Carrie Underwood performs at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, June 11 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Talent showed up in spades this Saturday (June 11) and Sunday (June 12) for the final CMA Fest shows at Nissan Stadium.
On Saturday, fans were treated to a wide array of music from Randy Houser, Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and more.
“This is a dream come true to get to play this stage tonight,” Houser said when he took the stage. He played some of his hits, such as “How Country Feels,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and “Like A Cowboy,” as well as his newest single, “Note To Self.”
Brothers Osborne came out rocking with a high energy set. They thrilled fans with many guitar solos, giant dancing skeletons, and their fun sing-alongs, such as “Stay A Little Longer,” “I’m Not For Everyone,” and “It Ain’t My Fault.”
Luke Combs performs at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, June 11 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
When Combs appeared on stage, it seemed like every fan in the stadium was there to see him. He had the loudest crowd response of all of the artists who took the Nissan Stadium stage during CMA Fest as he performed hit after hit, barely missing a beat. Between performances of Combs’ multitude of No. 1s, such as “When It Rains It Pours,” “Cold As You,” “Beautiful Crazy,” “Lovin On You,” and more, the young star continuously commented on his gratitude.
“This will be the last concert I play before I’m a dad,” he said. “I still honestly can’t believe I get to stand here and do this.”
In addition to his well-know radio hits, Combs played his next single from his upcoming album. Titled “The Kind Of Love We Make,” Combs leans into his romantic side for the tune. He closed with a rowdy “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
Bryan was also on the bill Saturday night, and brought his arsenal of hits to his fun set. The entertainer thrilled fans with “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Drink A Beer,” and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”
After performing “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” Bryan let the crowd know he had just caught his personal best large mouth bass. The country crowd cheered with admiration.
Underwood was no less than stellar when she closed Saturday night’s show. The ultimate storyteller brought the drama with her theatrical “Church Bells,” “Blown Away,” and “Ghost Story,” and she brought the heat with “Good Girl” and “Undo It.”
During “Jesus Take The Wheel,” the star vocalist went into a chill-inducing verse of “How Great Thou Art.” She closed Saturday night’s show with a one-two punch, “Last Name” and “Before He Cheats.”
On Sunday night, fans heard from Sara Evans, Lady A, Elle King, Parker McCollum, Russell Dickerson, Old Dominion, Dierks Bentley and more to cap off their CMA Fest 2022.
Kylie Morgan, Angie K, and Everette opened the show. Evans treated early attendees to “Suds In The Bucket,” “A Little Bit Stronger” and “Born To Fly.”
Lady A and BRELAND perform at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 12 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville…
Lady A showed off their harmonies and sing-along anthems during their set. From their uptempo dance hits such as “Bartender,” “Downtown,” and “You Look Good,” to their meaningful “What A Song Can Do,” the group had the crowd in the palm of their hands.
“How good does it feel to here,” Lady A’s Hillary Scott said. “It’s so great to be back together in this incredible stadium in Music City.”
In a standout moment of the night, Lady A invited Breland out to join them on “Need You Now.” Nissan Stadium ate it up.
Breland was the first surprise guest of the night, but not the last. Elle King invited Ashley McBryde to join her for her hit “Ex’s & Oh’s,” and Russell Dickerson had Jake Scott join him for “She Likes It.”
McCollum played a two-song set on the main stage for his CMA Fest debut. “Country music is alive and well,” he said between performances of “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved By You.” In a sweet moment, the young entertainer looked up to the sky in disbelief and the huge crowd.
Old Dominion brought all the good vibes when they took the stage. The reigning CMA Group of the Year encouraged concert-goers with their “Make It Sweet,” “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart,” and “No Hard Feelings.” They brought the romance with “Written In The Stars” and “Snapback.”
“This is what country music was made for baby!” said Old Dominion front-man Matt Ramsey.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Dierks Bentley perform at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 12 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Bentley closed out CMA Fest 2022 with a bang. In addition to performing some of his beloved hits, Bentley brought out King for their new duet, “Worth A Shot.” In the greatest surprise of the night, Bentley invited Billy Ray Cyrus out for a thrilling “Achy Breaky Heart” sing-along.
Like Thursday and Friday’s show, the weekend Nissan shows highlighted rising artists on the Platform Stage.
