iReports: Best of the Fest

Friday, June 12

The Race Is On at Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall

On the second day of CMA Music Festival, the crowd at Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall had not slowed down even by a step. Anticipation was as palpable as it had been the day before as autograph seekers lined up as early as 4:40AM, willing to lose a little sleep for a chance to shake the hands of their favorites.

For Steve Clear of Grayson, Ky., the allure of tracking down Country stars at their booths in Fan Fair Hall involved “getting to meet them up close and personal, getting to ask them questions.”

Fan Fair Hall is like a marketplace where fans and artists interact. Tickets for autograph opportunities are obtained; information about new and upcoming artists is acquired. And with vendors and product giveaways adding to the buzz, many visitors describe this as one of their favorite parts of the Festival.

“There is so much to do, you really just can’t do it all,” said Christopher Beavers of Corpus Christi, Texas. “You have to figure out in advance what you want to do each day, and you try to get in to see as many artists as you possibly can.”

“Meeting the people and seeing how normal they are” is what fascinates Jason Beattie from Clarksville, Tenn. “You know they’re famous and everybody idolizes them, but they are really down-to-earth people who talk to you and treat you like anybody else would.”

Another unique element of the Fan Fair Hall experience occurs when the doors open each morning to admit the thundering rush of fans. Yet for all the apparent chaos they unleash, many of these visitors move with a clear plan in mind and often emerge with the signatures, photos and souvenirs they’d desired.

“I never expected to get any autographs,” marveled Vanessa Soszynski of Lansing, Mich. “So it’s been more than I ever expected.”

-- Amber Garner

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Riverfront Park Daytime Stage: Not Just Another Day at the Office

At 10 AM on a weekday in downtown Nashville, most locals have settled into their desks for a long day of work. This Friday morning, however, cold brews had been popped open, cowboy hats donned and the party was underway on the Riverfront Park Daytime Stage.

As the smell of funnel cakes and barbeque wafted through the air, The Oak Ridge Boys opened the first set with their new single, “The Boys Are Back.” Listeners with discerning ears, however, noted Joe Bonsall’s absence from their famous blend. Bonsall had been instructed by his doctor to give his voice a rest, though that didn’t mean taking the day off. As the band rocked out, Bonsall jumped around the stage and the wings playing air guitar, taking pictures with his cell phone, stomping his foot and inspiring the crowd to clap their hands with him. They continued their set with a new song, “Mama’s Table,” written for them by Jamey Johnson, who they described as “the real deal, yall!”

After the Boys wrapped up their performance with their classic “Elvira,” high-pitched screams welcomed Bucky Covington. After revving up the crowd with his hit “A Different World,” the “American Idol” alumnus slung the guitar off of his back, scribbled an autograph on the front and handed it to a stunned fan in the front row. Later, after playing his new single, “I Want My Life Back,” Covington made a request to the audience: “When all of you go back to where you came from on Monday, I want each and every one of you to call your local radio station and aggravate the crap out of them to play that song!”

Next in the lineup was farmer, truck driver, bodybuilder and Country artist Aaron Tippin. While singing songs from his new album In Overdrive, he hustled back and forth across the stage assembling a mysterious contraption. In the spirit of the “truckin’” theme of the new CD, the curious instrument turned out to be a diesel truck horn, which Tippin then blew repeatedly throughout the set. After strumming an American-flag-faced guitar during “Where the Stars and Stripes and Eagle Fly,” he pulled his two young sons onto stage for his finale, “Kiss This.” As the three of them boogied together and his wife shook the tambourine behind them, he ended the family affair with a loud, “Kiss this…See ya!”

Riverfront concertgoers promised they would. In her seventh Festival year at the festival and a homemade t-shirt that read “I like my Country rockin’, how ‘bout you?”, Lara Wittstadt of Charleston, SC described the festival as “the best four days in the whole year. We’re having so much fun, we’re losing our voices. This is like Christmas. You look forward to it, you count down the days!”

-- Campbell Glenn    

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ABC Block Party Mixes Music, Games and Daytime Glamour

Celebrity performances and appearances packed the schedule throughout the first day of the ABC Block Party, beginning with host Cameron Mathison. Known as Ryan Lavery on the daytime drama “All My Children” and also as a former contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” he immediately brought Whitney Clark up from the audience and onto the stage for a salsa dance lesson. “I am a big fan of Cameron’s, so of course I had a blast,” said the 25-year-old native of Chattanooga, Tenn.

