‘CMA Fest’ Special Set To Air On ABC In August

CMA Fest, the TV special featuring highlight performances from Nashville’s Music Event of Summer, brings the hottest acts together onstage for three full hours of epic collaborations and must-see performances Sunday, Aug. 4 at 7 CT on ABC. The primetime special, hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini with special guest host Bobby Bones, brings the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience to a national TV audience for the 16th straight year.

Filmed during Nashville’s 48th annual CMA Fest in June, the special features more than 30 acts as they appear during the four-day festival. Fans won’t want to miss special collaborations including for the first time ever Lil Nas X joined by Billy Ray Cyrus and Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and The Chainsmokers, Brothers Osborne with Brooks & Dunn and Ashley McBryde, Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell, Tim McGraw and Luke Combs, Maren Morris and Brandi Carlile, and Carrie Underwood with Joan Jett.

Additional performers include Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett and Brett Young.

Thomas Rhett returns to host CMA Fest for a fourth year, first co-hosting the special in 2016, while Kelsea Ballerini returns for a third year.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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