On Saturday, Frank Ray took the Platform Stage to perform “Country’d Look Good On You” and Mitchell Tenpenny played “Truth About You” and “Drunk Me.” On Sunday, Madeline Edwards performed “The Road” and “Hold Your Horses,” while Dylan Scott played “My Girl” and “New Truck.”
Next year’s CMA Fest is scheduled to take place June 8 – 11, 2023.
Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Lady A Shine In Weekend CMA Fest Shows At Nissan Stadium
/by LB CantrellCarrie Underwood performs at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, June 11 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Talent showed up in spades this Saturday (June 11) and Sunday (June 12) for the final CMA Fest shows at Nissan Stadium.
On Saturday, fans were treated to a wide array of music from Randy Houser, Brothers Osborne, Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and more.
“This is a dream come true to get to play this stage tonight,” Houser said when he took the stage. He played some of his hits, such as “How Country Feels,” “Runnin’ Outta Moonlight” and “Like A Cowboy,” as well as his newest single, “Note To Self.”
Brothers Osborne came out rocking with a high energy set. They thrilled fans with many guitar solos, giant dancing skeletons, and their fun sing-alongs, such as “Stay A Little Longer,” “I’m Not For Everyone,” and “It Ain’t My Fault.”
Luke Combs performs at Nissan Stadium on Saturday, June 11 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
When Combs appeared on stage, it seemed like every fan in the stadium was there to see him. He had the loudest crowd response of all of the artists who took the Nissan Stadium stage during CMA Fest as he performed hit after hit, barely missing a beat. Between performances of Combs’ multitude of No. 1s, such as “When It Rains It Pours,” “Cold As You,” “Beautiful Crazy,” “Lovin On You,” and more, the young star continuously commented on his gratitude.
“This will be the last concert I play before I’m a dad,” he said. “I still honestly can’t believe I get to stand here and do this.”
In addition to his well-know radio hits, Combs played his next single from his upcoming album. Titled “The Kind Of Love We Make,” Combs leans into his romantic side for the tune. He closed with a rowdy “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
Bryan was also on the bill Saturday night, and brought his arsenal of hits to his fun set. The entertainer thrilled fans with “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” “Kick The Dust Up,” “Drink A Beer,” and “Country Girl (Shake It For Me).”
After performing “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day,” Bryan let the crowd know he had just caught his personal best large mouth bass. The country crowd cheered with admiration.
Underwood was no less than stellar when she closed Saturday night’s show. The ultimate storyteller brought the drama with her theatrical “Church Bells,” “Blown Away,” and “Ghost Story,” and she brought the heat with “Good Girl” and “Undo It.”
During “Jesus Take The Wheel,” the star vocalist went into a chill-inducing verse of “How Great Thou Art.” She closed Saturday night’s show with a one-two punch, “Last Name” and “Before He Cheats.”
On Sunday night, fans heard from Sara Evans, Lady A, Elle King, Parker McCollum, Russell Dickerson, Old Dominion, Dierks Bentley and more to cap off their CMA Fest 2022.
Kylie Morgan, Angie K, and Everette opened the show. Evans treated early attendees to “Suds In The Bucket,” “A Little Bit Stronger” and “Born To Fly.”
Lady A and BRELAND perform at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 12 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville…
Lady A showed off their harmonies and sing-along anthems during their set. From their uptempo dance hits such as “Bartender,” “Downtown,” and “You Look Good,” to their meaningful “What A Song Can Do,” the group had the crowd in the palm of their hands.
“How good does it feel to here,” Lady A’s Hillary Scott said. “It’s so great to be back together in this incredible stadium in Music City.”
In a standout moment of the night, Lady A invited Breland out to join them on “Need You Now.” Nissan Stadium ate it up.
Breland was the first surprise guest of the night, but not the last. Elle King invited Ashley McBryde to join her for her hit “Ex’s & Oh’s,” and Russell Dickerson had Jake Scott join him for “She Likes It.”
McCollum played a two-song set on the main stage for his CMA Fest debut. “Country music is alive and well,” he said between performances of “Pretty Heart” and “To Be Loved By You.” In a sweet moment, the young entertainer looked up to the sky in disbelief and the huge crowd.
