Saturday at CMA Music Festival
June 7, 2008
TAYLOR SWIFT HOSTS AUTOGRAPH MARATHON
The news of the day in truTV Fan Fair Hall was the decision by Taylor Swift to make herself available for six hours to write her name on photos, CDs and cowboy boots among other items presented by her fans and listen to fans of all ages share stories on how her songs have touched their lives.
Posters of Swift, T-shirts emblazoned with “You’re Just Another Picture to Burn” and plasma screens playing her videos adorned the Big Machine Records booth, where a ceaseless stream of visitors craned their necks and snapped hundreds of pictures. Also on display were Swift’s guitar and the gown she wore to the 2007 CMA Awards.
One dedicated fan, Sierra Storm of Princeton, Ill., had been waiting in line with her mother since 4:30 AM in hopes of grabbing a ticket. Another, Jeanine Bailey of Silver Spring, Md., came directly from receiving her autograph to remark to a news crew, “She thanked me for being such a great fan! She just seemed really generous.”
Other highlights of the Saturday autograph whirlwind included Emerson Drive and Carrie Underwood
-- Brenna Mader
FANS RISE AND SHINE AT GREASED LIGHTNING RIVERFRONT STAGES
The morning started at the Greased Lightning Riverfront Daytime Stages with Joe Nichols opening the “Country Jamboree” set. Listeners arrived in a variety of apparel – flip-flop sandals, cowboy boots, jeans, sundresses and bikinis – and settled on the lawn to the sound of his performance of “Size Matters,” which ended with Nichols shouting exuberantly, “Good morning.”
Festive dancing broke out during the second song, “It Ain’t No Crime,” and by the time Nichols was holding his microphone toward the crowd during “Brokenheartsville,” listeners were only too ready to fill in on the vocal. Though he acknowledged that it might be a little early for tequila, Nichols followed “Let’s Get Drunk and Fight” with “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” and then left to sign autographs.
The theme flowed into the next set as Flynnville Train sang the upbeat “Tequila Sheila.” Only when they shifted to ballad tempo did the crowd begin to slow-dance sway, stretch out in the sun and wander toward the concession stands for their first snow cone of the day.
-- Claire Carville
and Brenna Mader
CELEBRITIES BATTLE MECHANICAL BULL AT CHEVY SPORTS ZONE
It was professional bull riders and Country Music artists on one side and a mechanical bull on the other, as the CBR/RFD-TV sponsored Celebrity Bull Riding Competition bucked and rolled at Chevy Sports Zone.
Legendary rodeo champion Tuff Hedeman opened the event by explaining to the audience what awaited the participants. “When you put your hand in the rope and the gate opens, there is an explosion,” he said. “But then all that goes out the window and you just hold on tight.”
Lance Leslie and Danny Rivera of Rio Grande, Josh Newcom of Indian Rodeo, and solo artists Jason Brown and Trent Willmon were among the brave artists who stepped up to this challenge. Their trained counterparts included Championship Bull Riding (CBR) world titleholder Bonner Bolton, Jake Littlefield, Travis Sellers, current Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) world champion Wesley Silcox and Steve Woosley.
All put up a good fight, but only two teams – Brown and Littlefield, plus Silcox and Willmon – made it to the finals. With one hand gripped around the rope and the other confidently in the air, Texas native Willmon battled the beast with ease. His partner, though, was thrown, leaving the door wide open for their competition.
Littlefield hopped fearlessly onto the bull and held on past the 8-second requirement. Then Brown, after signaling his readiness, spurred the sides like a real cowboy and stayed balanced long enough to ride into victory.
As the two were handed shiny silver belt buckles as their prize, Brown confided that bull riding isn’t that different an experience for him. “Actually,” he joked, “it’s a lot like the music business.”
-- Julee Cobb
A PRICELESS MOMENT WITH LUKE BRYAN AT YWCA CELEBRITY AUCTION
The YWCA Celebrity Auction drew fans from throughout the McDonald’s–Dr Pepper Family Zone to the Main Stage to relax in the shade of a big white canopy and bid on autographed memorabilia from celebrities. The energy was high, the pace stayed fast and recording artist Steve Virginia, serving as auctioneer, kept everyone on the edge of their seats as possessions of their favorite artists were borne down the aisles and put on display.
