CMA Fest Night 4: Hardy, Megan Moroney & More Close Out CMA Fest 2024

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Hardy performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Eager fans flocked to Nissan Stadium on Sunday night (June 9) for the fourth and final night of CMA Fest 2024. The sun sat perfectly behind the stage as the finale night of music was kicking off.

First up was Josh Turner, who graced stage in a simple black button up and jeans. With guitar in hand, Turner got the party started with “Firecracker,” immediately engaging the crowd. “I hope everyone’s been having a good time at CMA Fest this week,” Turner exclaimed before singing “Heatin’ Things Up” off his upcoming record. The track got the crowd clapping along, and he kept the enthusiasm going with smash hit “Your Man.” To end the set, eerie train noises rang through the stadium, and everyone rose to their feet for “Long Black Train.”

Josh Turner performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. HARDY performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

With the sun fully set, it was time for the next performer, Megan Moroney. Strutting onto the stage in a dark blue dress and white cowgirl boots, Moroney kicked off her set with “Lucky” before grabbing her bedazzled guitar for her current radio single “I’m Not Pretty.” With the crowd buzzing, she played her newly released “Man On The Moon,” which will be on her forthcoming new album Am I Okay? 

“CMA Fest is a really special time of year for me,” Moroney shared. “Two years ago, I was playing the small shows for less than a hundred people. I had my brother come up [from Georgia] and play guitar for me because I didn’t have a band. Last year, we got invited to play on the platform stage [at Nissan Stadium].”

To signify the full circle moment of getting to play on the main stage, Moroney brought out her brother to play guitar on “No Caller ID.” She then grabbed her electric guitar for “Indifferent,” before wrapping her set with breakout hit “Tennessee Orange.”

Megan Moroney performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. HARDY performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

In between then main stage set change, fans turned their attention to the platform stage where newcomer Zach Top had the crowd singing along to “Sounds Like The Radio” and his country ballad “Use Me.”

As blue lights grazed the main stage, Brothers Osborne emerged playing “Break Mine,” immediately capturing the crowd. The duo then performed their version of “I Won’t Back Down” from the upcoming Tom Petty tribute album. With their sensational guitar playing and vocal abilities, the brothers had every single person in the stadium up on their feet by the time they played “I’m Not For Everyone.”

Keeping the energy on 10, the brothers went into their hit “Stay A Little Longer,” and ran down the stairs to bring the performance closer to the fans. After confirming that the crowd was still hyped, they got everyone clapping on “It Ain’t My Fault” before closing their set with a cover of Don Williams’ “Tulsa Time.”

Brothers Osborne performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. HARDY performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Back on the platform stage Wyatt Flores captivated the crowd as he played “Please Don’t Go” and “Holes.” Overcome with emotion, the singer made sure to soak the moment in.

With no signs of slowing down, the show continued when Carly Pearce graced the main stage. She started her set with “Rock Paper Scissors” off her newly released album Hummingbird. With her signature country sound taking over the venue, Pearce then gave some advice through “Next Girl.” She then slowed it down for one of her own personal favorites, “What He Didn’t Do,” where she also sang face to face with a few audience members near the stage.

Notching the party back up, Pearce shared another track from her new album, “Truck On Fire,” which had the audience dancing along. The singer then showed off her powerful vocals with her current radio single “We Don’t Fight Anymore.”

Before closing her set, Pearce shared, “I moved [to Nashville] 15 years ago this year. Growing up, I only thought about country music. The only thing I did was dream and pray that I would be up here one day.” She left the audience with her hit “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”

Carly Pearce performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. HARDY performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

Just a few minutes later, Jackson Dean appeared in the middle of the stadium sporting his signature look and treated the crowd to a special, intimate performance of “Fearless.”

The anticipation in Nissan Stadium was buzzing for the next performer. As they announced his name, the crowd roared as Bailey Zimmerman appeared on stage. In his white t-shirt that said “lover,” Zimmerman opened his electrifying set with “Religiously.” He then grabbed his guitar to play his favorite song “Fix’n To Break,” before going into his newest radio single “Holy Smokes.”

With the crowd the palm of his hand, Zimmerman stood on the edge of the stage and encouraged everyone to get loud for his two-week No. 1 single, “Where It Ends.” As the singer stood in the center of the stage and took in the crowd, he started to get emotional.

Bailey Zimmerman performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. HARDY performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

“In 2020, I was building gas lines,” Zimmerman recalled. “I had never sang, never picked up a guitar and didn’t know how to write songs. When I moved to town, CMA Fest was the thing everyone talked about—it’s a dream to be playing here right now. I am proof that if you work hard and believe in yourself, anything can happen.” He then wrapped his set with his big hit “Rock And A Hard Place,” complete with a dazzling cell phone light display from the audience.

As the last performance of CMA Fest 2024 was on the horizon, the country music crowd was ready. Before he even hit the stage, the crowd was chanting “Hardy!” over and over. The star ran onto the stage with his custom Crow hockey jersey underneath the dark blue lights, and opened his set with “Rockstar” and “Jack,” immediately sending the energy in the stadium into a frenzy. Hardy then went into “Psycho” off his upcoming album Quit!! During the song, he sat on the steps leading down to the pit, creating a special moment for the crowd.

Hardy and Big & Rich perform at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. HARDY performs at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 9 during CMA Fest 2024 in downtown Nashville. Photo: Courtesy of CMA

In front of the stage, Hardy grabbed his guitar and slowed the night down with “Six Feet Under,” a song he wrote for his wife Caleigh. As the single spotlight shined down, the crowd was charmed by his vocals and vulnerable lyrics. Keeping the night going, he brought out Big & Rich to celebrate the 20th year of “Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy).”

The collaboration had the audience roaring, eagerly awaiting what was next. In another surprise, Lauren Alaina joined Hardy on stage and the two sang his first country radio No. 1, “One Beer.” As the stadium quieted, the slow opening music for “Wait In The Truck” began, instantly exciting everyone in the room. Hardy started singing the award-winning hit and then was joined on stage by Pearce for Lainey Wilson’s part. For the “last song of CMA Fest,” Hardy polished off the night with another smash hit “Truck Bed.”

CMA Fest 2025 is scheduled for June 5-8, 2025.

Madison Hahnen
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