The Music Event of the Summer is coming to you! Catch CMA Fest 2023 as it airs Wednesday, July 19 at 8/7c on ABC. The primetime special will feature can’t miss collaborations and unforgettable performances that took place during the 50th anniversary of CMA Fest just last month in Nashville.
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Dierks Bentley and Elle King, who hosted last year’s main event, returned to guide fans through the excitement of this year’s golden jubilee alongside a third host, Lainey Wilson, who elevated the electricity even more.
“The energy Dierks and Elle bring to the stage is palpable and will only be amplified with the addition of Lainey this year,” said CMA CEO Sarah Trahern. “Each of these artists have a deep passion for CMA Fest and the Country Music fans from around the globe… We are thrilled to have all three of them together to help us celebrate 50 years!”
Several other artists helped celebrate this milestone year for the festival by taking the stage with powerful performances which will be featured in the three-hour special. They include; Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Leon Bridges, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Cody Johnson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban and Lainey Wilson.
“I’m just really excited," Carly Pearce told Audacy of being included in this year’s CMA Fest activities and Nissan Stadium lineup. "I feel like it's literally like my whole life's dream in a way because I used to come to 'Fan Fair' as a kid and it just is gonna be a really special moment that I hope I really understand what's happening... It's gonna be crazy."
LISTEN NOW: Carly Pearce joins Audacy at CMA Fest
See just how crazy things get by not only tuning into the television special on July 19, but also viewing the festival’s Hulu Documentary, CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair.
The special includes one-on-one interviews with artists including Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more. Additionally, it showcases exclusive footage and past CMA Fest performance as it tells the story of the festival's humble beginnings in 1972.
Country newcomer, Priscilla Block, got the experience some big-time magic at Fan Fair X this year as she ran into Reba McEntire — one of her longtime Country idols.
“I mean, I just met Reba [McEntire]," Block said during her interview with Audacy, completely flabbergasted. "And she knew who I was... My peak of life was just now! It's only downhill from here, I guess."
LISTEN NOW: Priscilla Block joins Audacy at CMA Fest
Experiencing CMA Fest isn’t just fun for the artists, fans are the center of the entire CMA Fest Universe as the four-day festival aims to give them the Country experience of a lifetime. From several, free, daytime stages throughout Nashville’s lower Broadway area, Fan Fair meet & greets and heading across the river for the nighttime show at Nissan Stadium — the same performances that will light up your living room come Wednesday night.
Want a sneak peek at the magic to come? Check out the setlist below. Plus, indulge in all of Audacy’s behind-the-scenes interviews with artists like, Hailey Whitters, Russell Dickerson, Parmalee, Mitchell Tenpenny, Drake Milligan and more, brought to you by Simple Green, here.
Alabama — “Mountain Music”
Jason Aldean — “Try That In A Small Town”
Dierks Bentley — “Gold”
Luke Bryan — “But I Got A Beer In My Hand”
Eric Church — “Smoke a Little Smoke”/ "Bad Mother Trucker”
Luke Combs — “Love You Anyway”
Dan + Shay — “Speechless”
Jordan Davis — “Buy Dirt”
Vince Gill and Luke Combs — “One More Last Chance”
HARDY — “TRUCK BED”
HARDY featuring Lainey Wilson — “wait in the truck”
Tyler Hubbard — “Dancin’ In The Country”
Jelly Roll – “Need A Favor”
Cody Johnson — “’Til You Can’t”
Cody Johnson and Reba McEntire — “Whoever’s In New England”
Elle King feat. Miranda Lambert — “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)”
Miranda Lambert and Leon Bridges — “If You Were Mine”
Miranda Lambert and Avril Lavigne — “Kerosene/Sk8er Boi”
Little Big Town — “Wine Beer Whiskey”
Ashley McBryde — “Light On In The Kitchen”
Tim McGraw — “Standing Room Only”
Jo Dee Messina and Carly Pearce — “I’m Alright”
Old Dominion — “Memory Lane”
Jon Pardi — “Your Heart or Mine”
Carly Pearce — “What He Didn’t Do”
Darius Rucker — “Fires Don’t Start Themselves”
Tanya Tucker with Elle King and Lainey Wilson — “Texas (When I Die)”
Keith Urban — “Wild Hearts”
Lainey Wilson — “Watermelon Moonshine”
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