Old Dominion brought all the good vibes when they took the stage. The reigning CMA Group of the Year encouraged concert-goers with their “Make It Sweet,” “No Such Thing As A Broken Heart,” and “No Hard Feelings.” They brought the romance with “Written In The Stars” and “Snapback.”
“This is what country music was made for baby!” said Old Dominion front-man Matt Ramsey.
Billy Ray Cyrus and Dierks Bentley perform at Nissan Stadium on Sunday, June 12 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Bentley closed out CMA Fest 2022 with a bang. In addition to performing some of his beloved hits, Bentley brought out King for their new duet, “Worth A Shot.” In the greatest surprise of the night, Bentley invited Billy Ray Cyrus out for a thrilling “Achy Breaky Heart” sing-along.
Like Thursday and Friday’s show, the weekend Nissan shows highlighted rising artists on the Platform Stage.
On Saturday, Frank Ray took the Platform Stage to perform “Country’d Look Good On You” and Mitchell Tenpenny played “Truth About You” and “Drunk Me.” On Sunday, Madeline Edwards performed “The Road” and “Hold Your Horses,” while Dylan Scott played “My Girl” and “New Truck.”
Next year’s CMA Fest is scheduled to take place June 8 – 11, 2023.
Weekly Register: Zach Bryan’s ‘Something In The Orange’ Peaks On Country Songs Chart
/by Lydia FarthingZach Bryan
Breakout artist Zach Bryan claims the top streaming country song this week as “Something In The Orange” racks up an impressive 11 million streams, contributing to its 65 million streams RTD. The track sits at No. 65 overall, according to Luminate data.
Bryan also maintains his second position on the top country albums chart with his 34-track American Heartbreak. The project adds 34K in total consumption (886 album only/42 million song streams).
Morgan Wallen continues to reign on the top country albums chart with Dangerous: The Double Album earning 52K in total consumption (1.4K album only/64 million song streams). Wallen also claims the fourth spot with If I Know Me, gaining 18K. Luke Combs takes the remaining spots with What You See Is What You Get at No. 3 with 18K and This One’s For You at No. 5 with 17K.
On the top country songs chart, Wallen snags three spots: “You Proof” at No. 2 with 10 million streams, “Wasted On You” at No. 3 with 8.4 million streams, and “Whiskey Glasses” at No. 5 with 6.2 million streams. Bailey Zimmerman takes the fourth spot with “Fall In Love” gaining 7.7 million streams.
Bethel Music’s Jenn Johnson Promoted To President & Interim CEO
/by Lorie HollabaughJenn Johnson
Jenn Johnson has been named President and Interim CEO of Bethel Music. She rises to the position after co-founding the label in 2001 with her husband Brian.
The label has also announced additional promotions and hires to the label.
In the Nashville office, Erica Boutwell has been named Head of Communications after joining Bethel Music as an Executive Assistant three years ago. Adrian Thompson has been appointed the new Head of A&R after joining the label nine months ago. Morgan Shirey also joined the Bethel Music staff five months ago as Marketing Director. Rounding out the Nashville office, Matt Lopez will be relocating this summer after four years based in Redding, California as the Director of Publishing Admin & Digital Rights.
“I’m so fired up about the future of Bethel Music,” shares Jenn. “We have such an incredible group of people joining us on this journey and pushing us to the next level. The new music that we are creating and the community surrounding it is the strongest it’s been. This new era of Bethel Music has been so beautiful, and I am so excited to see what’s in store.”
Bethel Music has grown from a local church music ministry to a global outreach made up of a collective of songwriters, artists and musicians. The label has released 15 corporate worship albums, was nominated for 14 Dove Awards in 2019 alone, and has been awarded eight Dove Awards as a whole.
Over the years they have contributed to multiple Grammy nominations, including Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love” in 2017, and Dante Bowe’s “Voice of God” and “Joyful” in 2022. “Reckless Love” also garnered an ASCAP Christian Award for “Song of the Year.”
Nick Davisson Signs With Erv Woolsey Company, Announces Debut Single
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Vice President of New Artist Management & Operations for The Erv Woolsey Company/Rollin’ The Dice Records Allen Mitchell, Nick Davisson and Chairman/CEO Erv Woolsey. Photo: Clay Enos
Nick Davisson has signed with the Erv Woolsey Co. for management. Davisson’s debut acoustic single, “Wild West,” will be available on all platforms June 17.
