans can submit pizza hacks to win $25,000 and free pizza for a year at Bakeoutsidethelines.com.

CMA's international presence remained strong as ever at CMA Fest this year, with performances by artists from multiple countries including the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. The CMA Close Up Stage at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center hosted an international songwriter round featuring Kenny Foster (U.S.), Twinnie (U.K.), Max Jackson (AU) and Kaylee Bell (NZ). CMA also welcomed industry to Nashville during its annual international reception, including several attendees from the organization's international task forces as well as international promoters, media outlets and artists.

Unlike other festivals, CMA Fest performers donate their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music education initiatives across the country through the CMA Foundation. As funding returns after two years, the CMA Foundation is eagerly planning new and strategic ways to invest back into its mission of providing every child with the opportunity to make music.

This year, CMA Fest welcomed ten students from CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence, Danielle Leigh Taylor's music class at Nashville's Mt. View Elementary School for a heartwarming performance of Jimmie Allen's song "Best Shot." The group performed alongside Allen on the CMA Close Up Stage on Thursday as a part of Allen's panel, "My Voice Is A Trumpet: A Reading and Conversation with Jimmie Allen and Cody Alan," which was centered around Allen's children's book, "My Voice Is A Trumpet." Additionally, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts students of 2020 Music Teacher of Excellence Neshawn Calloway, took the stage with CMA Foundation Artist Ambassador Filmore on the Dr Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park on Sunday to perform Filmore's song "Other Girl."

On Thursday morning at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Jewelry Television (JTV), the national jewelry retailer and broadcast network presented the CMA Foundation with a check for more than $172,000. The donation comes as a result of JTV's Back the Beat campaign, which ran from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15, 2021, and centered around a commemorative keychain sold exclusively by JTV to benefit the CMA Foundation. CMA Foundation Artist Ambassadors Jimmie Allen and Lindsay Ell, alongside CMA CEO Sarah Trahern and CMA Foundation Executive Director, Tiffany Kerns accepted the donation from Tim Engle, JTV Executive Advisor to digital commerce on behalf of the Foundation.

Other special events and activations across the CMA Fest footprint included "Fitness at Fest," a sold-out high-intensity workout with celebrity fitness trainer Erin Oprea and special guest Tyler Hubbard. The event took place on Friday morning at the Maui Jim Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Plaza with all proceeds benefiting the CMA Foundation. Young professional music industry leadership group, SOLID hosted a "Music Market Auction" inside Fan Fair X with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the CMA Foundation, while Friendly Arctic, Strung, and Arete IV also donated a portion of their proceeds back to the CMA Foundation. Select merch items benefiting the CMA Foundation are still available for purchase at CMAfest.com/shop-for-good.

Next year's CMA Fest marks the festival's 50th anniversary and takes place in Nashville Thursday, June 8-Sunday, June 11, 2023. Sign up for CMA Country Connection emails at CMAfest.com to be the first to know about ticket on-sale dates.

"CMA Fest," the three-hour primetime television special hosted by Dierks Bentley and Elle King, airs Wednesday, August 3 at 8/7c on ABC.

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. Now celebrating its 49th year, the legendary festival has become the city's signature Country Music event that hosts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states and 39 international countries.

CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. This is the 19th consecutive year CMA has produced a summer music program to be broadcast as a network television special.

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