Some items belonging to Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts and Carrie Underwood drew bids of more than $500.
A number of celebrities made appearances throughout the afternoon, but one of the most memorable occurred when Luke Bryan arrived to auction off his own signed CD, picture and tickets to his performance at whatever town was nearest to the buyer. As an added bonus, he sat on the lap of the lucky lady, who nonetheless held out until he posed for a picture with her before submitting her winning bid of $725.
All proceeds from the YWCA Celebrity Auction will be donated to the Middle Tennessee YWCA.
-- Claire Carville
HUNGARIAN MOTIFS THREAD THROUGH MARY KAY PRESENTS ACOUSTIC CORNER
Amidst the excitement and intensity of CMA Music Festival, Mary Kay presents Acoustic Corner plays a welcome role in offering fans a place to unwind, cool down and appreciate some excellent music in a personal and inviting space.
Late on Saturday, Well Hungarians made a strong impression in this refuge within the truTV Fan Fair Hall. The crowd swelled and spilled into the hall, where listeners laughed at the band’s banter, clapped in response to their beautiful harmonies and swayed along to their authentic Country melodies.
“They sing so well,” marveled Gale Burke of Elyria, Ohio. “We’d never heard of them before, but we decided to stop by and we’re so glad we did.”
Chris Gray followed with an eventful half-hour set that included one fan taking the microphone to propose to his girlfriend and couples romantically dancing. Then, after receiving a standing ovation for his patriotic tune “Red, White and Blue,” Gray jokingly invited anyone with a fiddle
or harmonica to come up and play along on “Under My Hat,” which coincidentally he described as having reached No. 1 in Hungary.
-- Brenna Mader
MUSIC PLAYS NONSTOP ON CHEVY STAGES
The Saturday afternoon program on the Chevy Stage at Chevy Plaza was well underway when Jedd Hughes launched into his set. The Australian was introduced as an acclaimed writer whose catalog included collaborations with Keith Urban. But he proved himself a strong performer too with a rocking set. The audience, many of whom were watching from folding chairs, laughed when he prefaced his introduction of his last song with thanks for their support despite the weather being “bloody hot.” His cover of “I Walk the Line” inspired warm applause as he left the stage.
After an interlude, Noe Palma delivered an energetic acoustic array of original songs that celebrated life in the United States. The excellence of these and other Chevy Plaza concerts presented listeners with the delightful dilemma of having to choose between taking in great music and test-driving
the vehicles on display.
-- Claire Carville
ONLINE FRIENDS GO FACE-TO-FACE AT CMA FAN SOCIAL
The Buckwild Saloon in Downtown Nashville was crammed to capacity early Saturday afternoon, as a gathering of social-networking “friends” met in the real world.
Drawn together on MySpace.com, Facebook.com and other online communities by their love for Country Music, they celebrated their CMA Music Festival Fan Social for the second consecutive year in this Second Avenue venue.
Lady Antebellum, who had performed at the first of these gatherings in 2007, entered the room from a stairwell, passed through the crowd and took to the stage for an acoustic version of their single, “Love Don’t Live Here,” with listeners echoing every word. Then the trio thanked everyone who had attended their VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field show the previous night, noting that this had been their biggest audience to date. Charles Kelley drew cheers by announcing they would close with their next single, “Looking for a Good Time,” which Hillary Scott described as the perfect number to play in this bar setting.
Next up was Trent Tomlinson, who began with a new song, “The Way It Ought to Be,” as the ladies in the back climbed onto bar stools for a better look. His next one, “Drunker Than Me,” prompted the crowd to raise beer bottles high in approval. But the vibe changed as Tomlinson
closed with a moving rendition of “One Wing in the Fire,” after which he made himself available for autographs and photos.
