CMA, Public Television Bring Country Music "Front and Center"

CMA will partner with Public Television’s concert series “Front and Center” to present two separate hour-long concert specials for the 2014 fall season. One show will feature the music of Lady Antebellum and special guests. The second show, the 10th Anniversary CMA Songwriters Series celebration, will include Dierks Bentley with top songwriters Jim Beavers, Ross Copperman, Brett James, and Jon Randall. The episodes, which tape later this month in Nashville, are scheduled to air this fall leading up to “The 48th Annual CMA Awards.”
“What began as a discussion to highlight the 10th anniversary of the CMA Songwriters Series is evolving into what we believe can be a long-term partnership that not only highlights the Songwriters Series and our songwriter community on an ongoing basis, but also provides a platform to reach a wider audience through television,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

“CMA resides at the epicenter of Country Music’s past, present, and future. It is an honor and a privilege to be partnering not only with such a prestigious organization, but with an organization that truly understands the bedrock upon which the genre is built – the songwriters and its performers,” said Don Maggi, Executive Producer, “Front and Center.” “Lady Antebellum and Dierks Bentley are two of Country Music’s best and the shows that have been created for their fans will be shows that nobody will want to miss.”
“The CMA Songwriter series is always a really cool gig,” said Bentley. “It’s like everybody in the room is in on a secret or something. You’ve got a couple guys with guitars, telling stories and drinking whiskey – anything can happen!”