Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert perform at CMA Music Festival 2016. Photo: CMA/Instagram
Chapter 533
The first night at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest is always special. Loads of industry people turn out. The venue is always packed to capacity. And the line-up is star-saturated (partly because most artists would rather donate a Thursday gig than a weekend day). Singers and fans alike are still fresh.
And, this year, the temperature was as balmy as can be.
As we drove over the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, we could see the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge next to us, packed with folks strolling over the river to the stadium of star sounds. Everyone milling around the outside of the venue seemed to be smiling and excited.
Once inside, we ascended into the hospitality suite and found some seats with a good view of the stage. The Oak Ridge Boys sang an electrifying arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” to launch the show.
Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis. Photo: Charlie Daniels/Twitter
Then The Charlie Daniels Band came out rocking. Toward the end of his set, Charlie brought out a smiling man with a cane. “Our 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Mr. Randy Travis!” Charlie shouted. The crowd went berserk and gave Randy a standing ovation. Earlier in the day, he’d posed for some photos with fans at the George Jones Museum downtown.
“I’ve sat in this audience, way up there,” said Kelsea Ballerini, pointing to the upper decks. During “Dibs,” she left the stage to greet those standing in front.
During “Peter Pan,” thousands held their lit cell phones aloft. The resulting Milky Way of lights revealed how full the stadium was. Before singing “Love Me Like You Mean It,” Kelsea shared, “I just found out backstage that this is my first platinum single. So thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Kelsea Ballerini performs during CMA Music Festival 2016. Photo: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram
“Thank you for what you do,” echoed Dierks Bentley to the fans. “For us country singers, this [festival] is kinda like Thanksgiving ….This is my coolest gig of the whole year. I got my start on Lower Broadway.”
He went even further down into the crowd than Kelsea had, then sang from a riser amid the attendees. “I’m somewhere in the middle of a football field, surrounded by 70,000 country music fans!” he exalted. Dierks brought out pop star Elle King for “Different for Girls” and led crowd in singalongs with “Home” and “Drunk on a Plane.”
Elle King hangs backstage at CMA Music Festival with Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett. Photo: Elle King/Twitter
Up next was Miranda Lambert. Her set caught fire with an incendiary performance of “Mama’s Broken Heart.” But she touched hearts with her ballads, too. “It’s all about what we give you all, and you give us back all year long,” she said. This is her 10th anniversary as a CMA Fest performer. “Country music is my life, and that means you’re my life. And I appreciate it so much.”
Rascal Flatts and Jason Aldean brought the memorable night to a close. Fabulous fireworks celebrated the finale at 12:15 a.m.
We dined on fried chicken, tossed salad, green beans, mashed potatoes and assorted cookies. A throng of schmoozers worked the room, including Tom Baldrica, Mark Bright, David Macias, Lori Badgett, Horton Frank, Sherod Robertson, Steve Emley, Bill Denny, Joe Galante, David Ross, Dan Ekbaak, Victoria Shaw, Amy Smartt and Biff Watson.
The most notable attendee was Jo Walker Meador. Now 92, the Country Music Hall of Fame member was the head of the CMA from 1962 to 1991. She guided the launch of Fan Fair in 1972. “Look what she started,” said JoAnn Berry, gazing at the 70,000 congregants. Yes, indeed. Gaze in awe.
The Charlie Daniels Band performs at CMA Music Festival 2016. Photo: CMA/Instagram
In Pictures: Warner Music Nashville At CMA Music Festival
/by Eric T. ParkerBlake Shelton And Cole Swindell Perform At Nissan Stadium
Pictured (L-R): Brandon Blackstock, Starstruck Entertainment; Laurie Pozmantier, WME; Narvel Blackstock, Starstruck Entertainment; Kerri Edwards, KPentertainment; Robert Deaton, Executive Producer, CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night To Rock; John Esposito, Chairman & CEO, WMN; Kristen Williams, VP Promotion, WMN; Cole Swindell; Blake Shelton; RaeLynn; Scott Hendricks, EVP, A&R, WMN; Peter Strickland, EVP/GM, WMN; Katie Bright, National Dir. Promotion, WMN; Cris Lacy, VP, A&R, WMN; Megan Joyce, VP, Legal Affairs, WMN
Warner Music Nashville labelmates Blake Shelton and Cole Swindell performed for the sold out Nissan Stadium crowd on Saturday night (June 11). Supporters of the two Warner stars included Starstruck management, KPentertainment, label staff and the label’s new artist RaeLynn.