-- Claire Carville
FANS TUNE IN TO EXCITEMENT AT ABC BLOCK PARTY
When ABC threw its gargantuan Block Party on Saturday afternoon, the McDonald’s – Dr Pepper Family teemed for four hours with fans looking to enhance their musical adventures with a chance to mingle with the stars of network television.
Bob Guiney kept the energy higher even than the temperature as he emceed the event. “I’m glad I didn’t drink last night, or I would be even more out of control,” the former host of “The Bachelor” joked.
Along with appearances by ABC Daytime stars from “All My Children,” “General Hospital” and “One Life to Live,” events included audience participation games based on trivia from different ABC programs. One highlight was a pie-eating contest, which promoted the show “Pushing Daisies.” Seven contestants, including Guiney, were served apple, berry or cherry pies and then given one minute to devour as much of them as possible. Though Guiney repeatedly predicted that his love for eating guaranteed him victory, a young boy named Jackson ended up the winner. With sticky apple residue covering his face, he summed up his strategy: “Don’t be clean – get dirty.”
The audience chuckled at Guiney’s quips and anxiously shouted out answers to the trivia games, but their biggest reaction came when “Dancing with the Stars” performer and new Country sensation Julianne Hough took the stage for a question-and-answer session. They went wild as well for Kassie DePaiva of “One Life to Live” and Bobbie Eakes of “All My Children,” who performed music from their respective Country albums. Country artist Marcel then sang four songs.
Beyond the canopy that shaded the entertainment area, ABC provided free snow cones and popcorn to visitors. A souvenir booth served also as the source of prizes that winners of the trivia games could collect. An autograph table drew long lines of fans for a signature and a few moments with their favorite ABC actors; Anna Giammona and her mother Denise, from Palm Coast, Fla., expressed their excitement in particular for a signing session with “All My Children” standout Ricky Paull Goldin.
More even than the games and entertainment, fans appreciated the sincerity and accessibility of the ABC stars who shared their time on this sunny afternoon.
-- Julee Cobb
SINGING, CELEBRATING AND COOLING OFF IN FUN ZONE
Most of CMA Music Festival offers access to the stars of today and tomorrow, whether through autographs, sports and cooking exhibitions or, of course, great performances.
In the Fun Zone, though, the fan is the center of attention.
This unique part of the Festival fills a couple of blocks along Lower Broadway. Booths line both sides of the street, and while celebrities do drop in for an occasional photo op, the samples, games, snacks and other enticements of the Fun Zone all cater to the Festival attendees.
On a typically warm afternoon, visitors stopped at the Dunkin’ Donuts booth to enter the four nightly Festival drawings for coupons that offer free coffee and donuts at D&D locations. Another drawing was in the works next door courtesy of Geico, the prize being a $500 gasoline card. Samples of BLT sandwiches, with hickory-smoked, farm-raised, grain-fed and chemical-free catfish, were available courtesy of The Catfish Institute.
The line in front of the Waggin’ Train booth moved briskly past product samples to a contest wheel. Each spin won a prize, including caps, fans and T-shirts. But every time someone won a bracelet, the pet product company made a 20-cent donation to canine rescue programs run by the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and other organizations.
“It adds up quickly,” said Michelle Higdon, Corporate Operations Officer, Waggin’ Train Worldwide. “We’ve already given away 18,000 samples of our Chicken Jerky Tenders. And we expect to be able to make about $20,000 worth of donations based on the numbers of bracelets we’re giving away so far at the Festival.”
Kids enjoyed their own amusements, from a “Euro Bungee” ride set up by the Nashville Shores water slide park to a “Slip ‘n’ Slide” water ride, which thoughtfully directed a spray of cool water toward one side for adults who preferred not to belly-flop down the long inflated pad.
And young singers enjoyed their moments in the sun – or, actually, in the shade – at the Tetley Iced Tea booth, where a karaoke machine scrolled lyrics and blasted tracks nonstop. On Saturday afternoon the star was Kourtney Knoch, whose spirited rendition of “Rock & Roll All Night” had her father jamming joyfully on air guitar and the Tetley staff grinning and singing along as they poured samples.
