Nashville, TN. (Top40 Charts/
Sara Evans Fans Website) - ABC's hottest music event is back and bigger and better than ever when today's most exciting Country
Music artists hit the stage in Nashville for a four-day party and celebration of America's music for the special "CMA
Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Filming during the Festival June 7-10, the two-hour special will air Monday, July 23 (9:00 -11:00 PM/ET), on the ABC Television Network.
"ABC is the perfect network home for this event," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. "Steve McPherson, Andrea Wong, Mark Bracco and the entire ABC team have demonstrated a huge commitment to the Festival, the CMA Awards and Country Music. They bring a high level of enthusiasm and talent to everything they do in partnership with CMA. "
Sara Evans has just been added to the star-packed lineup. The multi-Platinum artist is a multi-faceted performer, who has been nominated for 13 CMA Awards including five for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her current album, Real Fine Place, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard magazine's Top Country Albums chart and No. 3 on Billboard's Top 200. In 2006, Evans danced her way into America's hearts on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars."
Artists already scheduled to perform include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Jo Dee Messina, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, The Wreckers, and after an 11-year absence from the Festival Reba McEntire. Additional artists will be announced and surprise performances are a hallmark of the event.
This is the third 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.
Last year, more than 161,000 fans from every state and 27 foreign territories attended CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet. In 2006, the event won the International Entertainment Buyers Association's LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year. Now in its 36th year, the Festival continues to spotlight the unique relationship between Country Music artists and their fans.
In addition to high energy, never before televised concert performances, viewers will also experience the Festival's unique bond between the Country Music artists and their fans. Taped exclusively for the special, cameras will follow the stories of several passionate Country Music fans who will have their dreams come true when they are granted a surprise, once-in-a-lifetime meeting and personal encounter with their favorite Country Music stars.
The possibilities are endless. Dubbed the "crown jewel" of Country Music festivals by USA Today, the annual event is unlike any other with 40 hours of autograph signings by Country Music's biggest names and up-and-comers, 70 hours of concerts, more than 400 artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. The artists take time out of their busy touring schedules to play for free to give back to the people and community that have supported them throughout the year. Half the net proceeds from the Festival are donated on behalf of the artists to CMA's charity campaign, "Keep the Music Playing," which supports music education in Metro Nashville's 134 public schools.