Mathison then introduced Love and Theft. The Carolwood Records act played “Runaway” and “World Wide Open” along with several newer songs. By the end of the set, the trio had drawn well over 200 people to the tent and surrounding area.

Dana Eisenhower, 21, and Ashley Ratcliffe, 20, both of Putnam County, NY, have been fans of Love and Theft since discovering them in February on MySpace. “We were real excited when we got to meet them yesterday and take our picture with them at Fan Fair Hall,” said Ratcliffe. “We couldn’t wait to hear them perform today. They are absolutely amazing.”

After Love and Theft’s performance, Mathison introduced Rossi Morreale, host of the upcoming ABC reality show “Dating in the Dark.” Morreale presided over the ABC Trivia Wheel, a game in which contestants spin a wheel and have to answer a question about whatever ABC show that turns up when the wheel stops. Those who answered correctly received Desperate Housewives Dollars, which could be used to redeem prizes. Some performed effortlessly; others benefited from audience assistance.

At 12:45 PM, Kimberly McCullough and Greg Vaughan – Lucky Spencer and Dr. Robin Drake, respectively, on ABC’s “General Hospital” – joined Mathison onstage to field questions from the audience. Topics ranged from how much Vaughan liked Nashville to what cured Dr. Drake’s postpartum depression. Afterwards, McCullough and Vaughan stayed to sign autographs.

A “General Hospital vs. Grey’s Anatomy” game followed, in which Mathison fired questions about ABC shows to two teams. For each right answer, one team was allowed to practice some surgery on a human-sized figure. Though each team came up with the same number of correct answers, the Grey’s Anatomy team – Lacy Bouglass, Johanna Fowler and Allison Mauter – came out on top by accumulating the greater number of body parts, which entitled them to 500 Desperate Housewife Dollars, with 250 going to their opponents.

In another game, Brandon Barash and Bree Williamson – Johnny Zacchara and Jessica Brennan, respectively, on “One Life to Live” – paired with random members of the audience in a memory contest that involved matching actors and actresses with the ABC shows in which they starred. Like the victors in the surgery competition, Williamson’s colleague raked in 500 Desperate Housewife Dollars, while Barash’s partner received 250.

Autographs were dispensed through much of the day. Terri Morris of Pittsburgh, Penn. waited patiently for more than two hours for autographs from stars of “General Hospital.” She left with the signatures she craved and warm thoughts for ABC’s role at the Festival. “It’s a nice blend because Country Music fans and daytime fans are very dedicated,” she observed.

Crowds also took part in their own drama by running a scaled-down drama of the obstacle course featured on ABC’s popular “Wipeout” show. Johnny Edwards of Johnson City, Tenn. made a noble effort but admitted defeat after tumbling from the rotating walkway. “It was cool and a lot of fun to be up there but it is not as easy as it looks,” he said.

-- Campbell Glenn and Kelly Jones

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Champions Retain Title at Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge

Professional bull rider Jake Littlefield and his teammate, singer/songwriter Jason Brown, successfully defended their title Friday afternoon as reigning champions of the Mahindra Tractors Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge, co-sponsored by Championship Bull Riding.

In the final round of this mechanical bull riding competition, Littlefield’s score of 92 and Brown’s 95 were good enough to bring home the traditional belt buckle prize. The duo had also won this event at the 2008 CMA Music Festival.

Fans hollered for their favorite riders while Susie Dobbs, Executive Producer and Co-Host of “Beyond Rodeo” on RFD-TV, announced the scores.

To compete, professional bull riders were partnered with celebrities in teams of two, and judges rated their skills while staying atop the “bull” for eight seconds.

World-famous bull rider Tuff Hedeman made an appearance, and afterward both the bull riders and the celebrities signed autographs.

-- Ryan Vaden

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Soft Lights and Warm Hearts at Durango Acoustic Corner

Dim lights outlined circles on the small stage and brush wave patterns on the walls of the Durango Acoustic Corner within the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall. Rows of maroon chairs invited passersby in, each drawn to a place where artists and listeners can enjoy a unique intimacy and proximity.

“This is great for artists who haven’t been out there much, so people can hear them when they walk by,” said Jen Burke, a Festival attendee who was waiting to hear a performance by Dan Evans, who achieved national exposure by losing 136 pounds on NBC series “The Biggest Loser” and was now launching his career as a Country artist.