Cole Swindell Treats Fans To Exclusive Party
Pictured (L-R): Waylon Weatherholt, Manager, KP Entertainment; Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R, WMN; John Esposito, Chairman & CEO, WMN; Cole Swindell; Peter Strickland, EVP & GM, WMN; Cris Lacy, VP A&R, WMN.
Warner Music Nashville executives joined Warner Bros. Nashville recording artist Cole Swindell for his fan party at aVenue on Friday (June 10). Swindell performed an acoustic set of fan favorites and songs from his new album, You Should Be Here.
Brett Eldredge Celebrates CMA Fest Performance And Co-Host Gig
Pictured (L-R): Brett Eldredge, John Esposito.
CMA Music Festival’s Night To Rock co-host Brett Eldredge wrapped up the four day party with his own set at Nissan Stadium on Sunday night (June 12). Before the show, Eldredge and Chairman & CEO Warner Music Nashville John Esposito celebrated. Eldredge will be featured throughout the August 3 broadcast of the event on ABC-TV.
Brandy Clark Enjoys Album Release During CMA Fest
Pictured (L-R): John Esposito, Brandy Clark.
Brandy Clark celebrated the release of her new Warner Bros. album Big Day in a Small Town on Friday (June 10). The star posed for a photo with Chairman and CEO of WMN John Esposito at her album release party during CMA Fest.
Jana Kramer Supported By Hill Entertainment, Elektra/WMN During CMA Fest
Pictured (L-R): Kathryn Woodard, Hill Entertainment; Chris Palmer, VP Promotion; Scott Hendricks, EVP A&R, WMN; Kramer; John Esposito, WMN Chairman & CEO; Greg Hill, Hill Entertainment; Lisa Ray, VP Brand Management, WMN.
Country artist and actress Jana Kramer performed, spoke and met with fans on Saturday (June 11) during CMA Fest. She performed at the Riverfront Stage, supported side-stage by her management company, Hill Entertainment, and Elektra Records/Warner Music Nashville.
High Valley Appears at Riverfront Stage During CMA Fest
Pictured (L-R): Jordan Pettit (VP, Promotion), Leslie Fram (SVP Music Strategy, CMT), Peter Strickland (EVP/GM, WMN), Brad Rempel (High Valley), Curtis Rempel (High Valley), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Cris Lacy (VP, A&R), Scott Hendricks (EVP, A&R).
Warner Bros./Warner Music Nashville brother duo High Valley brought a little more heat to CMA Music Festival with their performance at the Riverfront Stage on Saturday (June 11). They performed their debut single, “Make You Mine” which is climbing the charts now.
Michael Ray Plays First Riverfront Show At CMA Fest
Pictured (L-R): Rod Essig (Music Agent and Co-head, CAA Nashville), Peter Strickland (EVP/GM, WMN), Brandon Mauldin (Conway Entertainment), Cris Lacy (VP, A&R), Tony Conway (Conway Entertainment), Scott Hendricks (EVP, A&R), Michael Ray, John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Jordan Pettit (VP, Promotion.
Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville artist Michael Ray played his first-ever Riverfront Stage show at the CMA Music Festival on Saturday afternoon (June 11) right before High Valley. His 30-minute set included his No. 1 hit single “Kiss You In The Morning,” as well as his new single “Think a Little Less.”
Dot Records’ Drake White To Light A ‘Spark’ With August Release
/by Jessica NicholsonDot Records artist Drake White is set to release his debut album, Spark, on Aug. 19. The album features his current single, “Livin’ the Dream.” Recorded in Nashville and produced by Ross Copperman and Jeremy Stover, the project contains 12 tracks, 10 of which White co-wrote.