Co-written and produced by renowned songwriter Phil “Philbilly” O’Donnell, “Wild West” is a blend of country, folk and pop. Davisson is also currently writing with bluegrass singer-songwriter Ronnie Bowman, Wyatt Durrette, and other top writers.
A Fairmont, West Virginia native, Davisson has been playing music since he was big enough to hold a guitar. A former WVU wide receiver, he comes by his talent for music honestly as the son and nephew of journeymen Donnie and Chris Davisson, respectively, of the Nashville-based Davisson Brothers Band.
This summer and fall, Davisson will be on tour as the supporting act for Colbie Caillat on her “Coco 15th Anniversary Tour,” which includes 20 stops in Dallas, San Diego, St. Louis, and more, including an upcoming Nashville date on June 16.
Mickey Guyton To Host PBS’ ‘A Capitol Fourth’
/by Lorie HollabaughMickey Guyton
Mickey Guyton has been tapped as the host of this year’s A Capitol Fourth, the 42nd edition of America’s national Independence Day celebration on PBS.
Guyton will lead an all-star cast in a patriotic evening of musical performances by stars from all genres featuring the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of premier pops conductor Jack Everly.
The national tradition, airing live from Washington, D.C., puts viewers front and center for America’s biggest birthday party, with a display of fireworks lighting up the D.C. skyline. Additional talent announcements will be coming soon.
“I am so excited to be hosting A Capitol Fourth this year live from Washington, D.C.,” shares Guyton. “It’s an honor to be leading our nation’s 246th birthday celebration, and to share music, fun and fireworks with my family and all of yours!”
“We are thrilled to welcome Mickey Guyton back after her show-stopping performance on the 2021 broadcast to host this year’s A Capitol Fourth,” adds Executive Producer Michael Colbert. “From spectacular fireworks to patriotic classics and performances by the biggest stars, the concert will offer something for everyone’s Independence Day party. We hope you’ll make the program part of your holiday plans.”
The special airs on PBS July 4 from 7-8:30 p.m. CT, as well as to our troops serving around the world on the American Forces Network. It will also be streaming on YouTube and pbs.org/a-capitol-fourth, and will be available as Video on Demand from July 4-18.
Country Music Hall Of Famers Charlie McCoy & Don Schlitz Invited To Join Opry Family
/by Lorie HollabaughPictured (L-R): Charlie McCoy, Vince Gill and Don Schlitz. Photo: Chris Hollo
Musician Charlie McCoy and songwriter Don Schlitz were both invited to become members of the Grand Ole Opry over the weekend.
The invitations came from fellow Hall of Famer and 27-year Opry member Vince Gill, and marked the first time the Opry has invited two entertainers to each become Opry members in a single evening.
Both artists are members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and each will be officially inducted into the Opry later this summer.
Vince Gill & Charlie McCoy. Photo: Chris Hollo
Among the legions of monumental recordings on which McCoy has played are “The Boxer,” “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” “Orange Blossom Special,” and “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.” Schlitz, meanwhile, has written or co-written some of country’s biggest hits of the last half-century, including “The Gambler,” “Forever and Ever, Amen,” “When You Say Nothing At All,” and “On The Other Hand.”
“I’ve had so many amazing things happen,” McCoy responded after receiving the special honor from Gill, “but I want to tell you what–this is the icing on the cake. I cannot thank everyone enough for this honor. I am blown away. Thank you.”
Later in the evening Gill sat in on Schlitz’ set, accompanying him on acoustic guitar on “The Gambler” and “When You Say Nothing At All” before noting the Opry was also asking Schlitz to become a member.
Don Schlitz & Vince Gill. Photo: Chris Hollo
Overcome, Schlitz exclaimed, “I’m gonna be a member of the Grand Ole Opry! Can I bring my songs with me? Like Charlie said, ‘This is the icing.’”
“It is not an exaggeration at all to say Charlie McCoy has played on the soundtrack to almost every country music fan’s life and that Don Schlitz has written at least a portion of each of those soundtracks,” Opry Executive Producer Dan Rogers added. “Every time Charlie or Don plays the Opry, each showcase something incredibly special about the Opry and our hometown of Nashville.”
