CMA Fest 2022: Who’s Playing Where & When

The Country Music Association has released its much-anticipated initial lineup for this year’s CMA Fest, returning to downtown Nashville Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12 following a two-year postponement due to the pandemic. Hundreds of Country Music artists are slated to perform on multiple stages across downtown Nashville. Fans can access a limited number of four-day passes, plus newly announced single night tickets, for the Nissan Stadium nightly concerts at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. CMA Fest is uniquely programmed with artists donating their time so a portion of ticket proceeds can be invested in high-quality music education programs throughout the U.S. via the CMA Foundation.   

“We’ve been waiting two years to host Country Music fans from coast to coast and every corner of the world,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Now we’re two months out and the excitement is palpable! We can hardly wait to bring the Country community back together in June.” 

Taking the nightly Nissan Stadium stage this year are Country Music superstars Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Alan Jackson, Lady A, Parker McCollum, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Zac Brown Band and more. 

The Chevy Riverfront Stage returns with a stellar slate of talent that will keep fans moving from 10:00 AM-5:15 PM each day with performances by Lauren Alaina, Jimmie Allen, Ingrid Andress, Tenille Arts, Priscilla Block, Danielle Bradbery, BRELAND, Blanco Brown, Callista Clark, Easton Corbin, Jessie James Decker, Travis Denning, Lindsay Ell, ERNEST, Morgan Evans, Tyler Farr, Larry Fleet, HARDY, Home Free, Ryan Hurd, LANCO, Chris Lane, Jon Langston, LOCASH, Maddie & Tae, Kameron Marlowe, Scotty McCreery, Niko Moon, Parmalee, Michael Ray, Tyler Rich, Jameson Rodgers, Dylan Scott, Elvie Shane, Matt Stell, Mitchell Tenpenny, Tenille Townes, Drake White and Lainey Wilson. 

Taking the mic on the Dr Pepper Amp Stage at Ascend Park from 11:00 AM-4:45 PM each day are Rodney Atkins feat. Rod + Rose, Chris Bandi, Chayce Beckham, Shy Carter, Ashley Cooke, Adam Doleac, Sara Evans, Carter Faith, Filmore, Ryan Griffin, Caylee Hammack, Laine Hardy, High Valley, Willie Jones, Kidd G, Love and Theft, Chase Matthew, Kylie Morgan, David Nail, Jerrod Niemann, Drew Parker, MacKenzie Porter, The Red Clay Strays, The Reklaws, Runaway June, Sister Hazel, Caitlyn Smith, Conner Smith, Brittney Spencer, Thompson Square and Hailey Whitters. 

Fans will get in the groove from 11:00 AM-4:45 PM daily, rockin’ to the Chevy Vibes Stage at Walk of Fame Park with performances by Cooper Alan, Kassi Ashton, Frankie Ballard, Laci Kaye Booth, Tyler Booth, Country Comeback Tour, Ashland Craft, Dalton Dover, Hannah Ellis, Josh Gracin, Andy Griggs, Ty Herndon, Tiera Kennedy, King Calaway, Chrissy Metz, Jamie O’Neal, Meghan Patrick, Frank Ray, Restless Road, Reyna Roberts, Lily Rose, SEAFORTH, Nate Smith, Alana Springsteen, Uncle Kracker, Chuck Wicks, Mark Wills, Rita Wilson, Darryl Worley, Chase Wright and Michelle Wright. 

The Maui Jim Reverb Stage at Bridgestone Arena Plaza features a can’t-miss lineup of performances each day from 10:45 AM-4:30 PM including After Midtown, Roman Alexander, Abby Anderson, Avery Anna, BEXAR, Tyler Braden, Allie Colleen, Spencer Crandall, Jackson Dean, Madeline Edwards, Ian Flanigan, Jordan Fletcher, Ray Fulcher, Aaron Goodvin, Alex Hall, Noah Hicks, Jake Hoot, Andrew Jannakos, Caroline Jones, Kat & Alex, Erin Kinsey, Trea Landon, Triston Marez, Dylan Marlowe, Walker Montgomery, John Morgan, Catie Offerman, Robyn Ottolini, Teddy Robb, Jordan Rowe, RVSHVD, Sean Stemaly, Tebey, Temecula Road, Tigirlily and Lauren Weintraub. 

All artist lineups are subject to change. Outdoor daytime stages are free and open to the public.  Additional stage lineups, including nighttime concerts at Ascend Amphitheater and Fan Fair X activities inside Music City Center, will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Riverside Retreat is an exclusive destination along the Cumberland River offering guaranteed admission to the Chevy Riverfront Stage, where audiences attending the free daytime concerts often reach capacity. A number of additional perks will be available including shaded areas, misting stations, charging for mobile devices, discounts on select beverages, air-conditioned restrooms, yard games and more. Participating fans will have unlimited in and out access 9:00 AM – 5:15 PM each day during CMA Fest. 

