Tucker Wetmore performs at the Hard Rock Stage on Saturday, June 8 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA
The Country Music Association hosted its 51st CMA Fest this past weekend (June 6-9), ushering in the next half-century of bringing country music to fans around the world.
Pictured (L-R) Meagan Bennington, Miller Guth, Shaboozey, Dustee Jenkins, Jackie Augustus, and Anthony Langone celebrate Shaboozey’s Platinum certification at Spotify House at CMA Fest 2024. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Spotify
This year’s festival brought fans from all 50 states and 46 countries to Nashville. With multiple stages spread throughout the city, attendees heard from more than 300 performers. Most of CMA Fest is free of charge, with the option to buy tickets or passes to shows at Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater, as well as admission to Fan Fair X in Music City Center. Artists donate their time to appear at CMA Fest so that a portion of ticket proceeds can directly benefit music education initiatives across the country through the CMA Foundation.
“What an incredible four days and nights! This year’s CMA Fest has truly been a celebration of community and collaboration,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “From Country icons returning to the Fest stage, to emerging acts reaching new audiences for the first time, seeing the fans and the industry embrace our genre in such a meaningful way has been the perfect way to kick off our next 50 years. We can’t wait for 2025!”
Dolly Parton kicks off CMA Fest with a special conversation hosted by Rachel Smith on the CMA Close Up Stage. Photo: Courtesy of CMA
Highlights from CMA Fest 2024 were limitless. Global superstar Dolly Parton kicked off the festival on Thursday morning with a special conversation at Fan Fair X. Shaboozey shut down the streets of Nashville during his CMA Fest-debut set, as did Tucker Wetmore, with his performance on Lower Broadway spilling out onto Broadway.
In addition to the epic nights at Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater, artists performed for fans on the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Good Molecules Reverb Stage and Hard Rock Stage. Labels and other entertainment companies also staged takeovers of Nashville bars and event spaces to showcase their artists. Spotify continued its residency at Ole Red this year for the beloved Spotify House takeover, which kept fans hoping for a spot inside all weekend.
Megan Moroney performs at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest 2024. Photo: Courtesy of CMA
At Nissan Stadium, Post Malone, Jordan Davis, Ashley McBryde, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thomas Rhett and more kicked things off on Thursday night. Friday night featured Cody Johnson, Parker McCollum, Kelsea Ballerini, Jon Pardi, Gretchen Wilson and Luke Bryan; while Saturday night attendees heard from Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Old Dominion, The War And Treaty and Terri Clark. For the final night of music at Nissan Stadium, fans enjoyed sets from Megan Moroney, Brothers Osborne, Josh Turner, Carly Pearce, Bailey Zimmerman and Hardy. Each night featured surprise guests and rising acts showcased on smaller stages in the stadium.
At Ascend Amphitheater, fans packed the venue on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Thursday, “Celebrating 60 Years of Curb Records” offered performances from Rodney Atkins, Lee Brice, Sawyer Brown, Tim Dugger, Hannah Ellis, Harper Grace, Kelsey Hart, Pitney Meyer and Dylan Scott. Friday night kicked off with “Brett Young and Friends,” hosted by Danae Hayes and saw the country star bringing artists to the stage including Colbie Caillat, Gavin DeGraw, Sam Fischer, Charles Kelley, Needtobreathe, Restless Road, Lily Rose and Shaylen. And on Saturday, Tracy Lawrence hosted a night with friends, welcoming several artists including Priscilla Block, Charles Esten, Riley Green, Lee Greenwood, Randy Houser, Maddie & Tae, RaeLynn and Chris Young.
Pictured (L-R): Blake Shelton and Post Malone perform onstage at Spotify House during CMA Fest 2024. Photo: Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Spotify
During the day, when fans weren’t braving the heat at the free outdoor stages, they escaped to the air conditioned Fan Fair X at Music City Center. The 170,000-plus square feet venue featured meet and greets, music, merch and more. Click the link to see highlights from day-time events on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
CMA Fest, the three-hour primetime television special hosted by Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde, airs on Tuesday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. central on ABC and streams next day on Hulu.
The 52nd CMA Fest will take place in Nashville from Thursday, June 5 through Sunday, June 8, 2025.
Pictured (L-R): BMI’s Clay Bradley and MaryAnn Keen, Meg McRee, BMI’s Nina Carter and Opry Entertainment Group’s Sean Lupton before McRee’s set at the Ryman and BMI Block Party. Photo: Erika Goldring for BMI
Sam Williams performs at the UMG Nashville Takeover at Skydeck. Photo: Chris Hollo
Pictured (L-R): (L-R): Sony Music Nashville’s Liz Cost, Caryl Atwood and Ken Robold; Kameron Marlowe; SMN’s Jen Way, Red Light Management’s Kaitlin Madewell; SMN’s Fred Rubenstein; Lauren Zimmerman; Steve Hodges and Madeline Lary celebrate Marlowe’s new Gold certification at ACMA for Campy Sony. Photo: Adam Davis
Pictured (L-R): Warner Music Nashville’s Rohan Kohli, Bailey Zimmerman, Cris Lacy and Mary Catherine Rebrovick before Zimmerman’s debut performance on the CMA Fest Nissan Stadium main stage. Photo: Courtesy of WMN
Pictured (L-R): Amazon’s Country Heat Weekly host Kelly Sutton, Thomas Rhett and host Amber Anderson at the Closeup Stage. Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
Pictured (L-R): WME’s Barrett Sellers, 33 Creative’s Tina Crawford, Avery Anna and manager 33 Creative’s David Fanning at Spotify House
LB Cantrell is Editor/Director of Operations at MusicRow magazine, where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication’s six annual print issues and online news. She is a Georgia native and a graduate of the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.