The songwriter list for the project is illustrious, and includes Phil Barton, Copperman, Monty Criswell, Tom Douglas, Derek George, Mark Irwin, Tommy Lee James, Matt Jenkins, Jaren Johnston, Luke Laird, Tony Lane, Shane McAnally, Shane Minor, Randy Montana, Jon Nite, Josh Osborne, Philip Pence, Lindsay Jack Rimes, Trevor Rosen, Jason Sellers, Jeremy Spillman and Ryan Tyndell.
“Since we began this journey—working on the album—I knew I wanted the title to be Spark,” said White. “The idea of starting a fire from a tiny spark has always been so intriguing to me. That’s the way I have always lived my life; starting with a small plan and then it becomes this dream I didn’t even know to dream.”
White’s Spark album cover tells the visual story of who Drake White is as an artist, husband and Alabama native. The images imprinted into his silhouette paint a narrative of White’s life, including his wife Alex, his hometown church where his grandfather served as preacher, his dog Writer and other mementos that inspired his first full length album for Dot.
White is currently opening shows for Zac Brown Band’s Black Out the Sun Tour, in addition to his own headlining dates. White is also a Salt Life ambassador.
Spark Track Listing:
1. “Heartbeat” (Drake White, Ross Copperman, Jason Sellers)
2. “Story” (Drake White, Mark Irwin, Tommy Lee James)
3. “Makin’ Me Look Good Again” (Drake White, Monty Criswell, Shane Minor)
4. “It Feels Good” (Drake White, Derek George, Philip Pence)
5. “Livin’ the Dream” (Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Luke Laird)
6. “I Need Real” (Drake White, Ross Copperman, Jon Nite)
7. “Back to Free” (Drake White, Randy Montana, Philip Pence)
8. “Equator” (Drake White, Matt Jenkins, Trevor Rosen)
9. “Live Some” (Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
10. “Waitin’ on the Whiskey to Work” (Drake White, Tony Lane, Philip Pence)
11. “Elvis” (Drake White, Jeremy Spillman, Ryan Tyndell)
12. “Take Me As I Am” (Drake White, Phil Barton, Lindsay Jack Rimes)
Warner/Chappell’s Jon Platt Elected To ASCAP Board Of Directors
/by Jessica NicholsonJon Platt
ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williams has announced that Warner/Chappell Music Chairman & CEO Jon Platt has been elected to the ASCAP Board of Directors.
“Jon is a tremendous talent in the publishing industry, and we are thrilled to have him join the ASCAP Board,” said Williams. “Our publisher and songwriter members face complex challenges in the digital era that call for a progressive outlook, and Jon is one of the best leaders of his generation. As the only performance rights organization that is led by a board composed of publishers and songwriters, ASCAP values his understanding of the creative process and his relationships with the creative community.”
Platt took the helm of Warner/ Chappell, the global music publishing company of Warner Music Group, last November. Since joining Warner/Chappell in 2012, he has been instrumental in attracting a wide range of new and established talent, including Jay Z, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Mike Will Made It, MNEK, and others, while continuing to build relationships with songwriters such as Katy Perry, Kendrick Lamar, Michael Bublé, and George Michael.
Previously, Platt spent 17 years at EMI Music Publishing, where artists he signed at the outset of their careers include Jay Z, Kanye West, Drake, Usher, Ludacris, and Snoop Dogg.
In April, Warner/Chappell Music was named 2016 Music Publisher of the Year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards. WCM was also named Publisher of the Year at the 2015 ASCAP Country Music Awards (for the third year in a row) and at the 2015 ASCAP Latin Music Awards.
Weekly Register: Maren Morris Tops Country Albums Chart
/by Jessica NicholsonThis week’s country albums chart is all about Hero worship.
Columbia Nashville newcomer Maren Morris‘ debut album Hero has topped the country albums rankings this week, with 37K albums sold. The project lands at No. 5 on the overall chart rankings with combined sales and streaming units of 45K.
Following Morris is a new project from Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville duo Dan+Shay. Obsessed debuts at No. 2 on the country albums chart with 26K albums sold and No. 8 on the overall chart with 33K combined units.