Evans had met Burke the day before in Fan Fair Hall; their encounter inspired her to buy his debut album, Goin’ All Out.. At Acoustic Corner, he addressed the story of his struggle with weight in an original song, “Letter to My Addiction.” His candor and eloquence drew a warm response.

The mood changed when Don Campbell brought his set of patriotic songs, inspirational songs and humor to the stage. Here, too, the Acoustic Corner proved an ideal forum for matching artists and potential fans. Milton Holt of Glenning Valley, Australia, arrived after being tipped off by another fan to be there for this performance. The CMA Music Festival first-timer was not sorry he’d come. When Campbell began a playful game of asking questions of the audience, Holt got into the spirit, shouting answers from the back. And at the end, as Campbell began his version of John Denver’s “Country Roads,” Holt’s Aussie accent rose high within the chorus.

-- Michelle Lorge

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Dean Brody Connects with Kids

Even those kids who hadn’t yet heard the music of Dean Brody had plenty of reason to attend his storytelling session in the Dr Pepper-McDonald’s Family Zone. The first 50 to enter the Main Stage tent received a copy of the book that the fast-rising artist would read to them – Judy Sierra’s “Born to Read,” signed with a personal message by Brody.

First in line was Lanie Street, 8, of Henderson, Tenn. Having attended last year’s CMA Music Festival, she knew the reward for early arrival – and in any event, as an enthusiastic reader, she considered this her favorite Festival event.

Brody held the book on his lap, pointing the pictures toward his listeners and reading the type upside down. This prompted him to tell a brief story about a teacher of his who had that admirable skill. He also revealed that his 2-year-old daughter Molly likes to read the same book over and over – an observation that triggered nods, laughs and applause from parents who knew what he was talking about first-hand.

As the reading proceeded, children followed along with their new copies of the book. Some shared with their neighbors. All was quiet except for Dean’s animated reading, both as the narrator and as all of the characters. Now and then he interrupted himself with a personal anecdote that tied in with that point of the story. When Play-Doh was mentioned, for instance, he asked, “How many of y’all ate Play-Doh?”

After finishing with an affirmation that “reading is cool, stay in school,” Dean made himself available to the crowd and stayed until every child who wanted his signature had received it in their new book.

-- Alyssa Smith

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Katie Chance, 11, Stars in the Family Zone

“It is just really fun. It just makes me feel so happy.”

Eleven-year-old Katie Chance was talking about her love for singing, but she might have been speaking as well for the audience that savored her performance on the Dr Pepper-McDonald’s Family Zone Main Stage.

Making her second appearance at CMA Music Festival, Katie sang four original songs from her upcoming debut album, scheduled for release in August.

Proceeds will go toward the Autism Society of America. Diagnosed with mild autism at 3, she has been able to adjust because of early and effective treatment.

“If they suspect it and they find it early and get treatment and counseling, you can help it so much better,” said Dean Chance, Katie’s father.

The album, still being recorded, will include appearances by Charlie Daniels and Sawyer Brown, both of whom got involved with Katie through her mother Teresa, owner of their promotion and marketing company GrassRoots Promotion.

Katie’s grandmother, Harriet Johnston, noted that her granddaughter started singing at 2 and has never been “coaxed into taking lessons. It’s just her,” she confirmed. “It hasn’t been pushed.”

Though she admitted to getting nervous sometimes when performing before crowds, Katie added that her confidence is growing and hopes to see her name someday in the Billboard charts.

“I really want to go on tour and have a hit by the time I’m 18,” she said. “I feel really honored to be here and proud of myself.”

-- Michael Stone

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Learn Yodeling on the Job with Taylor Ware

“Are y’all ready to hear some yodeling?”

With Taylor Ware, the answer has to be yes. Known for her singing and yodeling virtuosity, the 14-year-old native of Franklin, Tenn. began her half-hour set on the Main Stage at the Dr Pepper-McDonald’s Family Zone with “Cowboy’s Sweetheart,” and as soon as she hit the yodel-heavy chorus, jaws dropped and smiles spread throughout the tent.

“Now, I bet I know what y’all are thinking,” she teased the crowd. “You want to yodel, right? Even if you don’t, you’re going to.” With that warning, she directed listeners in what might best be described as two-part harmonized yodeling.

Ware achieved renown as one of the five finalists in the 2006 season of “America’s Got Talent.” “There’s nothing like national reality competitions,” she observed with a smile. Especially with the antics of ABC’s “Wipeout” obstacle course just across the sidewalk, it was impossible to disagree.