When asked whether she learned the song as a KISS fan, the 9-year-old Nashville-based vocalist responded, “No, I’ve got the song on ‘Guitar Hero.’”
-- Bob Doerschuk
STARS WAFT UNCOMMON SCENTS AT FIESTA CELEBIRTY GRILLING CHALLENGE
The ingredients were laid out. The grills were hot. The chefs and celebrities were ready to sizzle. And then, on Saturday afternoon at the Chevy Sports Zone, the Fiesta Celebrity Grilling Challenge was underway.
Celebrity participants included Jamie O’Neal, Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis, Mark Wills and Lorianne Crook, co-host of “The Crook & Chase Show” on RFD-TV. Joining them were chefs from four respected Nashville restaurants: Jason Brumm of Radius10, George Harvell of the Loveless Café, Karl Prohaska of the Sheraton Music City Hotel in Nashville and Brian Uhl of Cabana. Participants were paired off into four teams, supplied with fruits, breads, vegetables and a variety of meats, and let loose to create an entrée, side dish and dessert.
“Team Jack Daniels,” a.k.a. Tillis and Prohaska, kept the crowd laughing as they made the whiskey a primary ingredient of their cooking as well as a few drinks on the side.
Meanwhile, even as he was being called for his performance at the Greased Lightning Riverfront Daytime Stages, Wills stayed at Brumm’s side, cooking shrimps and scallops until he finally had to make his exit and leave his partner to slice and dice on his own.
Crook snacked on the chocolate chips while modeling her “Gourmet Crook” toque. Aiding Uhl, she garnished their vanilla bread French toast with colorful fruit.
And when not tossing Loveless Café oven mitts and drink koozies to the crowd, O’Neal focused with Harvell on producing an enticing combination of steak and vegetables.
The fate of these culinary compadres was in the hands of a judging panel that included artist John Stephan and a lucky audience member, Rachel Julianne of Elizabethtown, Pa. The table was filled with dishes that ranged from filet mignon and shrimp/scallop tartines (open-faced sandwiches) to Jack Daniels toffee cream pudding and honey-coated fruit. Each was critiqued according to appearance, creativity, taste and texture.
Once the plates were cleared, Wills and Brumm were declared the winners. Wills had already left for his Riverfront performance, yet each would receive a glass trophy for their accomplishments, all eight participants receive blue ribbons and the four chefs were presented with new Blue Ember 650
iQue grills.
-- Tawney Milam
BP PUMPS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE IN FUN ZONE
As she arrived for her first visit to CMA Music Festival, Pam Parris of Boiling Springs, S.C., had no idea that she would wind up ruminating for posterity on how life in her town might be made even better than it is.
She was walking through the Fun Zone in the middle of Saturday afternoon when the BP booth, on the south side of Broadway between First and Second Avenues, caught her eye.
Maybe it was the imitation gasoline pumps, rigged up for either a petroleum trivia quiz or a “Fuel the Pressure” game in which guests vie for a $5.00 coupon by trying to cut off a virtual full-blast flow of gas right on the nose at $5. (The price per gallon was set, nostalgically, at $3.29) Or it might have been the football toss, offering a free T-shirt to anyone who could hurl the pigskin three times through the gaping mouth of a mocked-up BP attendant.
In the end, though, she was drawn to the recording booth, where visitors were recording 30-second videos on how they would invest $10,000 in their communities.
It was, Parris admitted, something she’d never thought about before this moment. But once she’d taken her seat and the camera kicked on, she knew what she wanted to say.
“I’d like to see a program established that would teach kids how to be better stewards of their world,” she said, “to turn lights out when they leave the room and not waste water when you’re brushing your teeth and that type of thing. Kids absorb everything so easily, and if they’re taught from the onset, then they’ll have a better opportunity of not having a shortage of resources.”
With help from BP, Parris may see this wish come true. The company unveiled this booth at CMA Music Festival and would take it on the road for months to come. After making its last appearance, at the Michigan/Ohio State football game Nov. 22, the booth will be retired, and BP executives will review the tapes before choosing one as the most imaginative or most potentially constructive.