Other notable debuts include Republic Nashville artist Cassadee Pope‘s Summer EP at No. 14 on the country album chart (3.8K albums), Craig Morgan‘s Whole Lot More to Me at No. 16 (3.5K), and the Randy Rogers/Wade Bowen collaboration Watch This at No. 21 (2.8K). Royal Bliss‘ The Truth lands at No. 28 (1.5K).
On the Top 200 albums chart, Drake‘s Views remains at the pinnacle, with 135K (32K album only). Overall album sales have decreased 13.3 percent YTD, while overall digital album sales have declined 18 percent. Country album sales have scaled back by 5.2 percent, while country digital album sales have diminished by 12.3 percent YTD.
Florida Georgia Line
Florida Georgia Line‘s “H.O.L.Y.” tops this week’s country tracks sales with 74.5K, surpassing the 500K mark. That’s followed by Tim McGraw‘s “Humble and Kind” with 34K, Dan+Shay‘s “From The Ground Up” with 31.5K, Morris’ “My Church” with 29K, and Luke Bryan‘s “Huntin’, Fishin’, and Lovin’ Everyday” with 26.5K.
The top country debut this week is Charles Kelley‘s “The Only One Who Gets Me,” which debuts at No. 7 country and No. 18 overall, with 12.5 K sold.
Justin Timberlake‘s “Can’t Stop The Feeling” remains at No. 1 on the overall digital track sales chart, with 138K this week, enough to top the 1 million mark in only five weeks of release.
Overall track sales have decreased 24 percent YTD, while country track sales have declined 21.1 percent YTD.
Information provided by Nielsen Soundscan.
In Pictures: Sony Music Nashville Visits Old Dominion, Kane Brown, Jake Owen At CMA Music Festival
/by Jessica NicholsonPrior to Old Dominion‘s set at the Ascend Amphitheater on Wednesday (June 8), Storme Warren from SiriusXM’s The Highway, along with members from the band’s management company (Morris Higham Management) and staff from Sony Music Nashville surprised the five band members with platinum plaques to commemorate their two-week No. 1, and now platinum-selling hit “Break Up With Him.”
Pictured (L-R): Mike Betterton (MHM), Keith Gale (SMN), Brad Tursi (Old Dominion member), Storme Warren (SiriusXM The Highway), Jim Catino (SMN), Nate Ritches (MHM), Ken Robold (SMN), Will Hitchcock (MHM), Geoff Sprung (Old Dominion member), Randy Goodman (SMN), Matthew Ramsey (Old Dominion member), Trevor Rosen (Old Dominion member), Paul Barnabee (SMN), Whit Sellers (Old Dominion member). Photo: Courtesy of the CMA
Kane Brown poses with Sony Music Nashville staff following his Friday afternoon (June 10) set at the Riverfront Stage during the CMA Music Festival.
Pictured (L-R): Taylor Lindsey, Jaime Marconette, Paul Barnabee, Bob Foglia [kneeling], Ken Robold, Kane Brown, Randy Goodman, Steve Hodges, Jim Catino, Sarah Westbrook, Keith Gale. Photo: Courtesy of RCA Nashville
Pictured (L-R): Fount Lynch, Jim Catino, Owen, Rachel Fontenot, Randy Goodman, Sarah Westbrook, Keith Gale, Paul Barnabee. Photo: RCA Nashville
Jake Owen poses with Sony Music Nashville executives before his performance at the HGTV Lodge during CMA Music Festival on Thursday afternoon (June 9).
Pictured (L-R): Steve Hodges, Jake Owen, Ken Robold. Photo: RCA Nashville
In Pictures: Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan, Charley Pride, Charlie Worsham And Special Guests
/by Eric T. ParkerBlake Shelton Draws Crowd Walking Down Broadway
Pictured (L-R): Brandon Blackstock (Starstruck Management), John Esposito (Chairman & CEO, WMN), Blake Shelton, Narvel Blackstock (Starstruck Management), Scott Hendricks (EVP A&R, WMN), Peter Strickland (EVP/GM, WMN).