-- Brittney McKenna

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Everyone’s Invited When Jon Ashton Cooks

Feeling out the crowd, celebrity chef Jon Ashton was cooking up a storm on the Main Stage at the Dr Pepper-McDonald’s Family Zone. He tossed questions to several onlookers while splattering together a salad that consisted of avocados and onions, diced and sliced on a bed of lettuce.

Eventually, he began focusing on a member of the audience who resembled the Tom Hanks film character Forrest Gump. Dressed in a yellow jacket with a blue-and-white collared shirt, his hair shaved short, the spectator pondered Ashton’s question about what he would add to the salad and then came up with his answer: “Bubba Gump shrimp!”

The laughter that followed exemplified the positive energy that Ashton seems to elicit, whether creating a recipe for dinner or life.

Adding to the excitement, Megan Mullins joined Ashton as his guest. Having just finished a set on the Hard Rock Outdoor Stage, the young Indiana-born artist seemed right at home before an audience. Her bubbly personality, as well as samples of her music played throughout her appearance, easily won over the crowd.

The best surprise was last, though, as Ashton announced that everyone in the audience was invited to share the food he’d just prepared. The idea of table chatter and friends sharing each other’s company was clearly central to his concept as a chef.

“Have a really smashin’ time at CMA Fest,” he proclaimed in his Liverpool accent. “I look forward to hearing all of your stories tomorrow.”

-- Michelle Lorge

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Stage Set for New Champion at Total Outdoorsman Challenge

Fifty outdoorsmen from around the United States and Canada competed Friday in the regional Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge at Fort Nashboro. Overlooking the Riverfront Park Daytime Stage, this event drew hundreds of onlookers who shared a love for both music and the outdoors.

Participants, who qualified at Bass Pro Shops near their hometowns, tested their mettle in four areas: air rifle, archery, bait casting and skill testing. “Backstage & Backroads” host Daniel Lee Martin was the only artist among those who vied for victory.

After four hours of competition, three winners emerged with invitations to move forward to the national finals, scheduled for Sept. 10-13 in Springfield, Mo. The grand prize winner will then receive $25,000, a Yamaha ATV, a trip to Nashville for the CMA Awards in November and a spread in Field & Stream magazine.

Tom Boatwright of Perdido, Ala., took top honors with a score of 19, ending the reign of three-time champion Paul Thompson. “I’m still shaking,” he admitted after results were announced.

Second place went to Chris Reed from Thompson Station, Tenn., whose score was 21. Justin Brown of Memphis, Ind., placed third with 34.

-- Rachel Carden

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CMA Surprises Recipients with International Country Awards

In a surprise presentation on Friday afternoon, CMA honored three international media representatives who had played integral roles in establishing and maintaining ties to the Country Music community.

Joe Fish and Pio McCann were each presented with CMA’s International Country Broadcaster Award, and Roger Ryan received the Wesley Rose International Achievement Award. All three were surprised as they were getting ready to watch a special Irish Showcase on the Sommet Center Plaza Stage.

Fish, a veteran of Country Music programming and tour operations from the United Kingdom and host of “Joe Fish Country” on BBC Radio Lancashire, expressed gratitude as well as his love for Nashville. “This will be the 40th anniversary of my first time in Nashville,” he said. “I cannot explain what this means to me.”

McCann, an Irish radio broadcaster known for his production work on “When Nashville Came to Ireland,” accepted the award with a big smile. “Nashville is the end of the line as far as we’re concerned when it comes to music,” he said. “Thanks a million.”

The Wesley Rose International Media Achievement Award, which honors media representatives who further the development of Country Music outside of the United States, was well suited for Ryan, who founded the Country Music Association of Ireland in 1969.

“I have spent what could be considered a lifetime in Country Music, and this is the first time that I have received anything such as this,” he said. “I am indeed very grateful to the CMA.”

A showcase followed the presentation, featuring some of Ireland’s most prominent Country artists, including Philomena Begley, Eamon McCann, Louise Morrissey and Warren Smyth.

-- Brittney McKenna

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Exciting Acts Burn on a Sizzling Hard Rock Outdoor Stage

Shade was in short supply, yet diehard fans crowded up to the Hard Rock Outdoor Stage to support the artists who played throughout the day, with help from frozen margaritas and cold beer sold by the Hard Rock Cafe.

