CMA Fest 2025 Night 2: Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Cody Johnson & More Keep Up The Energy

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Keith Urban performs at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 6, 2025, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville.

Fans packed Nissan Stadium on Friday night (June 6) for the second night of the 52nd CMA Fest, eager for a star-studded lineup despite earlier weather delays.

Multi-hyphenate artist Rita Wilson kicked off the evening with an energetic performance of her pop anthem “The Spark.” She followed it up with “W.O.W. (Wild Ol’ Woman),” rallying fans of all ages to dance along. “You can be 18, 21, 25, 55, or 65—you can all be a wild ol’ woman!” she declared to roaring applause.

Jelly Roll performs with Shaboozey at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 6, 2025, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville.

Next up was Shaboozey, riding the high of a breakout year that saw “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” go multi-Platinum and earn five Grammy nominations. Dressed in plaid-stitched jeans, he opened with lead single “Good News” before surprising the crowd by bringing out Jelly Roll for a live rendition of their collaboration, “Amen.” He closed his set with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” with the entire stadium singing along.

Over on the platform stage, Kameron Marlowe kept the energy high with performances of “Seventeen” and “Tennessee Don’t Mind,” as crews prepped the main stage for the next act.

Parker McCollum followed, opening with “What Kinda Man” and satisfying fans with a string of hits including “Handle On You,” “Pretty Heart” and new song “Big Sky.”

Cody Johnson performs at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 6, 2025, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville.

Back on the satellite stage, newcomer Sam Barber delivered a raw, emotionally-charged version of “Straight and Narrow,” marked by gravelly vocals and a worn-in guitar that added grit to the performance.

Wearing his signature white cowboy hat, Cody Johnson took the main stage with a powerful performance of “The Fall,” followed by his 2025 ACM Song of the Year winner, “Dirt Cheap.” He then welcomed Carín León for a duet on “Hurts Like Tequila,” and wrapped up with his five-times Platinum hit, “‘Til You Can’t,” thanking fans for their unwavering support of country music.

A surprise moment followed at midfield, where Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll performed “Hard Fought Hallelujah” surrounded by a full choir, while drones lit up the sky to form a glowing cross. “God is here tonight, Nashville!” Jelly Roll shouted, igniting a spiritual surge through the stadium.

Noah Kahan performs with Kelsea Ballerini at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 6, 2025, during CMA Fest presented by SoFi in downtown Nashville.

Kelsea Ballerini took the stage in an aquamarine-striped jumpsuit, performing “Blindsided” and “Baggage” before inviting Noah Kahan to join her for their collaboration, “Cowboys Cry Too.” The crowd went wild—and even more so when Kahan stayed onstage to play his viral hit “Stick Season,” joking, “If you haven’t heard the words, you haven’t been in a Target in the last four years.”

Closing out the night was country powerhouse Keith Urban, delivering the most electric set of the evening. He kicked things off with “Long Hot Summer,” complete with a fiery guitar solo, then rolled into “Straight Line,” “Somewhere in My Car,” “Love Somebody Like You” and “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” ending the rain-soaked night on a triumphant high.

John Nix Arledge
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