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View at CMAfest.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009

NASHVILLE -- High-voltage stage performances by chart-topping superstars, along with revealing special segments about fan favorites, will mark the return of ABC's hottest music event this summer when "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" airs Monday, Aug. 31 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network. The annual music bash, expanding to three hours for the first time, will air in HD with 5.1-channel surround sound.....

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Scheduled to perform are Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Julianne Hough, Jamey Johnson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, John Rich, Darius Rucker, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, and Zac Brown Band. In addition, Kid Rock performs his smash hit "Picture" with McBride, while Wynonna and Naomi Judd reunite as The Judds to perform together for the first time at the CMA Music Festival in six years. ....

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The special will show highlights from the CMA Music Festival held June 11-14 in Nashville. On- and off-stage segments and day-in-the-life vignettes showcasing the personalities and lifestyles of fan favorites will be presented:....

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Aldean declares it "Ladies Night at the CMA Music Festival" during a nightclub concert. He treats everyone to a performance of his hit, "She's Country" that segues to his performance at LP field.  ....

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Viewers encounter Paisley during a quiet moment alone on his tour bus speaking about his fans then encountering hundreds of them as they greet him outside his bus. His personal recollections then segue to Paisley and his band electrifying a standing-room-only crowd at Fuel club with his hit song, "Then" to LP Field where he sings "American Saturday Night."....

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Pickler's off-stage persona is captured as she spends the day with fans, charming them with her quick wit and sweet disposition. Pickler's admirers join her for some shopping at famous Nashville stores such as Ernest Tubb's Record Shop, where she autographs and gives some lucky fans her own CD's and stops by Mike's Soda Shop to taste "Kellie Pickler" ice cream. Later that night Pickler performs "Best Days of Your Life" at Fuel. ....

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The special takes a candid look at the hectic and fun day-in-the-life of Hough from getting ready at home to the convention center to a slew of press interviews such as "Good Morning America" with "All My Children's" Cameron Mathison. She then heads to sound check and wardrobe changes all the while meeting fans all along the way. ....

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Throughout the special, Pickler introduces interviews with some of the Festival's biggest performers in this multi-star segment. Brooks & Dunn, Chesney, McBride, McEntire, Rucker, and Sugarland offer celebrity insight and share their personal stories from the road, home and tours with viewers. Then Swift answers submitted questions from her six biggest fans and later she surprises them in a meet and greet.....

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The annual CMA Music Festival is unlike any other, with four days filled with more than one hundred hours of live music, 30 hours of autograph signings by Country Music's biggest names and up and comers, hundreds of  artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid fans. This is the fifth time ABC will broadcast this special - which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash - since the original Fan Fair® was launched in 1972. This year an average of 56,000 fans attended each day of CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet.....

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"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson. The 2009 CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

More News at CMAfest.com!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2009
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2009 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL ARTIST LINEUP GROWS WITH
STAR-POWERED CONCERTS ON THE DAYTIME STAGE AT RIVERFRONT PARK

Jason Michael Carroll, Bucky Covington, Emerson Drive,
Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Jessica Harp, Jo Dee Messina, Heidi
Newfield, Oak Ridge Boys, James Otto, Phil Vassar, Chuck Wicks, And More
....

NASHVILLE - The excitement is building for
2009 CMA Music Festival, Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14 in Downtown
Nashville, as the first artists performing on the free Daytime Stage at
Riverfront Park are announced.....

"The Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park is one of our most popular events at CMA Music
Festival," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We have an outstanding lineup of performers, ranging from current radio favorites to beloved, legendary artists. It is a great place for families and individuals alike to come and hear great music."

To make it easier on families trying to stay afloat during the current economic climate, this year CMA is offering all four days of the Daytime Stage performances for free to the public. Fans can enjoy great musical performances while relaxing on the sloping bank of the Cumberland River. The concerts are fun in the sun within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites, with food vendors, activities, and more. Four-day ticket holders will enjoy early access and exclusive use of the popular Photo Line at Riverfront.

The first performers to be announced for the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park are
listed below in alphabetical order:
Thursday, June 11: Bellamy Brothers, Diamond Rio, Neal McCoy, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Randy Rogers Band, Ashton Shepherd, Phil Vassar, and Chuck Wicks.

Friday, June 12: John Anderson, Eric Church, Bucky Covington, "The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party" (featuring Trent Willmon, Jeff Bates, Mark Wills), Randy Houser, Oak Ridge Boys, Jamie O'Neal, Aaron Tippin, and Clay Walker.

Saturday, June 13: Bill Anderson, Keith Anderson, Tracy Byrd, Jason Michael Carroll, Emerson Drive, Lost Trailers, Jo Dee Messina, Lorrie Morgan, and Chris Young.

