WRLTHD: Nashville Welcomes American Idol Star's to Fan Fest. June 9th-12th

Nashville Welcomes American Idol Star's to Fan Fest. June 9th-12th

CMA Music Festival is the ultimate destination for Country Music fans from around the globe, featuring non-stop concerts, autograph signings, celebrity events, and more. In 2011, Nashville’s signature music event will celebrate 40 years of providing unique artist/fan interactions since starting as Fan Fair in 1972. Plans are underway for surprises and special events to commemorate the occasion.

American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina are wasting no time, and are jumping straight into the country music industry head first. As Idol winner and runner-up, the pair put the national music spotlight directly on country music right in time for the 2011 CMA Music Festival in Nashville next week. Details are still being ironed out, but it seems fans can expect to see both Scotty and Lauren at this year’s CMA Music Festival.

“I think we’re gonna try and get me and Lauren out there to (Fan Fair) this year. They’re trying to work out the specifics right now about where we’re gonna be playing, the booth signings and maybe playing at the Grand Ole Opry. They’re working all this out as we speak. But we’re gonna be down there for sure, I think.” -Scotty McCreery

No doubt both the finalists lives have been turned upside down by their explosive entrance into fame, but they seem to be making the best of the insanity and getting right down to business.

The reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton, and Vocal Group of the Year Lady Antebellum join Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, The Band Perry, Sheryl Crow, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Reba, Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band, Sara Evans, Little Big Town, Josh Turner, Easton Corbin,the JaneDear girls, Ashton Shepherd, and Chris Young and Keith Urban scheduled to performers during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during CMA Music Festival. This will be Sheryl’s first performance at CMA Music Festival.

Photo by Raymond L. Tharaldson

“This is an excellent collection of superstar artists to launch 2011 CMA Music Festival, continuing the legacy started 40 years ago by artists such as Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette at the first Fan Fair,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

Photo by Raymond L. Tharaldson

The artists announced thus far for CMA Music Festival have won a total of 52 CMA Awards and earned 240 CMA Award nominations."This is the first time that our Nightly Concerts lineup at LP Field includes the current Entertainer, Male Vocalist, Female Vocalist, Vocal Group, and New Artist of the Year, as well as a new inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. We are excited to present the fans with the opportunity to enjoy this outstanding group of performers."

According to the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau, direct visitor spending generated by the Festival totaled more than $23 million. CMA Music Festival is a four-time winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010)CMA

“We are excited to celebrate 40 years of CMA Music Festival and Fan Fair in 2011, and look forward to the fans joining us for all the fun,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “We were fortunate that CMA Music Festival sold out completely in 2010 for the first time. The event drew a record-setting 65,000 fans from all 50 states and 26 nations. Due to this strong demand, we suggest that fans buy their tickets now rather than waiting until it is too late.”

The legendary four-day event takes place Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, in downtown Nashville. Four-day ticket packages go on sale today, Monday, Aug. 23 at 10:00 AM/CDT. Fans can purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them through CMAfest.com or 1-(800)-CMA-FEST. Ticket prices are based on the level of seating at LP Field for the Nightly Concerts, and range from $115 to $325 plus handling fees. Since the 2010 CMA Music Festival sold out in advance, fans should order their tickets for next year now in order to reserve their place at what USA Today named “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals.”

CMA Music Festival celebrates the unique relationship between Country Music artists and their fans in the heart of Music City USA. The artists participate for free, and on their behalf, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program. To date, more than $4.7 million has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies. The total also includes an annual endowment gift for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Words & Music program.

Artists currently scheduled to appear at LP Field include (in alphabetical order):

Thursday, June 9:
Jason Aldean (with a special guest performance from Kelly Clarkson), Easton Corbin, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, and Zac Brown Band (with special guest performance from Alan Jackson).

Friday, June 10
CMA Award-winner and multi-Platinum-selling artist Dierks Bentley will perform at 2011 CMA Music Festival as part of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

“Dierks has been highly requested by our fans, and we are excited to welcome him back to CMA Music Festival this year,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

Music Festival will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on the ABC Television Network late this summer. This is the eighth consecutive year that the event has been filmed for a network television special, a feat no other music festival has achieved. CBS aired the first CMA Music Festival special in 2004, with ABC airing it from 2005 onward. “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” will be executive-produced by Robert Deaton.