Toby Keith Reveals Stomach Cancer Diagnosis
/by Lydia FarthingToby Keith. Photo: Richard McLaren
Country music artist Toby Keith shared on social media that he has been diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Over the past six months the award-winning entertainer has been receiving chemotherapy, radiation, and undergoing surgery.
“So far, so good,” the Oklahoma native wrote. “I need time to breathe, recover and relax. I am looking forward to spending this time with my family. But I will see the fans sooner than later. I can’t wait.”
Since coming onto the country music scene in 1993 with his breakout hit “Should’ve Been A Cowboy,” Keith has sold over 40 million albums, amassed more than 10 billion career streams, and seen 32 singles hit the top of the charts. He is also a three-time BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2021, and was the recipient of the ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award last year.
Keith released his most recent record, Peso In My Pocket, in October of 2021 which featured the lead single “Old School.”
Lainey Wilson Joins Cast Of ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5
/by LB CantrellLainey Wilson. Photo: Nick Rau
ACM New Female of the Year 2022 winner, Lainey Wilson, will be a cast member on season five of Yellowstone, the hit western show featuring Kevin Costner.
Wilson will play a musician named Abby, a character crafted specifically for her by Yellowstone co-creator Taylor Sheridan.
“I’m such a fan of Yellowstone and Taylor—this is an absolute dream, a dream I didn’t even know was on the menu. Taylor, Andrea [von Foerster] and the entire team over there have been so good to me over the years and for Taylor to create a character aligned with who I am as an artist is just wild,” shares Wilson. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to not only step outside my comfort zone and explore acting but to share more of my music on such an incredible platform, especially one that fans eagerly look to for music discovery.”
Since its 2018 debut, Yellowstone has not only become a hit television show but also a trend-setting platform for country music. The Emmy-nominated show has featured music from Wilson, Sturgill Simpson, Tyler Childers, Zach Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Whiskey Myers, Jon Pardi, and many more, solidifying it as a sought-after music discovery opportunity. Wilson’s music has been featured three times over the course of the series and she was selected to do an exclusive performance in partnership with the show and Fritos during the commercial breaks during the season four finale.
Wilson earned her first No. 1 with the Platinum-certified ACM Song of the Year “Things A Man Oughta Know.” In 2021, she was named to a variety of Artist to Watch lists and won MusicRow Magazine’s Discovery Artist of the Year award. The Louisiana native also recently returned to the top of the country radio charts with her two-week No. 1 hit “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell.
Season five of Yellowstone will premiere on Nov. 13 on Paramount Network.
Zac Brown Band Announce Plans To Release ‘The Comeback Deluxe Album’
/by Lorie HollabaughZac Brown Band. Photo: Danny Clinch
Zac Brown Band is set to release a deluxe version of their latest album, The Comeback, this fall, featuring a new rendition of their current single “Out In The Middle” with Blake Shelton.
News of The Comeback Deluxe Album was first shared with fans attending the Warner Music Nashville Nightscape party last Thursday (June 9). Guests were also treated to a first listen of Brown’s collaboration with Shelton on “Out in the Middle,” which will be available everywhere June 22. The band rounded out the day with a live performance at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium as part of CMA Fest.
“The Comeback is the best album we’ve ever made, and to re-record a few tracks with some musical legends was such an honor,” Brown shares. “Blake Shelton is a country music powerhouse and sharing ‘Out in the Middle’ with him, a song that represents our southern roots and country pride, is absolutely unreal. We’re so grateful to do what we do and we can’t wait to share the full album with our fans.”
“I’ve always been such a big fan of Zac as an artist and especially as a songwriter,” adds Shelton. “This song in particular really resonated with me. It reminds me of how I was raised and where I come from–out in the middle!”
The Comeback is ZBB’s most recent full-length album. Upon its release, the project claimed the No. 1 spot on the Current Country Albums Sales chart and was the Top New Country Album Release. Lead singer Zac Brown co-wrote every song on the project, and also co-produced the entire record alongside frequent collaborator Ben Simonetti.
The band is currently on their “Out in the Middle Tour,” and will soon visit Boston’s Fenway Park, where they hold the record for most consecutive sold-out shows. Other upcoming stops include Truist Park in Atlanta, Wrigley Field in Chicago, Citi Field in New York, and the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
CMA Fest Night 2 Features Tender Moments From Kelsea Ballerini, A Surprise From Wynonna
/by LB CantrellCarly Pearce and Wynonna Judd perform at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 10 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Night two at Nissan Stadium for CMA Fest was full of stellar country music moments.
