The 48th annual CMA Fest kicked off yesterday with nearly 100 performances on 11 stages throughout downtown Nashville. Fans packed the festival all day for performances from their favorite artists, meet and greets and prize giveaways at Xfinity Fan Fair X, and one-of-a-kind experiences from morning till night.
Fans were able to experience Billy Currington kicking off the Chevy Riverfront Stage performing hit songs like “People Are Crazy,” “Do I Make You Wanna” and “It Don’t Hurt Like It Used To,” Trisha Yearwood opening the CMA Close Up Stage for the special Artist of the Day session at Xfinity Fan Fair X with songwriters featured on her forthcoming album including Ashley McBryde, Karyn Rochelle and Lucie Silvas, and Randy Houser and Chase Rice headlining the Firestone Country Roads Stage at Ascend Amphitheater Presented by BBR Music Group.
Florida Georgia Line closed out the nightly concert at Nissan Stadium, where their label Big Machine Record Group presented the duo with a Platinum plaque for their song “Talk You Out Of It.” Throughout the night, fans were surprised with special collaborations from Brooks & Dunn, McBryde and Brothers Osborne performing “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone,” Brooks & Dunn with Brothers Osborne performing “Hard Workin’ Man,” The Chainsmokers with Kelsea Ballerini performing their pop hit “This Feeling” and Brandi Carlile joining Tanya Tucker to perform multiple songs during her set. Midland also made a special performance from the satellite stage performing “Mr. Lonely.”
Fans packed the Chevy Riverfront Stage, which hit capacity early in the day during Lee Brice’sperformance. Brice was only the second performance of the day at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, with the energy starting off high and remaining a packed house throughout the day.
Miranda Lambert kicked off MuttNation’s Mutt March with Dan Smyers of Dan + Shay, where hundreds of dog lovers and adoptable pups paraded from Nissan Stadium across the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge and into Walk of Fame Park. For the third consecutive year, MuttNation is entertaining CMA Fest attendees with adoptable dogs at Xfinity Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.
The CMA Foundation and U.S. Bank launched a new activation titled “Play for M.E.” (Play for Music Education), taking four old, worn pianos from within Metro Nashville Public Schools and having artists from Nashville WHAT. Creative Group design and paint murals on them. The pianos have been placed throughout downtown Nashville along with a donation bin, where festival attendees not only have the opportunity to donate directly to the CMA Foundation, but are able to play the pianos and post photos using #itstartswithME and #MusicMadePossible for a chance to be featured on CMA’s social media, in addition to receiving a free printed photo. In addition to the donation bin, fans can also donate in The Official CMA Fest App or by texting COUNTRY 707070. Following CMA Fest, the CMA Foundation will provide replacement pianos to Metro Nashville Public Schools. Lindsay Elland Hunter Hayes surprised fans downtown to play on the pianos, giving festival attendees an intimate, but exciting performance from both artists.
CMA Fest is the longest-running Country Music festival in the world with a portion of ticket proceeds directly benefiting high-quality music education initiatives across the United States through the CMA Foundation, thanks to all the artists performing at CMA Fest donating their time.
Lauren Alaina performs at HGTV ‘A Very Brady’ Lodge during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Caitlin Harris/CMA
Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry performs at the Budweiser Forever Country Stage during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6
Photo Credit: Kayla Schoen/CMA
Kassi Ashton performs at the Chevy Breakout Stage during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6
Trisha Yearwood performs on the CMA Close Up Stage for the Artist of the Day session at Xfinity Fan Fair X during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6 with special guests (L – R) Karyn Rochelle, Ashley McBryde and Lucie Silvas.
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA
Fans pack the Chevy Riverfront Stage, with the stage reaching capacity early in the day during Lee Brice’s performance during CMA Fest on Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Kayla Shoen/CMA
Kalie Shorr performs at the Maui Jim Broadway Stage at Bridgestone Plaza during CMA Fest on Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Nick Zimmer/CMA
Billy Currington kicks off the Chevy Riverfront Stage during CMA Fest on Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Claire Barnett/CMA
Chase Rice co-headlines the Firestone Country Roads Stage presented by BBR Music Group with Randy Houser during CMA Fest on Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Hunter Berry/CMA
Randy Houser co-headlines the Firestone Country Roads Stage presented by BBR Music Group with Chase Rice during CMA Fest on Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Hunter Berry/CMA 
Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett host “CMA Fest” with special guest host Bobby Bones, airing Sunday, August 4 at 8/7c on the ABC Television Network.
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA
Rascal Flatts performs at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA 
Brooks & Dunn, Ashley McBryde and Brothers Osborne surprise fans with a special collaboration of “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6
Photo Credit: Caitlin Harris/CMA
Brooks & Dunn and Brothers Osborne surprise fans with a special collaboration of “Hard Workin’ Man” at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA
Brothers Osborne performs at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: John Russell/CMA
Kelsea Ballerini and The Chainsmokers surprise fans with a special collaboration of “This Feeling” at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6
Photo Credit: Caitlin Harris/CMA
Midland surprise fans with a performance from the satellite stage at Nissan Stadium during CMA Fest Thursday, June 6.
Photo Credit: Dustin Downing/CMA
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