At the second annual Beers on Blake on Friday (June 10), Blake Shelton made a surprise appearance and performed more than a dozen songs acoustically. The star made his entrance after walking down Broadway.
Craig Morgan Hosts Special Guests At Album Release Party
Pictured (L-R): Eric Paslay, Craig Morgan. Photo: Brandon Pendergrass/Sub 7
Craig Morgan’s fans and friends gathered at Nashville’s Wildhorse Saloon on Wednesday (June 8) to celebrate the release of his new album, titled Whole Lot More To Me.
Surprise guest Eric Paslay joined for a song he wrote on Morgan’s album, titled “Country Side of Heaven.” Additional guest performances were made by Hailey Whitters, Jillian Cardarelli, Adam Sanders, Kane Brown and Mac Powell. Brown performed one of Morgan’s biggest hits “Almost Home.” Third Day’s Powell came back on stage to join forces on “Hearts I Leave Behind,” a duet the two share on the Black River Entertainment album.
Morgan’s seventh studio album, co-produced with Byron Gallimore, was released June 3.
Charley Pride Honored by Grand Ole Opry Executives
Pictured (L-R): Pete Fisher, Charley Pride, Gina Keltner.
Charley Pride was presented a plaque Thursday (June 9) commemorating 50 years in country music by Gina Keltner and Pete Fisher of the Grand Ole Opry. The presentation was made during Pride’s annual fan club breakfast held at the Opry Backstage Grill.
Charlie Worsham Surprises Late Night Fans With Friends Vince Gill, Aubrie Sellers, Brothers Osborne
Pictured (L-R): Aubrie Sellers, Charlie Worsham. Photo: Brody Harper.
Charlie Worsham launched Midnite Jamboree Hosted by Charlie Worsham on Thursday evening (June 9) with surprise appearances by Vince Gill, Aubrie Sellers and Brothers Osborne.
Held at the legendary Ernest Tubb Record Shop on Broadway in downtown Nashville from 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., the jamboree continues Friday and Saturday evening. Additional special surprise performers will join Worsham in the legendary space where Elvis, Loretta Lynn, Hank Williams Sr. and countless many others have performed.
John and TJ Osborne of the Brothers Osborne with Charlie Worsham. Photo: Brody Harper.
Pictured (L-R): Vince Gill, Charlie Worsham. Photo: Brody Harper.
Industry Ink: BMI Road To Roo, NMPA Honors SESAC’s Pat Collins, SOLID Nashville Music Market
/by Jessica NicholsonBMI’s Road To Roo Winners Roots Of A Rebellion Plays Bonnaroo
Pictured (L-R): ROAR’s Marco Martinez, sound technician EL Copeland, ROAR’s Dan Twiford, Troy Wiggins, Zach Fowler and Jeremyck Smith, BMI’s Nina Carter, ROAR’s Austin Smith and Adam Quellhorst, sound technician Shaun Washburn and ROAR’s Justin Smith pose for a photo before their set as reigning champs of the BMI Road to Roo competition. Photo: Erika Goldring.
Nashville’s Roots of a Rebellion, the BMI Road to Roo winners, rocked the New Music on Tap Lounge, Brewed by Miller Lite. The reggae band competed for six weeks in the spring, beating out more than 200 entrants in Tennessee for the top position and was rewarded with a slot Thursday (June 9), the first day of Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
Pictured: Roots of a Rebellion get the crowd going during their set at Bonnaroo. The group won the BMI Road to Roo competition in the spring. Photo: Erika Goldring.
NMPA Honors SESAC’s Pat Collins
SESAC Vice-Chairman Pat Collins accepts NMPA Industry Legacy Award at NMPA’s June 8 meeting in NYC. Photo: NMPA/Gary Gershoff
National Music Publishers’ Association President and CEO David Israelite honored Sting with NMPA’s Songwriter Icon Award during its annual meeting in New York City on Wednesday. SESAC Vice-Chairman Pat Collins was awarded the NMPA Industry Legacy Award and John Eastman was also honored with the NMPA Lifetime Service Award.
