NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Country
Music Association) - The Country
Music Association is turning up the heat this summer with sizzling concert performances and heart- warming stories with some of Country Music's hottest stars on "CMA
Music Festival: Country Music's Biggest Party" - a two-hour network primetime special that will air Monday, July 24 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Filmed in Nashville during the legendary CMA Music Festival, which began as Fan Fair in 1972, the special features performances by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Gary Allan, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Hank Williams, Jr. and Wynonna.
"The artist lineup at this year's CMA Music Festival was amazing and the special really captures the diversity, talent and top-notch concert production that have made these artists fan favorites from coast-to-coast," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. "This time, everyone has a front row seat for some of the hottest performances of the summer!"
"Not only do we get to meet the fans, we also have this great opportunity on TV," said Evans. "So many people dream of going there, the fact that they can see some of the performances on television is great."
In addition, the special captures the heart of CMA Music Festival, which is the unique bond between Country Music artists and their fans. Taped exclusively for the special, the cameras follow the stories of several Festival attendees who have their dreams realized when they are granted a surprise, personal encounter with their favorite Country Music stars.
Backstage after performing at "Good Morning America" in New York City, Chesney met two Nashville college students and Country Music enthusiasts Leslie Shepard and Kacy Hagerty. The pair thought that was the highlight of their whirlwind trip to New York, but there was more. Chesney invited them to fly back to Nashville and be his special guests at CMA Music Festival. The giddy fans traveled with him via limos and a private jet back to Music City, USA, where Chesney invited them on stage for a chorus of "Summertime."
Sean Marks and Kristen Wright, 24 of Buffalo, NY, love Country Music, Sara Evans and each other. Unbeknownst to Wright, Marks planned to propose to his sweetheart during Evans' performance. Evans not only helped Marks pick out a beautiful engagement ring, she also persuaded the jeweler to give him a huge discount. During her CMA Music Festival performance she invited the young couple on stage where Marks dropped to his knee, voice cracking he popped the question and LP Field erupted in cheers as Wright said "Yes!"
During CMA Music Festival, unsuspecting tourists on a sightseeing excursion are "kidnapped" by Paisley when he hijacks a Nashville tour bus and takes the startled group on a hilarious "Brad-way Tour" of some of his favorite Nashville spots. Paisley picks up partner-in-crime Country Music Hall of Fame member Little Jimmy Dickens for a wild ride that includes swiping Dolly Parton's newspaper from her mailbox and handing out pages to the passengers.
Ryan Autery is a 21-year-old U.S. Marine who lost his left arm below the elbow after his Humvee hit an IED (improvised explosive device) in Iraq. He was hospitalized for a year and battles daily with short-term memory loss and the financial challenges of supporting his pregnant wife Stephanie Autery and their young son. And to make matters worse, his truck was recently stolen. LeAnn Rimes, a supporter of disabled veterans' charities, invited the Auterys to meet her backstage at CMA Music Festival, where she surprised them with a brand new Chevy Tahoe filled with baby gifts for the astounded couple.
Molly Hooper and Amy Bailey came to the CMA Music Festival from Alabama for a weekend of fun and to throw a bachelorette party for bride-to-be Melissa Stephens, but the guest of honor ended up being Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, who surprised the group with a full-tilt girls' night out complete with champagne, laughs and fine dining. Nettles' musical partner Kristian Bush came along for the ride and although they never made it to Mississippi, they were definitely up to no good at one of Nashville's notorious honky tonks.
Country singer and movie/television actor John Corbett ("Sex and the City," "Northern Exposure," "My Big Fat Greek Wedding") performed at his first CMA Music Festival in 2006 and gives viewers a birds-eye view of the four-day extravaganza from a helicopter as well as fans on the street. Along the way there are cameo concert performances by Billy Ray Cyrus, Little Big Town and Joe Nichols; autograph signings at the artist booths at Wrangler Fan Fair; a snapshot of Corbett's performance at the Riverfront Stages, where fans enjoy concerts from sunup to sundown; and on to the late night adventures at Nashville's legendary Lower Broadway honky-tonks during CMA Music Festival After Hours(TM).
Each week, designer Paige Hemmis of ABC Television's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," helps deserving families all over the country by building them a new home and fulfilling their dreams. On this special, she does it CMA Music Festival-style by picking fans from the massive stadium crowd at LP Field and taking them to meet their favorite Country Music stars behind the scenes, including Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and Wynonna.
"The relationship between the artists and their fans has been the cornerstone of this event for 35 years," said Genovese. "And the story segments in the special really communicate the loyalty, admiration and dedication between them."