After night one’s mostly male lineup, CMA Fest attendees heard from of some of the best female voices country music has to offer on Friday night (June 10).
The evening got started with the radiant Deana Carter. She is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her 5x Platinum debut album Did I Shave My Legs for This?, so she sang five hits from that project, including “How Do I Get There” and “We Danced Anyway.” She saved her enduring country standard “Strawberry Wine” for last. Nissan Stadium danced along with her to the titanic hit, and Carter beamed back at them with gratitude.
Kelsea Ballerini performs at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 10 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Kelsea Ballerini brought her pop country confections to her set, including “Miss Me More,” “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” “Yeah, Boy,” and her newest tune, “Heartfirst.” The singer-songwriter shined when singing her more vulnerable songs, such as “Peter Pan” and “Half of My Hometown.” She had just sang the latter in Nissan Stadium alongside her hometown hero Kenny Chesney at his Nashville stop on his “Here And Now Tour.” The emotion was still palpable, as Ballerini gazed out into the Music City crowd while singing about her East Tennessee home.
In a standout moment of the night, Ballerini got down on the floor with the crowd and sang an acoustic rendition of her “Homecoming Queen?”
“Since I’ve seen you last, a lot has happened in the world,” she said. “Going into it was hard, but coming out of it has been equally as hard, if not harder.”
Before she played it, Ballerini encouraged concert-goers to take off whatever “filter” they have over their problems during the song. Ballerini has clearly found strength in vulnerability, and desperately wants to share it with her fans.
Another standout moment came later in the night when Carly Pearce took the stage for a rather short set. After singing her new single, “What He Didn’t Do,” Pearce brought out newly-minted Country Music Hall of Famer, Wynonna Judd.
“Let’s go back to the ’80s, shall we?” Judd said before the two Kentucky girls sang The Judds‘ hit “Why Not Me?” Nissan Stadium was electric with excitement, love and admiration for The Judds and Pearce.
Thomas Rhett performs at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 10 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
The ever-charismatic Thomas Rhett brought a ton of his hits when he took the stage, including “Look What God Gave Her,” “Get Me Some Of That,” “It Goes Like This,” “Vacation,” “Sixteen” and “Slow Down Summer.” The crowd returned the energy, singing back every word.
His best performance, though, came with “Country Again.” Rhett communicates the honesty in that song, that talks about finding his roots again after shoving them away, with conviction—and he sounds great on it, too.
Rhett closed his set with three crowd favorites, “T-Shirt,” “Die A Happy Man,” and the ever-appropriate for CMA Fest, “What’s Your Country Song?”
At other points in the evening, other talented artists took the stage. Gabby Barrett, donned in a cowboy hat with rhinestone fringe, performed her new single “Pick Me Up” as well as her breakout hit “I Hope.” In Cole Swindell‘s two-song set, he brought out Lainey Wilson for their fiery “Never Say Never,” and performed his new “She Had Me At Heads Carolina.” The tune that harkens back to Jo Dee Messina‘s 1996 smash “Heads Carolina, Tails California” is sure to be a big hit for Swindell, as the crowd enthusiastically sang every word to the song he only released in April.
Lily Rose and Maddie & Tae made use of the Platform Stage. Rose sang her breakout hit “Villain,” and Maddie & Tae performed their “Die From A Broken Heart.”
Kane Brown performs at Nissan Stadium on Friday, June 10 during CMA Fest 2022 in downtown Nashville.
Kane Brown closed night two at Nissan Stadium with a fun set and stage presence.
“I want to be the most different artist y’all see while you’re here,” Brown said. And there’s a good chance he was. Throughout his set, he brought his down-the-middle country radio hits, such as “Good As You,” “One Mississippi,” “Homesick” and “What Ifs,” as well as his pop-influenced “Be Like That” and “One Thing Right.”
Brown brought the country heat, too, including fan-favorite “Short Skirt Weather” and his “fastest moving song at country radio,” the new single “Like I Love Country Music.”
Saturday night’s (June 11) Nissan show at CMA Fest will feature Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Randy Houser, and Carrie Underwood.