Legendary music manager and visionary Irving Azoff encouraged industry unity during his keynote Q&A saying, “We should work together to solve the root of the problem — fair compensation.”
Pictured (L-R): Martin Bandier, Sting
SOLID To Hold Annual Nashville Music Market At Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena
The NMM is a chance for fans & CMA Fest goers to get their hands on rare country music items. This fun pop-up market will take place on Saturday, June 11 from 8 a.m.–2 p.m.
Zac Brown Band Releases First Video Of ‘Remedy’ Trilogy
/by Jessica NicholsonZac Brown Band is using three tracks from the album Jekyll+Hyde as the soundtrack for a three-part video series, Remedy, directed by Diego Pernia.
The mini-movie, which includes the tracks “I’ll Be Your Man (Song for a Daughter),” “Tomorrow Never Comes,” and “Remedy,” tells the story of a young woman who flees from her alcoholic mother and reconnects with her past.
Brown found video footage of Pernia’s work on YouTube.
“It really blew my mind. I’ve never been so engaged, looking at something,” said Brown. “You spend any time with Diego, you realize how spiritual he is, how connected to emotion and what he does with pulling out humanity and nature in his work.”
“It gives a story and a life to each one of these songs, to where they can live online, which could have a lot more impressions and views than songs that just happen on the radio,” says Brown in a behind-the-scenes clip (above). “We’ll have some more videos for other songs that are singles, and then we’ll have the trilogy. So, as the companion to the music that’s on the album, there’s visual pieces for it—and for people that do better seeing it. That’s why I feel like this is an attempt to wring out every drop of exposure that we can to it, so we can share the heart that’s in the songs with people and hopefully it means something to them.”
The band isn’t alone in their video-making tactic. Dierks Bentley released a four-part video series to promote his album Black.
‘Nashville’ Receives $11 Million In Incentives For CMT/Hulu Season
/by Craig_ShelburneBig Machine Label Group
News that Nashville has been picked up by CMT and Hulu brought waves of approval from key politicians and executives, particularly because the series will continue to be filmed in Nashville.
The total incentive that the CMT/Hulu Season 5 of Nashville will receive is $11 million. This sum includes $8.5 million from the State of Tennessee’s film program, $1 million direct grant from the City of Nashville subject to approval by the Metro Council, $1 million from the Nashville Convention & Visitor’s Corp and city’s Event and Marketing Fund, and $500,000 from producer Ryman Hospitality.
A number of Nashville leaders praised the announcement.
Mayor Megan Barry: “This is great news for Nashville! Not only will hundreds of film production workers be keeping their jobs, we will also be keeping the greatest advertising tool for Music City that we have ever seen. None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the strong outpouring of support from fans all across the globe for the show Nashville. I look forward to welcoming the cast back for Season 5, and hopefully many more to come.”
Randy Boyd, Tennessee Economic and Community Development Director: “Landing this fifth season of Nashville helps push the show into syndication and allows it to live on for decades. The show has been a terrific marketing tool for the state and our musical heritage. We are also excited to support CMT, a company with real Tennessee roots.”
Colin Reed, Chairman and CEO of Ryman Hospitality Properties: “The partnership forged with Hulu and CMT represents the best of both worlds for Nashville, and we are thrilled to have played a role in bringing it to fruition. Nashville has been a driving force for tourism to our city and state since its inception, and Season 5 will continue that momentum by allowing millions of people around the world to get a glimpse of what goes on in Nashville that makes it different from anywhere else on the planet they could visit. I’d like to thank our partners at the Nashville CVC, the City of Nashville and the State of Tennessee for their continued investment in the show and Tennessee’s growing tourism industry.”
Butch Spyridon, President and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.: “The combination of CMT and Hulu is a significant win. You have CMT’s experience with original content and Hulu’s format where viewers can binge watch the show whenever they want. The social media demand to bring the show back has been overwhelming, and we are thrilled to be able to get to 100 episodes, which has always been the goal to help give the show longevity in syndication. We are proud to be a partner in supporting the show’s return with incentives—being aired in nearly 100 countries is about the best return on investment your money can buy.”
