Superstar Kenny Chesney To Close 2009 CMA Music Festival

By Maria Eckhardt

Four-time CMA Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney, will bring his electrifying stage show to the 2009 CMA Music Festival as the closing act for Nashville's signature music event. Chesney will be the final performer when he takes the stage for the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field Sunday.

In addition to Chesney, Jason Michael Carroll, Heidi Newfield, and Jimmy Wayne will be performing acoustic sets during the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field.

The 2009 CMA Music Festival continues to get bigger and better, with music, sports, fun and food. There are so many things to do and see at the four-day festival that it now takes seven days to fit it all in.

Worldwide Appeal

CMA Music Festival became an international affair with the "CMA Global Artist Party," sponsored by NiteTrain Coaches, Monday, June 8 at 6:15 PM, at The Stage on Broadway. Hosted by Jace Everett, the Global Artist Party will featured performances from a variety of international Country Music artists including Kirsty Lee Akers (Australia), Victoria Banks (Canada), George Canyon (Canada), Ashley Cooper (New Zealand), Colm Kirwan (Ireland), The McClymonts (Australia), Lucie Silvas (United Kingdom), and Peter McWhirter (Australia).

On Tuesday, starting at 3:30 PM at The Second Fiddle, Robert Reynolds hosts the AristoMedia Global Showcase, sponsored by CMA, Digital Rodeo, and NiteTrain Coaches. Artists participating include Tore Andersen (Norway), David Bradley (United Kingdom), Brianie (United Kingdom), Corey Colum (Australia), Dianna Corcoran(Australia),Rolf Fritschi (Switzerland), Pierre Lorry (France), and Codie Prevost (Canada).

Strike Up the Band

On Wednesday, beginning at 3:00 PM, "The Fifth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade" will feature Country Music artists and other celebrities riding in a wide variety of Chevy vehicles including the all new 2010 ChevyT Camaro. With Rodney Atkins as Grand Marshal,other artists and celebrities participating include Deborah Allen, Lynn Anderson, Katie Armiger, Mandy Barnett, Bo Bice, Bomshel, NASCAR driver Jeff Burton, Caitlin & Will, Carter Twins, Brad Cotter, Sarah Darling, Due West, "The Biggest Loser's" Dan Evans, Colt Ford, The Grascals, Halfway to Hazard, Heartland, Ty Herndon, Steve Holy, Jypsi, Kate & Kacey, Sammy Kershaw, Brenda Lee, LoCash Cowboys, Lonestar, The Lost Trailers, Sean Patrick McGraw, Justin Moore, Megan Munroe, Oak Ridge Boys, One Flew South, Michael Peterson, Collin Raye, NASCAR driver Robert Richardson, Ricochet, Rio Grand, The Roys, Brady Seals, Sunny Sweeney, Trent Tomlinson, Trent Willmon, and Chris Young.
Other participants include the Chevy Little League Baseball, the CMT Mobile mascot, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Ronald McDonald, Music City Drum & Bugle Corps, members of the Nashville Corvette Club, Nashville Zoo mascot Twiga, tractors from New Holland Agriculture, Operation Troop Aid, Tennessee Titans Mascot T-Rac, and members of the Westmoreland FFA Chapter from Westmoreland High School in Westmoreland, Tenn.

Beginning at the corner of Broadway and Sixth Avenue North, the procession will travel down Broadway; turn right on Third Avenue South; proceed down Third Avenue South until turning right on Demonbreun; proceed up Demonbreun to Sixth Avenue, and end at the Sommet Center.