Temperatures were still mild, though, when Rio Grand kicked into action, ending a vigorous performance by bringing Kaitlin Walker up to join them on her song “Mama Burned the Kitchen Down.”

Accompanied by a band that included her father Randy Weddle on acoustic guitar, Amber Leigh displayed impressive versatility by singing lead and playing fiddle at the same time. She also amused the crowd by walking over to her father he was concentrating on his part and using her hands to shape his serious face into a smile.

Her and Kings County, a gifted six-piece group from New York, boasted an instrumentation that mixed banjos and accordions with guitars, bass and drums to support Monique Staffile’s powerful lead vocals. Playing “Troubles,” “My Backyard,” “Take What I Can Get” and “To Life,” Her and Kings County had the crowd dancing and clapping, with a few air guitarists ramping up their imaginary volume.

Longtime fans of the band, husband and wife Rick, 55 and Fay Reed, 49, from Fort Wayne, Ind., first heard to band when they opened up for Kid Rock. “Lady and Her County are a major reason we are at the Festival,” said Rick Reed. “Hopefully by us showing our support, they will come back up to Indiana and play for us again.”

Next up was Stephen Dale, a true cowboy from Yellville, Ark. Performing “Driving My Truck,” “Girls Look Better (in a Cowboy Hat)” and other songs from his album Longshot, Dale inspired spectators to line-dance to his classic country melodies. Dale even left the stage to greet the fans, pass out free t-shirts, and take pictures, all while still performing.

Twin sisters Kim and Krista Marcelli, 26, from Sacramento, Calif., heard Dale while walking to Riverfront. “We decided to stop and listen because his music sounded great from the road,” said Kim Marcelli. “He passed out CDs to us, and we are definitely going to listen to them on the plane ride home.”

Later, Brady Seals rocked the Hard Rock Stage. Highlights included “Another You, Another Me,” which he recorded with Wynonna and performed here with his wife, and “God Bless Texas,” from his days in the band Little Texas.

“Awesome, he is dead sexy, we love him,” were just a few of the comments from Jaclean Romberger, Leah Tsikalas, Amelia Fitzgerald and Jena Bisconto, all from Pennsylvania. It was their first time at CMA Music Fest and except for the fact that Bisconto had lost her voice, they were “having a great time.”

One enthusiast came even further to see one of his favorites. Giorgio Bettocchi from Italy, met Veronica Bellestrini two years ago at CMA Music Fest, stayed in contact with her through e-mails and was in attendance for her Hard Rock Stage set. He even brought two friends along with him.

“She’s very good,” Bettocchi said. His two friends, who did not speak as much English as he did, nodded in agreement.

-- Amanda Lynn Brown, Kelly Jones and Michael Stone

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Brice and Brody Keep It Rockin’ on Sommet Center Plaza Stage

“Half of this story is true, half I made up,” proclaimed Lee Brice as he pumped up the crowd on Sommet Center Plaza with his song “Upper Middle Class White Trash” and then moved into the fun-loving “She Ain’t Right.” After a while he closed with the window-rattling “Four on the Floor” and exited to a cheering crowd.

Dean Brody followed with a similarly energetic sequence that included “Undone” and “Dirt Road Scholar” but then turned a little more serious, thanking fans for their support as he transitioned into his song “Brothers.”

“It’s been a wild year with this song and it’s meant a lot to me to see what it has meant to you,” said Brody.

Ending with his new single “Gravity,” he left spectators from as far away as Scotland buzzing. “The level of musicianship is amazing,” said John Marrott of Aberdeen.

-- Amber Garner

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VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field Hosts Sweet Summer Idylls and Thrilling Performances

For Country Music fans, and particularly those who had weathered the storm delays of the previous night, Friday’s concert on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field was a dream come true, but for CMA Festival attendees, it was just one of the many star-filled concerts on a beautiful summer evening.

Hundreds of fans waited for the night’s show hours before the event. Lines of ticket holders surrounded the stadium and even winding into the parking lot. Children played in the spaces between the fans while their parents held their spots in line. The smell of funnel cakes sweetened the entrance. It looked more like a block party or Southern barbeque than a stadium queue.

Fans like Kristen Schmitt and her daughter Haley of Killeen, Texas began their wait at 4:30 in the afternoon to get at the head of the line. They were amazed by the sheer amounts of fans. Kristen stated “It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen here!”