Sunday, June 14:  Eli Young Band, Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, Jessica Harp, Joey & Rory, Joe Nichols, Collin Raye / Restless Heart, and Darryl
Worley.

More artists will be announced soon. Artists and schedules are subject to change.
Visit www.CMAfest.com for updated performance schedules.

The Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park is just one of several free areas at CMA Music
Festival, which include the Dr Pepper®-McDonald's® Family Zone in Hilton Park;
Chevy^TM Music Stage at the Sommet Center; Chevy Sports Zone; Fun
Zone; the new Music City Zone in the Public Square; the Fifth Annual CMA Music
Festival Kick-Off Parade; and more.

For those fans wanting the complete CMA Music Festival experience, great four-day
tickets are still available. In addition to the free areas, the four-day ticket package includes the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT^TM Concert Stage at LP Field; exclusive access to the Greased Lightning® Fan Fair® Hall, featuring Durango® Acoustic Corner (located in the Nashville Convention Center); exclusive access to the Photo Lines at LP Field and Riverfront Park; exclusive access to the event shuttle between venues; admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts (between June 8-June 15); and a registration bag with collectible pin and 2009 souvenir program book.

For four-day and single concert ticket prices, performance schedules, and more, visit www.CMAfest.com. To order, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit ww.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; or visit ww.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. CMA
Board member Tony Conway is the Executive Producer of CMA Music Festival.
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Partners include: Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music; CMT; Dr Pepper®; Durango®; Greased Lighting®; Great American Country (GAC); McDonald's®; VAULT^TM Citrus Soda; and Wrangler®: The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival.   Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA.

March 18, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DIERKS BENTLEY, MONTGOMERY GENTRY, BRAD PAISLEY, AND JOHN RICH JOIN 2009 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP

NASHVILLE – Celebrating its 38th year, CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14, in Downtown Nashville. Over four jam-packed days, Nashville’s signature music event features concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more. The event (which started as Fan Fair in 1972) has been an unparalleled celebration of America’s music, drawing thousands of fans and media from all corners of the globe to Nashville. CMA Music Festival was dubbed the “crown jewel of Country Music Festivals” by USA Today and winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s 2004, 2006, and 2008 LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year.  

Performer additions to the artist lineup for 2009 CMA Music Festival are:

*Reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year Brad Paisley, who has received a total of 11 CMA Awards thus far in his career. Paisley last performed at the Festival in 2007.
 
*Former CMA Horizon Award winner Dierks Bentley, who last performed at the Festival in 2007.

*Former CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Award winners Montgomery Gentry, who return again this year.

*Singer, songwriter, entertainer, and host of CMT’s “Gone Country” television series John Rich, who last performed at the Festival in 2007 as part of Big & Rich.

Bentley, Montgomery Gentry, Paisley, and Rich will all perform on the main stage during the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT™ Concert Stage at LP Field, along with previously announced performers Trace Adkins, Julianne Hough, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, and Reba McEntire. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

“It is a pleasure to host such great entertainers at CMA Music Festival,” said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “We know our attendees are going to love these performances.”

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Ticket Information
   
Four-day tickets for 2009 CMA Music Festival are available now. The four-day ticket packages includes the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field, exclusive access to the Greased Lightning® Fan Fair® Hall in the Nashville Convention Center, early access to the Riverfront Park Daytime Stage, exclusive access to the Photo Lines at LP Field and Riverfront Park, and exclusive access to the event shuttle between venues.
For tickets go to Ticketmaster.com.  For more info on CMA Music Festival go to CMAfest.com.  All sales are final and non-refundable.

A limited number of four-day parking passes for LP Field are available. Call toll-free 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) to order. The price is $31 for cars; $63 for vans/shuttles; and $123 for RVs/motor coaches. Prices do not include handling fee. Spaces are limited, and no overnight parking is allowed. All persons planning to park at LP Field must pre-purchase the parking pass. Free shuttles (for four-day registrants) will run daily between major Festival event locations.

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. CMA Board member Tony Conway is the Executive Producer of CMA Music Festival. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music. Wrangler®: The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival. Additional promotional partners include CMT, Dr Pepper®, Durango Boot®, Greased Lighting®, Great American Country (GAC), McDonald’s®, VAULT Citrus Soda.   Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA.

Did you miss last week's CMA Awards or the Music Festival Special?  Want a chance to see them again?  Well you are in luck!  GAC will be airing "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" on the following dates and times:..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

Sun. 12.7, 4:00 PM ET

Sun. 12.7, 8:00 PM ET

Mon. 12.8, 12:00 AM ET

Mon. 12.22, 8:00 PM ET

Tues. 12.23, 12:00 AM ET

 

 

CMT will be airing the 42nd Annual CMA Awards on the following dates and times:

 

Sat. 11.29, 9:00 PM ET

Sun. 11.30, 3:00 PM ET

Mon. 12.1, 9:00 PM ET

Tues. 12.2, 1:00 PM ET

Wed. 12.10, 9:00 PM ET

Thu. 12.11, 2:00 PM ET

 

Hey fellow Country Music fans!