The Season 5 commitment from CMT/Hulu and local partners ensures that Nashville will cross the 100-episode mark, giving it an increased value in syndication and ensuring a much longer lifespan for the show worldwide.
The show will also continue to air all five seasons internationally in over 82 countries. The show has largely been credited with giving the city of Nashville exposure both domestically and worldwide, and the city is on an unprecedented streak of 66 months of tourism growth.
The production employs over 500 full-time Tennessee residents each season and spends a combined $45 million on local cast, crew, goods and services.
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Thursday Night At CMA Fest
/by Bobby KarlDierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert perform at CMA Music Festival 2016. Photo: CMA/Instagram
Chapter 533
The first night at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest is always special. Loads of industry people turn out. The venue is always packed to capacity. And the line-up is star-saturated (partly because most artists would rather donate a Thursday gig than a weekend day). Singers and fans alike are still fresh.
And, this year, the temperature was as balmy as can be.
As we drove over the Korean War Veterans Memorial Bridge, we could see the Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge next to us, packed with folks strolling over the river to the stadium of star sounds. Everyone milling around the outside of the venue seemed to be smiling and excited.
Once inside, we ascended into the hospitality suite and found some seats with a good view of the stage. The Oak Ridge Boys sang an electrifying arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” to launch the show.
Charlie Daniels and Randy Travis. Photo: Charlie Daniels/Twitter
Then The Charlie Daniels Band came out rocking. Toward the end of his set, Charlie brought out a smiling man with a cane. “Our 2016 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Mr. Randy Travis!” Charlie shouted. The crowd went berserk and gave Randy a standing ovation. Earlier in the day, he’d posed for some photos with fans at the George Jones Museum downtown.
“I’ve sat in this audience, way up there,” said Kelsea Ballerini, pointing to the upper decks. During “Dibs,” she left the stage to greet those standing in front.
During “Peter Pan,” thousands held their lit cell phones aloft. The resulting Milky Way of lights revealed how full the stadium was. Before singing “Love Me Like You Mean It,” Kelsea shared, “I just found out backstage that this is my first platinum single. So thank you for everything you’ve done.”
Kelsea Ballerini performs during CMA Music Festival 2016. Photo: Kelsea Ballerini/Instagram
“Thank you for what you do,” echoed Dierks Bentley to the fans. “For us country singers, this [festival] is kinda like Thanksgiving ….This is my coolest gig of the whole year. I got my start on Lower Broadway.”
He went even further down into the crowd than Kelsea had, then sang from a riser amid the attendees. “I’m somewhere in the middle of a football field, surrounded by 70,000 country music fans!” he exalted. Dierks brought out pop star Elle King for “Different for Girls” and led crowd in singalongs with “Home” and “Drunk on a Plane.”
Elle King hangs backstage at CMA Music Festival with Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett. Photo: Elle King/Twitter
Up next was Miranda Lambert. Her set caught fire with an incendiary performance of “Mama’s Broken Heart.” But she touched hearts with her ballads, too. “It’s all about what we give you all, and you give us back all year long,” she said. This is her 10th anniversary as a CMA Fest performer. “Country music is my life, and that means you’re my life. And I appreciate it so much.”
Rascal Flatts and Jason Aldean brought the memorable night to a close. Fabulous fireworks celebrated the finale at 12:15 a.m.
We dined on fried chicken, tossed salad, green beans, mashed potatoes and assorted cookies. A throng of schmoozers worked the room, including Tom Baldrica, Mark Bright, David Macias, Lori Badgett, Horton Frank, Sherod Robertson, Steve Emley, Bill Denny, Joe Galante, David Ross, Dan Ekbaak, Victoria Shaw, Amy Smartt and Biff Watson.
The most notable attendee was Jo Walker Meador. Now 92, the Country Music Hall of Fame member was the head of the CMA from 1962 to 1991. She guided the launch of Fan Fair in 1972. “Look what she started,” said JoAnn Berry, gazing at the 70,000 congregants. Yes, indeed. Gaze in awe.
The Charlie Daniels Band performs at CMA Music Festival 2016. Photo: CMA/Instagram