CMA Fest will once again be filmed for a national television special to air on the ABC Television Network this summer. “CMA Fest” will be executive produced by Robert Deaton. This is the 19th consecutive year CMA has produced a summer music program to be broadcast as a network television special.

Named the “gold standard” and topping Billboard’s list of the 10 Best Country Music Festivals, CMA Fest is the longest-running Country Music festival in the world. The 2019 CMA Fest sold out with capacity crowds and had the largest engagement by Country Music fans in the event’s history, with visitors from all 50 states and 37 international countries flocking to downtown Nashville. The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Now celebrating its 49th year, the legendary festival has become the city’s signature Country Music event that hosts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states and 37 international countries. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. 

Events Happening During CMA FEST Week 

Country Artists will also be announcing Fan Club parties for fan over the next couple of weeks. Some that have already been annonuced are Lauren Alaina (June 9), Darryl Worley (June 9), Chris Yonug (June 9), Phil Vassar (June 8), Wade Hayes (June 8), Mark Wills (June 9) and Terri Clark (June 8). More info on each can at www.facebook.com/groups/CMAFestFans/events

Other events that are happening during CMA Fes that have been announced  include Darius Rucker and Friends, Sunday Mornin’ Country, Rock’n’ Jock Celebrity Softball Game, Stars for Second Harvest, Next Generation: Sons and Daughters of Country Legends, and Nashville Navy Family Reunion. 

Rock’n’ Jock Celebrity Softball – June 6 @ First Horizon Park, Lineup, Time & Tickets: TBA

13th Annual Darius & Friends – June 6, @ Ryman auditorium. Tickets start at $50 with VIP options up to $150, available via AXS.com. Darius Rucker will return to the historic Ryman Auditorium on Monday, June 6 for his 13th Annual Darius and Friends concert benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event, which unofficially kicks off the week of CMA Fest in downtown Nashville and has raised more than $2.5 million to date, will feature an all-star roster of friends to be announced in the coming weeks. Now, more than a decade later, that effort has become an annual tradition. Friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, John Daly, Charles Kelley of Lady Antebellum, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley, Kenny Rogers and Tommy Thayer of KISS, among many others. The lineup for this year’s event will be announced soon.

Nashville Navy Family Reunion – June 7 @ Nashville Palace, 6PM Tickets  $20, Hosted by Shelly Fairchild, Lineup: TBA

Stars for Second Harvest – June 7 @ Ryman Auditorium  Time, Lineup and Tickets: TBA; The acoustic benefit concert has featured some of the hottest headliners in country music and always sells out. Past headliners have included Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, and Dierks Bentley. All proceeds help feed hungry people in Middle and West Tennessee.

23rd Annual Moore & Moore Fan Club Party – June 7 @ Nashville Nightlife, 6PM Tickets: $25 ADV; $30 Door;  Hosted by singer/songwriter, Scott Southworth and performance by Moore & Moore with special guests, David Frizzell, Leona Williams, James Carothers, Dion Pride, more artists TBA. 

Next Generation: Sons & Daughters of Country Legends – June 9 @ The Troubadour, 7PM Tickets: $30 ADV, $35 Door; As a way of preserving their parents’ legacy, a group of ‘kids’ of Country Legends, came together to perform and keep the traditional country music alive. Performance by the sons and daughters of legends like Conway Twitty, Mel Tillis, Ray Price Glen Campbell, Dottie and Shelly West and The Bellamy Brothers. 

Sunday Mornin’ Country – June 12 @ The Grand Ole Opry, 2:30PM Tickets: $55. Sunday Mornin’ Country promises to be the best ticket in town, blending top Country artists and your favorite Gospel music together for a time of celebration and inspiration along with great entertainment for the whole family. Again this year, the show will be hosted by the legendary Country Music and Rock -n- Roll Hall of Fame member, Brenda Lee. Sunday Mornin’ Country is an event you won’t want to miss. This year’s show will be the 40th Anniversary of Country music artists coming together to share their hearts as well as their favorite Gospel songs. Sponsored by the Nashville-based nonprofit, Music City Christian Fellowship, the concert has wrapped up the week at the conclusion of CMA Music Fest each year, leaving fans and guests with an uplifting memory of Nashville. Sunday Mornin’ Country is the longest-running Country/Gospel event during the music festival. Line up TBA