The night’s concert began near sundown and the fans loved every minute of it. Camera flashes rivaled the previous night’s lightning and continued through the entire show. Attendees with 4-day passes were allowed to walk right up to the stage and take pictures while walking across the front. Fans enjoyed tons of opportunities to take photos of their favorite artists; many were displayed on the Jumbotron as the performances unfolded.

Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan started the night off with “Country Boy,” “We Rode in Trucks,” “All My Friends Say” and his current single “Do I.”

In contrast, Little Big Town offered hints classic rock within their Country harmonies. Their set included, “Fine Line,” “Bones” and “The Chain,” a cover and a tribute to one of their chief musical influences, Fleetwood Mac. They topped off their set with “Vapor” and a crowd favorite, “Boondocks,” as the sun set over LP Field.

Glowsticks rippled in the crowd, illuminating the stadium for the next performer, Rodney Atkins. A crowd favorite, he played “These Are My People” and “15 Minutes.” Atkins then pretended to wipe off his guitar as if it were a gun during his chart-topper “Watching You.”

“We got to celebrate a release of a new single last year and this year we get to release a single going to No. 1!” exclaimed Atkins as he then played straight into, “It’s America.”

Atkins also covered Johnny Nash’s standard, “I Can See Clearly Now” before ending on his own summer anthem, “If You’re Going Through Hell.”

Lady Antebellum performed “Love Don’t Live Here,” “Long Gone,” “I Run to You,” “It Hurts So Good” and closed with “Looking for a Good Time,” by which time virtually the entire crowd was on its feet.

Jake Owen opened his set with “Yee Haw,” “Something About a Woman” and “Starting with Me” before moving to the singles “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and “Eight Second Ride,” as fans seemed to genuinely appreciate his new tune.

The Zac Brown Band started with the friendly “Whatever It Is” before stunning the crowd with a cover of the Charlie Daniels milestone “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “Toes,” and ZBB’s own Southern anthem, “Chicken Fried.”

Jason Aldean ratcheted the intensity further with a rock-inflected set. Bass guitar shook the stadium in his opener, “Who’s Kissing You Tonight,” which preceded “Amarillo Sky” and “Big Green Tractor.” He wasn’t the only one mouthing the words to his closer as audience members sang along on his signature summer hit, “She’s Country.”

Kid Rock closed the show with a muscular mixture of Country, blues and Southern rock. His set included “Son of Detroit,” “Midnight Rider” as an Allman Brothers tribute and Rock’s anthem “Cowboy.” Then Martina McBride hit the stage for a surprise guest appearance during “Picture,” bringing tired fans back on their feet just in time for “All Summer Long” as a finale.

-- Amanda Brooks, Amanda Lynn Brown and Michael Chapman    

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VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field Hosts Sweet Summer Idylls and Thrilling Performances

For Country Music fans, and particularly those who had weathered the storm delays of the previous night, Friday’s concert on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field was a dream come true, but for CMA Festival attendees, it was just one of the many star-filled concerts on a beautiful summer evening.

Hundreds of fans waited for the night’s show hours before the event. Lines of ticket holders surrounded the stadium and even winding into the parking lot. Children played in the spaces between the fans while their parents held their spots in line. The smell of funnel cakes sweetened the entrance. It looked more like a block party or Southern barbeque than a stadium queue.

Fans like Kristen Schmitt and her daughter Haley of Killeen, Texas began their wait at 4:30 in the afternoon to get at the head of the line. They were amazed by the sheer amounts of fans. Kristen stated “It’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever seen here!”

The night’s concert began near sundown and the fans loved every minute of it. Camera flashes rivaled the previous night’s lightning and continued through the entire show. Attendees with 4-day passes were allowed to walk right up to the stage and take pictures while walking across the front. Fans enjoyed tons of opportunities to take photos of their favorite artists; many were displayed on the Jumbotron as the performances unfolded.

Capitol Nashville’s Luke Bryan started the night off with “Country Boy,” “We Rode in Trucks,” “All My Friends Say” and his current single “Do I.”

In contrast, Little Big Town offered hints classic rock within their Country harmonies. Their set included, “Fine Line,” “Bones” and “The Chain,” a cover and a tribute to one of their chief musical influences, Fleetwood Mac. They topped off their set with “Vapor” and a crowd favorite, “Boondocks,” as the sun set over LP Field.

