NASHVILLE, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Country
Music Association) - Fan favorites
Phil Vassar and
Jo Dee Messina will kick off 2008 CMA
Music Festival on the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages Thursday, June 5 (10:00 AM/CT). Each artist's performance is sure to rev up the crowd for all the non-stop excitement happening at the four-day event, taking place in Downtown Nashville throughSunday, June 8.
"Having Phil and Jo Dee kick off CMA Music Festival this year is going to be a real treat for our attendees," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "All three artists are beloved by the fans, and they set the bar high with their live performances. This will be an exciting morning of live music!"
Curb recording artist Messina will release her fifth studio album later this year. The 1999 CMA Horizon Award winner has racked up numerous hits, including "Heads Carolina, Tails California," "I'm Alright," "Bye Bye," "Bring on the Rain," "That's the Way," "Lesson in Leavin'" and "Stand Beside Me."
Universal South recording artist Vassar recently debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart with his new album Prayer of a Common Man. Vassar has achieved success both as a solo artist, with hit singles including "Carlene," "Another Day in Paradise" and "American Child;" and as a songwriter for other artists including "I'm Alright" and "Bye Bye" (Jo Dee Messina), "My Next Thirty Years" and "For A Little While" (Tim McGraw), "Right on the Money" (Alan Jackson), and more.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, Jeff Bates, "American Idol: Season Four" runner up Bo Bice, Lane Brody, Jason Michael Carroll, Billy Gilman, Josh Gracin, Andy Griggs, Con Hunley, Jack Ingram, Jamey Johnson, Mindy McCready, Joe Nichols, and Eddy Raven have also been added to the Riverfront lineup.
Additional Riverfront performers include newcomers and rising stars Dean Brody, Zac Brown, Stephen Cochran, Star De Azlan, Flynnville Train, Jeff Griffith (performing with the legendary Joe Stampley), Greg Hanna, Rick Huckaby, James LeBlanc, Jeremy McComb and Jason Meadows.
Single-day tickets for the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages will be sold the day of each show at the gate for $16 each. Children 6 and younger are admitted free of charge, making the Riverfront concerts a popular destination for families who want to enjoy great musical performances while relaxing on the sloping bank of the Cumberland River. The concerts are fun in the sun within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites, with food vendors, activities and more.
The opening festivities are just the start of more than 30 hours of performances covering the entire range of Country Music from today's rising stars, to legends, bluegrass, and more at the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages. Over the four day event, more than 100 artists are scheduled to perform during the Daytime Concerts.
Thursday, June 5: Keith Anderson, Bellamy Brothers, Zac Brown, Lee Brice, Luke Bryan, Tracy Byrd, Jason Michael Carroll, Mark Chesnutt, Carters Chord, Emerson Drive, Adam Gregory, Andy Griggs, Mindy McCready, Richie McDonald, Jo Dee Messina, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, Danielle Peck, Eddy Raven, Crystal Shawanda, Phil Stacey, Aaron Tippin, Phil Vassar, and Chuck Wicks.
Friday, June 6: Jeff Bates, Dean Brody, Eric Church, Crossin' Dixon, Star DeAzlan, Ashley Gearing, Jeff Griffith with Joe Stampley, Jennifer Hanson, Heartland, Rick Huckaby, Jack Ingram, Sarah Johns, Jypsi, James LeBlanc, Lonestar, Lost Trailers, Jeremy McComb, Neal McCoy, Jason Meadows, Lorrie Morgan, Megan Mullins, Jake Owen, The Road Hammers, Ashton Shepherd, Fisher Stevenson, Emily West, and Chris Young.
Saturday, June 7: Katie Armiger, John Berry, Bo Bice, Stephen Cochran, Eli Young Band, Flynnville Train, Billy Gilman, Randy Houser, Emma Mae Jacob, Jamey Johnson, Justin Moore, Michael Martin Murphey, Minnie Murphy, Telstra winner Jasmine Rae, The Honky Tonk Tailgate Party (Buddy Jewell, Ray Scott, Trent Willmon and Mark Wills), Joe Nichols, Mica Roberts, The Roys, Jeffrey Steele, Doug Stone, Mel Tillis, Trailer Choir, Jimmy Wayne, Whiskey Falls, and Darryl Worley.
Sunday, June 8: Country Music Hall of Fame member Bill Anderson, Charlie Allen, Lane Brody, T. Graham Brown, Laura Bryna, Carolina Rain, Cowboy Crush, Drew Davis Band, Whitney Duncan, 2008 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Fortune, Josh Gracin, Greg Hanna, Ty Herndon, Con Hunley, LoCash Cowboys, Rockie Lynne, Raul Malo, Mel McDaniel, Oak Ridge Boys, Jamie O'Neal, Rissi Palmer, Rio Grand, Sunny Sweeney, Bryan White, and Billy Yates.
The National Anthem will be sung by Deborah Allen on June 5; Adam Gregory on June 6; Rhonda Towns on June 7; and Lane Brody on Sunday, June 8.
Each day's concert schedule is broken down into hosted segments. Among the hosts scheduled to appear during the Daytime Concerts are: "GAC Nights" host Suzanne Alexander; GAC "Master Series" host and WSM-AM/Nashville personality Bill Cody; WSM/Nashville personality Jim Day; WUBL/Atlanta personality Slam Duncan; WGSQ/Cookeville personality Philip Gibbons; owner Country Air Check and host of the weekly "CMT Country Countdown USA" Lon Helton; The Tennessean celebrity and entertainment columnist Beverly Keel; GAC "Grand Ole Opry Live" host Nan Kelley; WSIX/Nashville personality Newman; WKRN-TV entertainment reporter Brad Schmitt; WZTV-TV "Tennessee Mornings" host Kelly Sutton; WKDF/Nashville personality Becca Walls; GAC "Country Music Across America" host Storme Warren; and performer Billy Yates. Special appearances will also be made by some of the ABC Daytime actors on Saturday, June 7.
Greased Lightning has been a title sponsor of the Daytime Stages since 2002.
"We are excited about our eighth year at the CMA Music Festival," said Helmut Baker, Greased Lightning Vice President of Household Products. "We enjoy connecting with the Country Music fan base attending all the great concerts and hope everyone will get a chance to come by one of our booths at the Festival."
For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances and more, visit https://www.CMAfest.com and sign up for e-news.
CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. CMA Board member Tony Conway is the Executive Producer of CMA Music Festival. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music. Borders Books & Music: The Exclusive Music & Book retailer of the CMA Music Festival. Wrangler: The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival. Additional promotional partners include, Carl Black Chevrolet, CMT, Dr Pepper, Greased Lightning Cleaning Products, Mary Kay, McDonald's, Music City Rising Star, Tetley Iced Tea, truTV, and VAULT. Fan Fair is a registered trademark of CMA.