The hometown of that winning entry will receive $10,000 from BP, which the company will match with a $10,000 gift certificate to the person who conceived the idea.
Whether Boiling Springs benefits from a BP bequest remains to be seen. But one thing is sure, Parris insisted: “I’m definitely coming back to CMA Music Festival. I’ve never been here before, but this is absolutely fantastic.”
-- Bob Doerschuk
SMOKING GRILLS HERALD BBQ CHAMPIONSHIP
“I hope this becomes a tradition at CMA Music Festival. I think this can become bigger and bigger each year.”
The speaker, Darrin Seitz, is one of the many grill whizzes signed to compete in the first CMA Music Festival BBQ Championship, the event to which he was referring with the eagerness of a hungry diner seated at a plate of ribs and chicken.
This native of Mount Vernon, Ind., traveled to Music City with a dream, a trailer and a grill primed to motivate his “Hawg ‘n’ Sauce” team, one of 45 poised for battle in the Chevy Sports Zone.
“We’ll be grilling the entire night,” Seitz said. “This whole parking lot will be filled with beautiful rolling smoke once the competition begins. I’m here not only for the money but for the passion of hopefully being the top barbecue team here.
The heat was already rising as the sun simmered low over the western horizon, promising an irresistible aromatic night throughout all of Downtown Nashville.
-- Benjamin Kann
FROM DOWN-HOME TO CLASSIC COUNTRY, IT’S A “GOOD TIME” AT VAULT CONCERT STAGE AT LP FIELD
Saturday night’s show on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field got off to a roaring start with jets flying overhead as the sun descended behind the Nashville skyline. After that unbeatable introduction, Jason Michael Carroll and Craig Morgan got the party rolling with their brands of down-home Country.
Cheers then rose and camera bulbs flashed as Little Big Town took to the stage. After doing their version of Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way,” they set the crowd to clapping along with “Boondocks,” from their album The Road to Here.
The evening took a mellow turn as Jamey Johnson accompanied himself on acoustic guitar, with additional backing on steel guitar. He hit the right note with the crowd when he expressed his appreciation for the turnout by saying, “Thank y’all for every sunburn this year.”
Fans leaped to their feet and chanted “these are my people” along with other lyrics performed in the next segment by Knoxville’s baseball cap-wearing hometown hero Rodney Atkins. Strumming his guitar and addressing himself to “all you daddies” in attendance, Atkins drew a laugh by introducing “Clean This Gun” as “Butterfly Kisses meets Country Boy.”
Following an acoustic appearance by Darryl Worley, who finished with “Have You Forgotten” “to honor those of 9/11,” Trace Adkins strode onto the stage in his classic black cowboy hat and outfit. His towering height and rumbling bass voice created a powerful impression on “I Got My Game On” and “Ladies Love Country Boys,” but his sly sense of humor left its mark too. After bringing down the house with a stomping “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” Adkins confided, “I didn’t get in this business for the money. I got into it for the badankadonk.”
During the interlude that followed, United States military troops were welcomed onto the stage to receive an emotional standing ovation from the crowd.
The party resumed as Alan Jackson began his set. In white hat and rhinestone-studded Western shirt, he opened with “Gone Country” and set off a wave of dancing with “Don’t Rock the Jukebox.” Then, rolling up his sleeves, he said, “I’ve just been wondering if y’all have been having a … ‘Good Time.’” The response, as he kicked off that title track from his latest album, settled any doubts about that. The mood softened with a tender rendition of “Remember When,” which encouraged couples to come together in slow-dance embraces across the stadium. And then “Chattahoochee” inspired them to flaunt their air-guitar virtuosity as they played along to Jackson’s lively finale.
Closing the show was a true American music giant, Kenny Rogers. Singing “Through the Years,” “The Gambler” and other familiar tunes from his catalog, Rogers gave the audience a taste of classic Country as they filed out toward the after-hours festivities underway downtown.
--
Tawney Milam