Tonight is the night that CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock airs 9/8c on ABC Television -- hosted by Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler & Julianne Hough. Plus performances by Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Faith Hill, Carrie Underwood and lots more…

Months of work went into this year's special and we think it looks and sounds amazing (720p high def for those who have HD). Can't wait for you to see it and enjoy it, too!

Want to get a little taste of what's coming up tonight? Go to http://www.CMAfest.com/ for photos and behind-the-scenes videos.

Also – special for tonight – while you watch the show follow our live Twitter feed ( http://www.twitter.com/countrymusic ) for additional info and news. Even respond and add to the conversation!

If you like the TV special then you'll have to make the trip and join us for the 2009 CMA Music Festival – four days of non-stop fun and entertainment in the heart of Nashville, TN! For more information including videos on 2009 Tickets go here: http://www.CMAfest.com/2009/

Read to buy tickets for 2009 now? Buy before midnight Wednesday Sept. 10 and get $30 off general admission 4-day passes. That's just $20 a day. Go here and select "find tickets" and enter the code "CMATV" into the promotions box then checkout.

Finally, spread the word by emailing, calling, text messaging your friends and family to watch tonight. It's your one chance to see the 2008 CMA Music Festival TV special on ABC.

Your friends at the Country Music Association

Hey Friends!

We've posted new videos on YouTube - including all the official ABC-TV network promos for the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" TV special (Monday, Sept. 8 at 9/8c). 

Check 'em out, grab 'em and share 'em!  We need your help to make this "CMA Music Festival" special the BIGGEST YET!

http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=CountryMusicAssoc

New videos:

1. Kellie Pickler & Julianne Hough introduce Taylor Swift
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCSFYja62hk

2. Julianne Hough connects Country artists and their fans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hdfl-lu4YwA

3. Taylor Swift from intern to CMA Music Festival Performer and Host
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byZTeLxz-7Y

4. Julianne Hough introduces the CMA Music Festival
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdUSslMwx3A

5. 2008 CMA Music Festival Webisode - Day 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI8DooopROY

 

MORE VIDEOS ARE COMING - INCLUDING MORE EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE FROM TAYLOR, KELLIE & JULIANNE!

Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler and Julianne Hough Share Hosting Duties on Fifth Annual Special 

NASHVILLE - ABC heads to Nashville to take you to the hottest music event, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Reigning CMA Horizon Award winner Taylor Swift, former "American Idol" finalist Kellie Pickler and Country Music Star/"Dancing with the Stars" champion Julianne Hough host the special airing Monday, September 8 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Filmed in Nashville June 5-8, the special features performances by some of today's most exciting Country Music sensations in a four-day party and music celebration: Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Bucky Covington, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Dwight Yoakam.

In addition to exciting, never-before-televised music performances, viewers will also get the ultimate Country Music fan experience firsthand. In exclusively shot segments for the special, the cameras capture the Festival's behind the scenes moments between the artist and their fans and follow the stories of several passionate Country Music fans at the festival. Bucky Covington acts as tour guide around the massive CMA Music Festival and shows the festival experience through his eyes. John Rich of Big & Rich tells us how Gretchen Wilson went from bartender to singer at Nashville's legendary honky tonks, while Taylor Swift sings in an impromptu street performance and signs autographs at the Fan Fair Exhibit Hall. Meanwhile, certain fans are surprised to learn that they've been chosen for a "lucky day" meet and greet with their favorite Country star; Kellie Pickler spends some time with Nick Manciero from Bethany, Conn., Rob Levasseur from East Hartford, Conn. and Dan Orlowski from Woodbridge, Conn.; Faith Hill surprises her biggest fans Juliette Warren and David Newton from Australia and Keith Urban meets Alex Hamel, Stephanie Hayward, and Cara Corbett from Toledo, Ohio. Finally, Sarah and Elizabeth Marince, two young aspiring artists from Pittsburgh, Penn., take a trip with Julianne Hough to her recording studio, which turns into a "girl's day out" for the three of them.

The annual music festival is unlike any other, with four days, 30 hours of autograph signings by Country Music's biggest names and up and comers, 100 hours of live music, more than 400 artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. This is the fourth time ABC  will broadcast this special - which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash - since the original Fan Fair® was launched in 1972. This year 208,000 fans attended CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet.

"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" is executive produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson. The 2008 CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" was shot in high definition and will be broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.