Immediately following the parade, "The Fourth Annual CMA Block Party" will take place at the Sommet Center Plaza Stage (Fifth Avenue South and Broadway). Performers include:

3:05-3:25 PM Trent Tomlinson
3:40-4:00 PM LoCash Cowboys
4:15-4:35 PM Jason Michael Carroll
4:50-5:10 PM The Lost Trailers
5:25-5:45 PM James Otto
6:00-6:20 PM Emerson Drive
6:35-7:05 PM Eric Church
7:20-7:50 PM Rodney Atkins

Party Into The Night

Now in its second year as an official CMA Music Festival event, "Marty Stuart's Late Night Jam" takes place Wednesday (10:00 PM) at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Benefitting MusicCares and CMA's "Keep the Music Playing" music education campaign, this event will feature Native American ensemble Brulé, Cherryholmes, Corb Lund, The Oak Ridge Boys, Connie Smith, Eddie Stubbs, Tanya Tucker, and Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives.

A separate ticket is required for the Late Night Jam and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster outlets and at the Ryman Auditorium Box Office.

The Fun "Officially" Begins

The 2009 CMA Music Festival officially begins Thursday and continues through Sunday with hundreds of artists and celebrities, hours of concerts, autograph signings, family activities, sporting competitions, cooking exhibitions, interactive exhibits, giveaways, games, and much more. 
"CMA Music Festival continues to be a world class event," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese. "Fans from across the country and around the world return year after year to experience the fun and excitement that the Festival and the City of Nashville have to offer. There is no other event where fans can find this level of talent. It is a music lover's dream."

"Keep the Music Playing"

And it all benefits music education in public schools through the "Keep the Music Playing" program. The artists who participate in CMA Music Festival are not compensated for the hours they spend performing and signing autographs. To show its appreciation, CMA contributes half the net proceeds from the event on their behalf. To date, CMA has contributed more than $2.2 million to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools.

Now you can help "Keep the Music Playing" too. The Nashville Alliance for Public Education will be collecting gently-used band instruments Thursday through Saturday (11:00 AM-5:00PM) and Sunday (11:00AM-4:00 PM) in the Dr Pepper®-McDonald's® Family Zone. The instruments will supplement the thousands of instruments already purchased by the program. Artist Jimmy Wayne will be on hand Thursday (2:00-3:00 PM) to accept donations. McDonald's is providing a coupon for a free Extra Value Meal to the first 500 donations.

Fun in the Sun

For the first time, the Daytime Riverfront Stage will be free and to the community and Gretchen Wilson will kick off four days of concerts beginning Thursday (10:00 AM). Over the course of the Festival, many of Country Music's legends and hottest rising stars will perform on the banks of the Cumberland River.

Artists performing include Bill Anderson, John Anderson, Keith Anderson, Bellamy Brothers, Tracy Byrd, Jason Michael Carroll, Eric Church, Bucky Covington, Diamond Rio, Eli Young Band, Emerson Drive, Gloriana, Josh Gracin, Jessica Harp, the Honky Tonk Tailgate Party featuring Jeff Bates, Trent Willmon, and Mark Wills, Randy Houser, Joey + Rory, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Lost Trailers, Love and Theft, Neal McCoy, Peter McWhirter, Jo Dee Messina, John Michael Montgomery, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, Heidi Newfield, Joe Nichols, Jamie O'Neal, Oak Ridge Boys, One Flew South, James Otto, Randy Rogers Band, Collin Raye, Restless Heart, Ashton Shepherd, Aaron Tippin, Phil Vassar, Clay Walker, Chuck Wicks, Darryl Worley, Chris Young, and the winner of the WKDF Battle of the Bands.

The concerts are hosted by a variety of celebrities and broadcast personalities including CMT Radio Live's Cody Alan, Lynn Anderson, WKDF/Nashville's Becca, WSM/Nashville's Bill Cody, Linda Davis, Billy Dean, WSIX/Nashville's Slam Duncan, Cledus T. Judd, Bryan White, and actress Erika Page White.

A Little Night Music

The Nightly Concerts on the VAULTT Concert Stage at LP Field (home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans) feature the biggest names in Country Music, emerging stars and surprise guest. Four-day ticket holders can get a front-row shot from the popular Photo Line, which is in constant motion in front of the stage during the performances.