Glowsticks rippled in the crowd, illuminating the stadium for the next performer, Rodney Atkins. A crowd favorite, he played “These Are My People” and “15 Minutes.” Atkins then pretended to wipe off his guitar as if it were a gun during his chart-topper “Watching You.”

“We got to celebrate a release of a new single last year and this year we get to release a single going to No. 1!” exclaimed Atkins as he then played straight into, “It’s America.”

Atkins also covered Johnny Nash’s standard, “I Can See Clearly Now” before ending on his own summer anthem, “If You’re Going Through Hell.”

Lady Antebellum performed “Love Don’t Live Here,” “Long Gone,” “I Run to You,” “It Hurts So Good” and closed with “Looking for a Good Time,” by which time virtually the entire crowd was on its feet.

Jake Owen opened his set with “Yee Haw,” “Something About a Woman” and “Starting With Me” before moving to the singles “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and “Eight Second Ride,” as fans seemed to genuinely appreciate his new tune.

The Zac Brown Band started with the friendly “Whatever It Is” before stunning the crowd with a cover of the Charlie Daniels milestone “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” “Toes,” and ZBB’s own Southern anthem, “Chicken Fried.”

Jason Aldean ratcheted the intensity further with a rock-inflected set. Bass guitar shook the stadium in his opener, “Who’s Kissing You Tonight,” which preceded “Amarillo Sky” and “Big Green Tractor.” He wasn’t the only one mouthing the words to his closer as audience members sang along on his signature summer hit, “She’s Country.”

Kid Rock closed the show with a muscular mixture of Country, blues and Southern rock. His set included “Son of Detroit,” “Midnight Rider” as an Allman Brothers tribute and Rock’s anthem “Cowboy.” Then Martina McBride hit the stage for a surprise guest appearance during “Picture,” bringing tired fans back on their feet just in time for “All Summer Long” as a finale.

-- Amanda Brooks, Amanda Lynn Brown and Michael Chapman

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The Writers Behind the Hits Hold Court at CMA Songwriters Series

Across the Cumberland River from LP Field, where fireworks heralded the end of the second night of performances on the VAULT Concert Stage, CMA Music Festival celebrants filled the streets, streaming in and out of clubs and gridlocking traffic. Many made their way to line stretching outside the Hard Rock Cafe, where servers worked quickly to get as many as possible seated and settled.

The low lighting and late-night refreshment offered a pleasant respite. Still, the uproar of multiple conversations indicated that this crowd was ready for one more set of great music after the hot and hectic pace of daytime action.

“That sound all right there?” asked Luke Laird from the stage, testing his microphone as 11 PM neared, the start time for the first of the Festival’s three nightly CMA Songwriters Series sets.

Laird, who co-wrote Carrie Underwood’s “Last Name” and “So Small,” was one of the five performers warming up for this installment the three-year-old Series, at which some of Nashville’s top songwriters perform and discuss the hits they’ve written – and share behind-the-scene stories with their audience.

His colleagues were Jason Matthews (writer of Billy Currington’s “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right”), Karyn Rochelle (Kellie Pickler’s “I Wonder”), Jonathan Singleton (Gary Allan’s “Watching Airplanes”) and James Slater (Tim McGraw’s “That’s Why God Made Mexico”).

The popularity of this series was evident when everyone in the front row raised their hands to signify they’d been to a previous installment. Before long, newcomers were impressed as well.

“It was awesome to see the writers sing their own songs, to see who they are and what they look like,” said Laura Sowers, 21, from Columbus, Ohio. “You get to see a different perspective and hear each song’s acoustic version.”

“It’s our third year coming to the Festival, but this is our first Songwriters Series,” added her friend Courtney Green, also 21 and from Columbus. “We already have our tickets for next year.”

The songwriters perched on wooden stools, each holding a guitar except for Slater, who sat behind a keyboard, in a line barely three feet from the audience. They performed in sequence, right to left, one song at a time until all had done three selections. Their camaraderie was infectious, as they tapped or nodded to the beat of each other’s presentation. The audience was fixated except for when they sang quietly along to a familiar line.

Laird described the range of the songs being performed as an “emotional roller coaster,” but the audience’s mood remained upbeat and engaged. Though it was well past midnight, they cheered when Rochelle asked “Are y’all still having fun?” And when Slater performed the last number of the night, everyone rose in a final standing ovation.

All proceeds from the Songwriters Series benefited Musicians on Call, which brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, as explained in a video presentation and brief talk from a representative of the organization.

-- Ashley Day