Pre-show activities opening night (7:30 PM) include a Music City welcome from Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, the presentation of the Stars and Stripes by the U.S Marine Corps Recruiting Station Nashville, and a flyover by the VMFA 251 Thunderbolts (Marines) from Beaufort, S.C.  Chuck Wicks will perform the National Anthem. Performers include (artists and schedule subject to change):

Thursday, June 11
8:00 PM - Brooks & Dunn
8:50 PM - Reba McEntire
9:25 PM - Julianne Hough
9:41 PM - Jimmy Wayne
9:51 PM - Darius Rucker
10:21 PM - Dierks Bentley
10:51 PM - Rascal Flatts
11:26 PM - Brad Paisley

Friday, June 12
8:00 PM - Luke Bryan
8:26 PM - Little Big Town
8:44 PM - Rodney Atkins
9:14 PM - Lady Antebellum
9:44 PM - Jake Owen
10:14 PM - Zac Brown Band
10:40 PM - Jason Aldean

Saturday, June 13
8:00 PM - Josh Turner
8:30 PM - Jamey Johnson
8:50 PM - Jason Michael Carroll
9:00 PM - Lee Ann Womack
9:35 PM - Wynonna with a special appearance by The Judds
10:20 PM - Trace Adkins
11:00 PM - Martina McBride

Sunday, June 14
8:00 PM - Jack Ingram
8:16 PM - Heidi Newfield
8:26 PM - Montgomery Gentry
8:56 PM - Miranda Lambert
9:31 PM - John Rich
10:01PM - Taylor Swift
11:17 PM - Kenny Chesney

Hosts for the Nightly Concerts include Bradford Anderson ("General Hospital"), Brandon Barash ("General Hospital"), Kathy Brier ("General Hospital"), Kassie DePaiva ("One Life To Live"), Bobbie Eakes ("All My Children"), Rebecca Herbst ("General Hospital"), Kimberly McCullough ("General Hospital"), actress Melissa Peterman, CMT's Lance Smith, Greg Vaughan ("General Hospital"), GAC's "Headline Country" host Storme Warren, Bree Williamson ("One Life To Live"), and Laura Wright ("General Hospital").

The Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field feature state-of-the-art production and fireworks at the conclusion of each show. The fireworks display is generously sponsored by Greased Lightning on Friday; and VAULT on Saturday. 

Tickets for each nightly show at LP Field can be purchased at a cost of $40 for reserved seating and $30 for general admission. Single night tickets can be purchased in advance through the CMA Music Festival Box Office at The Sommet Center, 501 Broadway, Nashville, or toll free at 1-800 CMA-FEST (262-3378). Tickets are also available through
Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket price does not include applicable handling fees.
Single night concert tickets will also be sold during CMA Music Festival at the LP Field ticket office beginning Wednesday. The single night concert ticket is only good for that night's performance at LP Field.

Greased Lightning® Fan Fair® Hall

The lifestyle exhibits and autograph booths in the Nashville Convention Center are a traditional favorite. Entrance into the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall is exclusive to four-day ticket holders only. Artists scheduled to sign autographs include legends, today's hitmakers, and tomorrow's hopefuls.

For the first time in 13 years, Reba McEntire will be among the artists meeting their fans and signing autographs in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall. Taylor Swift will be signing in the Big Machine Records booth all day Sunday and Julianne Hough, Little Big Town, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, and Wynonna will also meet their fans.

2010 CMA Music Festival Tickets

The 2010 CMA Music Festival will take place Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13, in Downtown Nashville. Tickets for 2010 CMA Music Festival will be available for sale only in Nashville on Saturday and Sunday (9:30 AM-6:00 PM) at The Sommet Center Box Office, 501 Broadway; Saturday (9:30 AM-10:00 PM) at the LP Field Box Office and Sunday (1:00 -10:00 PM) at the LP Field Box Office.

Tickets for the 2010 CMA Music Festival will go on-sale nationwide Monday, June 15 (10:00 AM/CT).

To order tickets, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (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. Four-day ticket package categories correspond to a different level of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE.