iReports: Best of the Fest

Saturday, June 13

Friends and Family Line Up for 2010 CMA Music Festival Tickets

On day three of the CMA Music Festival, early-risers waited up to two hours in line at the Sommet Center to purchase four-day tickets for next year's CMA Music Festival.

By the time the 10 windows in the box office opened at 9:30 AM, hundreds of fans had assembled in lines that wove back and forth within the indoor room and from there wrapped around the building outside.

David Chandler, 43, from Houston, Texas spent an hour in place, hoping to buy Gold Seats in LP Field. "We have enjoyed the concerts at night so much that we want to get the best tickets available for next year," said Chandler. "Unfortunately, I got stuck in line while my wife and daughter are out enjoying the festivities."

Tiffany Borders, 20, from Panama City, Fla., a Festival attendee for four years, did not mind the wait. "We got really great tickets this year and wanted to renew them again for next year."

Although no longer living in the same state, Sheryl Park, 60, from Raleigh, N.C. and Ann Story, 60, from Nashville, Tenn. have remained best friends since middle school. They spent an hour together in line, determined buy tickets next to each other during the LP Field concerts in 2010. Their tastes differ slightly – Story's favorite is Eric Church and Park prefers Lady Antebellum. Yet Country Music is a strong and common bond.

"We just love live Country Music," said Story.  "We also want to support the CMA Festival because they do a great job representing the city of Nashville and really do the city proud."

-- Kelly Jones

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Artists and Fans Bond at Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall

Greased Lighting Fan Fair Hall hosted hundreds of die-hard fans, each one awaiting the opportunity to acquire additional autographs on their hats, photos, shirts and guitars Saturday afternoon.

One of the favorites of the Hall on Saturday was Gretchen Wilson, who attracted hundreds of devotees to her booth. Some of those fans had camped overnight, outside the Nashville Convention Center, in which Fan Fair Hall resided, in hopes of being one of the first to meet Wilson.

Patty Crocker, who drove from Birmingham, Ala. to Nashville to come to her 12th CMA Fest, noted she has been a Wilson fan "ever since the beginning. She has so much energy," Crocker said, with ample energy of her own. "I really love coming to her concerts."

Other stars signing autographs Saturday included Cowboy Crush, Sarah Buxton, Dan Evans and Justin Moore.

For Kylie Nevitt, 18, of Madisonville, Ky., meeting Trailer Choir at the Barnes & Noble booth was "really exciting!" said Nevitt. Band members Butter, Big Vinny and Crystal were sporting in style in their trucker hats and overalls while making goofy faces, posing for pictures and greeting fans as if they were old friends.

"They asked me how I was and my name, where I was from and it was nice to meet me. They seemed really nice," said Nevitt.

Elizabeth Cook, known for portraying Conway Twitty's daughter Joni in the musical "Conway Twitty: The Man, The Music, The Legend," inspired one fan to exclaim, "You look like Elizabeth Cook!' Cook laughed and replied, 'Well, I am!"

Jason Rozenboom, 22, from Warren, Mich., epitomized the devotion that's become a tradition at the Festival. Rozenboom drove nine hours and sat in line for three and a half hours to meet Gloriana.

Dorothy Farlow drove even further, from Danville, Va., with a greater purpose in mind. Farlow, 65, was a two-year breast cancer survivor, with a shiny pink hat decorated with autographs. This hat, along with the autograph-covered guitar in her suitcase, she'll auction in Danville to support breast cancer research.

Margie Lokey, 52, from Nashville, on her 15th visit to CMA Music Festival, hoped to add Point of Grace to her collection of photos with stars in her University of Tennessee outfit, which included a UT jacket, shirt, shorts, socks, shoes, cowboy hat, fanny pack, purse, glasses and nail polish. Ten photograph pins adorned her jacket, featuring pictures of her with Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Gretchen Wilson.

"Whatever line you can get in, I just get in line," Lokey said. "Everybody stops me for pictures. I'm going to start charging $5. What keeps me coming back? I'm an old stiff!"

Bailee Phelps of Lovelaceville, Ky., keeps coming back to augment her collection of autographs. Just 5 years old, Phelps has been to the festival three times. She made the rounds in Fan Fair Hall gripping a hot pink Hawaiian guitar for autographs.

"She's only got three," her mom said, with a laugh. "She's very selective."

Autographed guitars had become a trend, but Deanne Durbin, 43, from Florence, Ky. has kept this ritual for nearly a decade. Durbin made the drive with her father, Jerry Casebolt, who has carved her a wooden guitar for each of the nine years she's attended. Forty to 50 autographs covered each year's guitar. Durbin plans to add these to the others they've lined up on the wall in their home.

Gamers, too, were given welcomed into Fan Fair Hall, where Warner Bros. teamed with Microsoft's Xbox team to provide attendees the chance to play games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero with their favorite artists. For the younger crowd in particular, standing side-by-side with Whitney Duncan, James Otto and John Rich was a dream come true. Kaitland Sexton, 13, of Delaware, said after playing some Rock Band with up-and-coming artist Frankie Ballard, "This was definitely one of the best parts of the Festival! It was totally awesome!"

-- Amanda Brook, Ashley Day and Michael Stone

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Special Surprises Greet Fans and One Star at Riverfront Park Daytime Stage

More than another day of great live music, the Saturday program on Riverfront Park Daytime Stage was a true celebration for one of its featured artists.

The crowd began assembling at 5:30 AM. By the time the stands and open space were filled, kayaks were floating down the Cumberland River and flags added to the festivity of what turned out to be a special day for Jason Michael Carroll.

Born June 13, 1978, he enjoyed shouts of "Happy Birthday" from the crowd during a break in the middle of his set. "I think this is the biggest birthday party I ever had!" shouted Carroll in gleeful reply.

Bass guitars, drum sets, and killer vocals reverberated against the Downtown Nashville skyscrapers as Carroll surrendered the stage to Jo Dee Messina.

Pumping out hits back to back, Messina opened with, "Heads Carolina, Tails California," followed by "I'm Alright." Granting a fan's request, she did "Bring on the Rain" as a request and finished off with "My Give a Damn's Busted."

Messina then made the unexpected yet characteristic gesture of announcing her mobile phone number and inviting fans to call for a chance to join her onstage. "Do not leave obscene messages, because your phone number will be on there and I will call you back all hours of the night and leave obscene messages on your phone!" she added, with her recognizable chuckle.

-- Michelle Lorge

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Legends of Today and Tomorrow Rock the Hard Rock Outdoor Stage

The Fun Zone is aptly titled, as it offers festival goers booth after booth of games to play, prizes to win and freebies to be collected from vendors. And if that’s not enough, just up the hill from the Fun Zone is the Hard Rock Outdoor Stage.

It may have still been morning when WKDF/Nashville Battle of the Bands winner O’Shea played their first note, but fans at the Hard Rock Café Outdoor Stage didn’t know it.

O’Shea is a Country act who moved to Nashville all the way from the "land down under" itself, Australia. Formed by husband and wife Mark and Jay O’Shea, the band offered amped-up country pop with a soulful twist.

Mark and Jay traded off on vocal duties, making playful husband-and-wife banter in between songs.

"We have one rule when it comes to photography," Mark told the crowd. "Take as many pictures as you can of these two ugly mugs!"

Guitarist Smith Curry played several solos, which, judging by the generous applause seemed to get the audience more excited with each bend of his string.

When Jay sang "When the Girls Get Together," many festival-goers began dancing and singing along. O’Shea may be just starting out, but just watching the crowd gave the impression that they were seasoned veterans of the country stage. 

"This is our first time being a part of the festival," Jay O’Shea said. "We’ve been in Nashville now for about three years.

"We’ve always been around it and seen it and we would come downtown and have a great time but this is the first time we’ve been involved in so many events which has just been fantastic."

Country newcomer Ash Bowers took the stage shortly after O’Shea. He played several songs in his half-hour set, including a single, "Stuck," that he hopes to release to Country radio in August. 

The crowd was very receptive and danced along to Bower’s upbeat music, which was heavy on the twang and heavier on the storytelling. The real highlight of his set, though, was the closer—a honky-tonk version of Queen’s "Fat Bottomed Girls."

Noon had barely broken by the time O’Shea and Ash Bowers finished up their sets, but the fans in the Fun Zone and at the Hard Rock Café Outdoor Stage made it clear that time is not of the essence when there’s music to be seen.

The idea of an ice cream social came to mind as crowds milled in the lot of the Hard Rock Cafe anticipating Deborah Allen’s entrance. Fans lined up along both sides of the stage, sitting down close to each other as spectators passed along Blue Bell ice cream samples.

Clifford Phillippi, 77, of Pittsburgh, Pa. dished with pride about his relationship with Allen. A CMA Music Festival regular since 1983, he met the singer eight years ago at a show and affirmed, "We come down all the time to see her."

Allen shared a handshake with Phillippi as she pranced up the ramp onto the stage in her purple dress and heels covered in flowered roses. Cameras lined in the front row as media and fans jostled to capture the moment.

She opened with "All That I Am," then recounted how her parents and fell in love in setting up "Delta Dreamland" and left a soft kiss as she sang out "Baby I Lied."

"Deborah Allen did a really great job and the band is wonderful," said Sonja Mansell, 45, of Carthage, Miss. "She is really down to earth," said Mansell.

-- Michelle Lorge and Brittney McKenna

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ABC Block Party Wraps After Two Fun-Filled Days

Sarah Buxton added Country flavor to ABC's All-Star Block Party Saturday afternoon with a short concert and a Q-and-A session with fans.

Cameron Mathison, Ryan Lavery on "All My Children," introduced Buxton and helped facilitate fan questions from fans. She answered questions about topics that ranged from her background to how she writes songs.

Buxton's five-song set began with "Outside My Window" and included "Stupid Boy" and "That Kind of Day." In her strapless summer dress, she stomped her cowboy boots as she sang and occasionally played a harmonica.

Nearby, visitors tackled an obstacle course inspired by ABC's reality competition "Wipeout." "It was hard, but it was worth it," said Mary Jane Hilton, 37, of Newmarket, N.H. "I think I want to sign up."

Hilton's friend, Wendy Tenney, 46, of Barrington, N.H., agreed. "I loved it," she said. "It was a good challenge to show my kids."

The obstacle course had two parts. The log roll spun as the contestant's weight shifted to either side while attempting to cross. Concluding the course, the Sucker Punch Wall randomly shot boxing gloves on rods to pummel – relatively gently – each participant.

"I had heard about it on the radio and it was on TV, so I was like, 'I gotta do it,'" said obstacle course runner Jim Cunningham, 25, of Chicago, Ill. "It's not that hard. I mean, you just gotta run as fast as you can across the beam before it starts moving, and bags start punching you."

As far as performing under pressure in front of hundreds of bystanders Cunningham didn't seem to mind. "It was pretty good," he said. "I would do it on a big stage if I had to!"

The ABC Block Party also gave fans a chance to meet their favorite daytime stars, including cast members of "General Hospital." "I've watched it my whole life," said Helena Gallagher, 30, of Spartanburg, S.C. "They were all really, really nice!"

"I got pictures like crazy and I got two rolls of film," said Sherri McCall, 47, of Greenville, S.C. "Johnny [Zacchara, portrayed by actor Brandon Barash] wondered why I got the sunburn, and I said, 'For you, baby!'"

-- Amanda Brooks and Ryan Vaden

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Fans Stand Shoulder to Shoulder for Country on Sommet Plaza

An abundance of talent was on display on the Sommet Center Plaza Stage throughout day three of CMA Music Festival.

Kicking the day off at 11 AM was Ty Herndon, who drew a crowd that filled the area near the stage to the point of barely allowing space for breathing.

Linda Burnett, 54, from Long Island, N.Y., had never heard of Herndon prior to his performance. "I'll tell you what, Ty just gained himself another fan today!" she exclaimed. "He was absolutely fantastic!"

Fourteen-year-old Lasha Grimes from Cherry Valley, Ark. was another convert. "He brought a lot of character to the stage and that's half of what makes an artist great – stage presence and raw talent."

Next to perform was Katie Armiger from Sugar Land, Texas. The 17-year-old impressed with powerful vocals on songs that included "Trail of Lies" and "17 in Abilene." She also introduced the crowd to her new single, "Gone," from her debut album Believe.

Ali Lapreze, 22, who attends Ferris State University in Michigan, is a first-time Festival attendee. After hearing Armiger's performance, Lapreze had nothing but encouraging words, observing "I think she could be a big star; she's got a lot of potential."

Around 12:30 PM, with the hot summer sun beating down and no shade for relief, onlookers swished disposable fans as Halfway to Hazard gave the crowd a performance to remember. The rocking country boys, complete with chains and cross belt buckles brought the crowd to a level of hooting and hollering, stomping and clapping.

The duo, David Tolliver and Chad Warrix sang six songs, including "Daisy," "Taking Me On" and their upcoming single, "I Know Where Heaven Is." They also threw out t-shirts, handed out CDs, and gladly signed autographs.

"I have lived in Nashville for six years and have seen them all over the city," said Lynnette White, a 34-year-old Music City native. "They did a great job entertaining the crowd today. I especially love how they rock out and bring the stage alive."

Later, in the afternoon, Becky, Emily and Joanna Robertson, the sisters who comprise Carter's Chord, hit a soulful note in their performances of "Cuts Deep" and "Different Breed," while swapping lead vocal roles. Halfway through the set, they took a break to sing "Happy Birthday" to a friend.

After their set, Justin Moore took the stage to sing seven songs, highlighted by "Hank It" and "Small Town USA." Moore introduced his song "I Could Kick Your Ass" by saying, "If it offends you, I don't really care."

The audience didn't seem to mind Moore's rough-around-the-edges personality, and he repeatedly thanked them for singing along.

Other Sommet Plaza performers were Billy Dean, Cowboy Crush, Jonathan Singleton & the Grove and Holly Williams.

-- Kelly Jones and Ryan Vaden

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Daniel Lee Martin Sizzles in Sports Zone

Hot as it was at noon, Daniel Lee Martin warmed it up even more during his performance at the Sports Zone, where he delivered acoustic versions of songs from his latest album, On My Way to You.

"I absolutely love him," said Cheryl Boehner from New Milford, Conn., who has been coming to CMA Music Festival for 13 years. "He is a nice guy and very personal. You can walk right up to him and talk with him. He is what this is all about and it was really great to find him on the schedule."

Most people stopped for a minute or two to watch Martin in action, but some stayed the whole show, sang along and even danced along in the front of the outdoor Sports Zone Stage. Martin even sang his own rendition of John Denver's "Country Roads." He closed the show by bringing up Nick Mundt, co-host of Outdoor Channel's "Bone Collector," to perform "Folsom Prison Blues."

Martin hosts Backstage & Backroads on The Sportsman Channel.

-- Amanda Lynn Brown

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K9s in Flight Leap into Action in Sports Zone

Known for only using rescued or adopted dogs, K9s in Flight uses spectacular feats of canine athleticism to spread awareness of rescuing as well as spaying and neutering pets.

Todd Duncan led these astonishing animals through their show several times throughout CMA Music Festival under a relieving white tent at the Sports Zone. On Saturday afternoon, they drew more than 150 spectators to one of their performances. First to present with Duncan was K2, a mixed breed that stole the hearts of crowd with his adorable face and strong Frisbee catching skills.

Razzle Dazzle, a rescued mutt, then joined with her trainer to teach the crowd the four steps to becoming a "Frisbee Dog": Roll the Frisbee on its edge as if it were prey scampering across the floor, relinquish it once the animal brings it to you, have it chase after and return short throws, and finally toss the disc as far as you can to broaden the dog's retrieval range.

Another highlight was a 10-pound Jack Russell Terrier named Dixie Chopper, who put on a Frisbee catching exhibition. The humorous part, however, was how she refused to play with the smaller Frisbees and accepted only the "big dog" versions.

Next, two young Country notables, "Nashville Star" winner Brad Cotter and Dan Evans, made famous on "The Biggest Loser," competed with canine companions Sport and Ray Ray, respectfully, to see which four-legged contestant could leap the farthest into the 30-foot poll. Each was allowed three attempts, with Ray Ray achieving distances of 18, 22 and 21 feet. But Cotter's teammate, Sport, nosed into first place with jumps of 23, 22 and 23 feet.

The finale included Duncan and his dog Levi, whose tricks fascinated the crowd. Levi even moon-walked for the audience as well as jumping over human partner Duncan.

The Teachworth family, from New Orleans, La., filled up four seats in the audience. "My family loves dogs and we love to see dogs in action and the talent they can perform," said dad David, 46. "My kids are very excited to see the Dog Diving Event." After the show, daughter and son, Rachel and Jared, agreed that Sport, the top dog diver, was their favorite. And even though the family already has a 3-year-old Yorkie at home, mom Lori, 45, claimed, "If they could, the kids would bring every stray animal they found home."

-- Kelly Jones

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Bob Redfern's Outdoor Cuisine Lures Even Clemson Supporters

"I'm not a cook, but I love to eat."

Bob Redfern, host of the syndicated television show "Bob Redfern's Outdoor Magazine," made this clear repeatedly throughout his demonstration of outdoor cooking techniques and recipes at the Sports Zone.

As Redfern held center stage, Jason Davis did the hands-on work, whipping up some venison marinated in Sportsman's Gold Bourbon Essence and pork chops marinated in Sportsman's Gold Boar No More.

The further the aroma of the food spread, the thicker the crowd got, with a few lucky volunteers even brought up to experience the results firsthand.

Everyone got further into the act as Redfern handed out samples of the food, the marinades and other items. When one onlooker bravely identified himself as a Clemson Tigers supporter, Redfern, whose team loyalties lay elsewhere, responded by giving him a hat in a lovely shade of pink. He even playfully offered to fix Davis up with eligible women in the crowd.

-- Amanda Lynn Brown

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Nationwide Insurance Makes Presence Known in Fun Zone

Large white balloons drew curious onlookers to the Fun Zone. The closer the spectators got, the longer their line extended as word spread of a contest underway in the Nationwide Insurance booth, with a prize that included a trip to Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s Whisky River Nightclub in Charlotte, N.C. to visit with him and his race crew. 

"NASCAR seems to be extremely popular, and of course Country Music is always popular. It's great!" said Mickey Elliot of Nationwide Insurance.

Nationwide's display also included a simulation race car and Earnhardt's Chevy Impala SS, whose number 88 is familiar to many Country Music as well as racing aficionados.

Gloria Arcement, 56, of New Orleans, La. ran screaming at the Earnhardt car. Overcome with excitement as she and her friends stared in awe at the vehicle, she cried out, "We are the best NASCAR fans in the world! My friend's grandson is going to be so jealous."

-- Michelle Lorge 

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Music City Zone Offers Great Music, Relaxed Atmosphere

With its spacious lawn, covered tables and cooling fountain set against the backdrop of Nashville's City Hall, CMA Music Festival's new Music City Zone offered a contrast to the bustling activities just a few blocks away. Yet the artists who perform here, the food from locally owned companies, the Yazoo Beer Garden and even a mini-recording studio promised plenty for fans to do in an almost pastoral environment.

Opening the show was MTA Transit, the winners of the Music City Corporate Band Challenge. The band brought the crowd to their feet with their old-school funk style, playing hits such as Aretha Franklin's "Respect," Stevie Wonder's "Higher Ground" and "Achy Breaky Heart," which pleased Country and funk fans alike.

Because every member of the band works with the Nashville Metropolitan Transportation Authority, they promoted the use of public transportation to help the environment and the community. Their message rang loud and clear through an original tune, "Come On and Ride the MTA."

The husband and wife team of Keifer and Shawna Thompson, a.k.a. Thompson Square, brought a contemporary Country style to the stage. They earned the opportunity by uploading videos to YouTube, where viewers chose them as winners of a local battle of the bands sponsored by WKDF/Nashville. Listeners were especially receptive to their song "You're No Good for Me," since Shawna gave it a humorous introduction: "Keifer wrote this next song. I'm hoping he didn't write this about me!"

Ray Scott drew quite the crowd on the lawn with his baritone voice and classic Country tunes. Fans danced along to "Sometimes the Bottle Hits You Back" and "Gone Either Way" as the afternoon temperature rose. Scott included a few unreleased songs from his upcoming album, and closed with the hit "My Kind of Music."

Laura Bryna gave the crowd reason to get up from their picnic blankets and put on their dancing shoes as she sang "According to the Radio," off her 2008 album Trying to Be Me, and a Southern-fried cover of the Eagles' "Victim of Love."

"It's always great to get out here and play for the fans," she said. "They're the ones who let you live your dream."

Several members of the audience wore t-shirts from Bryna's tours, but following her show it was clear that others were ready to join their ranks. "She has an amazing voice," said Alta-Anna Bivens of Ozark, Mo., who had not heard of Bryna before catching her show on the GAC Music City Zone Stage.

Alta-Anna's mother, Charlotte, enjoyed her too but had more to say about Ray Scott. "I work in Wyoming, but I drove 1500 miles here just to see Ray Scott," she said. "It's my birthday present every year to come to the Festival and see him."

After Bryna's set, she headed over to the NowPlayingNashville.com Autograph Booth to sign CDs and photos. The line at the booth stayed long, as each artist had a signing time shortly after their set ended.

"NowPlayingNashville.com partnered with the Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau for this," said Jennifer Schwartzenberger, a worker at the autograph booth. "We're trying to raise awareness for these artists and make the experience more interactive for fans."

Lane Turner took the stage after Bryna and played old favorites as well as cuts from his upcoming album King of Pain. He also performed "I Don't Know What She Said," which he'd written for fellow country artist Blaine Larsen.

In between performers, visitors lounged, enjoyed lunches from Nashville-based Backyard Burgers and ran back and forth through the mist being sprayed inside the Air Temp Cool Zone, making sure not to miss a single song. Though not immune to the Nashville heat, the Music City Zone proved a great place for fans to relax and kick back.

-- Michael Chapman and Brittney McKenna

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County Music Stars Raise $72,100 to Battle Domestic Violence

Much of Saturday afternoon on the Dr Pepper-McDonald's Family Zone Main Stage Saturday was devoted to the YW Celebrity Auction, a recurring CMA Music Festival event dedicated to raising funds to benefit efforts by the YWCA of Nashville to combat domestic violence.

Along with other celebrities, McBride donated more than 100 pieces of memorabilia, which raised $72,100 for the YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee, according to Patricia Shea, President and CEO of the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee.

Shea noted that the organization's 51-bed shelter for domestic abuse victims is usually at maximum capacity, and without McBride's help the facility would not be able to operate as it does.

"If it wasn't for Martina and all the money she's raised, we would not be able to keep that shelter (open) year-round like we do," Shea explained, adding that McBride has raised more than $1 million in total for the YWCA.

Among the 108 items put up for bid, the highest-selling item was an Epiphone guitar that Dolly Parton had autographed and given to McBride, which sold for $4,000.

Other items included a "Got Milk?" Taylor Swift ad signed by Swift; a quilt made of Martina McBride tour T-shirts signed by McBride, a golden fiddle signed by Charlie Daniels and other autographed clothing items, CDs, instruments pictures, posters and more.

Auction donors included Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Alan Jackson, Reba McIntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Josh Turner and Keith Urban.

Katie Armiger, Bo Bice, Jason Michael Carroll, Ericka Dunlap, lead singer Jeff Hanna from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jypsi, The Roys, Emily West and Chris Young were among the celebrity auctioneers.

"We've been friends with Martina for years, and when we got the call, we said, 'Yeah, absolutely,'" Hanna noted. "Country music fans are very generous, and they've got great big hearts."

-- Michael Stone

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Online Scavenger Hunters Convene on The Stage for Fan Social

In recent months, fans have been on a cyber-scavenger hunt to figure out the secret location for the third CMA Fan Social Sponsored by CMT. They gathered clues from CMT.com, Rhapsody.com and on their cell phones, as well as hints from CMA’s and CMT’s newsletters, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter pages. Promising live concerts and autograph sessions from the Carter Twins, Emerson Drive, Gloriana, Rory + Joey, Holly Williams and The Eli Young Band, fans were motivated to determine the party's location.

They began to line up outside the doors of the secret location, The Stage on Broadway, in the early afternoon. Clearly plenty of sleuths had figured out where the action was; though the venue was packed full, the line outside still extended down the block to Fourth Avenue.

With Lance Smith of CMT's "Top 20 Countdown" hosting, the Fan Social kicked off with the Carter Twins. They played their latest single, "So What" as well as "Reinvent the Wheel" and finished with their hit, "Heart Like Memphis". Questions for the duo were collected during their set. One was selected from Katelyn Straither, 11, from Beaumont, Texas: "Were you ever scared to perform?" Josh and Zach Carter answered honestly, admitting that they enjoy crowds of up to thirty thousands but were nervous to perform in the more intimate setting of the Grand Ole Opry. They also revealed that they were fans in attendance at last year’s Festival before bringing the focus back around to the fans, thanking them for their support while yelling "It's about y’all. not us!"

Between sets, Lance Smith handed out prizes and threw memorabilia to lucky fans in the audience. Sonny Richards of Goose Town, Iowa, a first-time Festival attendee, was excited to see "anybody and everybody". He loved the fact that Country is the only genre of music that puts on a festival strictly for the fans. Leslie DePerczel, 25, and Sarah Stansfield, 24, both of Hickory, NC, were impressed with all the artists for their generosity to play for charity at CMA Music Festival.

Joey + Rory kicked off their set with "Cheater, Cheater" and encouraged the crowd to sing along so "those who didn't make it in could hear it". The duo performed "Play the Song" next, followed by Rory singing a song to his wife, Joey, called "You Ain't Gotta Be". Joey, in return, sang "God Help My Man If He's Foolin' Around." During the question-and-answer session, Smith asked a question submitted by Joanne Woodworth of Wisconsin: "Why do you have a lot of cheating songs? Personal experience?" Rory teased back, "She's [Joey] got a knife in her pocket. I ain't gonna cheat!"

While Rory + Joey signed autographs on the upper balcony, Emerson Drive performed a medley of their songs, including "A Good Man", "Fall Into Me", and "Should Be Sleeping". The band thanked their fans for the support and played "Moments" as their final song.

The fan questions for Emerson Drive included, appropriately, a query about their favorite fan moment. They responded by referencing a memory from "three years ago, at the Fan Fair Hall Autograph signing booth where a fan took off his prosthetic limb" for them to sign. Once it was signed, "He popped it back in, and went off on his way. It was so cool!" the lead singer, Brad Mates, laughed.

Smith introduced Holly Williams, daughter of Hank Williams Jr., as "Country Music royalty." She took the stage, singing her single, "Keep the Change," followed by "Mama," accompanied by her mother, Becky, and concluded with a brief explanation for her last song "Without Jesus Here with Me". She and her sister Hillary were in a car wreck a few years back, and the song details living through their gradual recovery. Cindy, from Carrollton, Texas asked Holly how her father influenced her music.

As Williams made her way offstage, Smith announced David Esh, 21, of Lancaster, Penn. as the winner in a contest that offered Julianne Hough's autographed boots as the prize. Esh explained that he would give them to his girlfriend, who wasn't able to make it to the Festival with him.

Next up was Gloriana, the band that Esh and his friends Sam Rich, 19, and Mervin Stoltzfus, 21, came to see. The Nashville foursome sang "Amy" and "You Said" before asking the audience to guess their third and final song. A resounding "Wild at Heart" filled the venue, and Cheyenne responded with a laugh, "No, that's not it!" before revealing the joke. Gloriana complimented the fans on finding the venue, stating that they were "very proud" of the "beautiful audience."

Annie Kitts of Campobello, S.C. arrived hours early in an attempt to get the best spot possible to see the Eli Young Band. Her wait was well worth it, as she placed herself front row center for the performance. The band started off with their latest single, "Radio Waves". Mike Eli introduced their next song as "what we call a big hit. If we put out a greatest hits record, this would be the one song on it". The audience cheered as they heard the first few chords to "Always the Love Songs," and they continued to sing along and dance. After performing "Guinevere" and "When It Rains," Mike Eli teased the audience with, "Let's sweat together", announcing the band's performance at the Riverfront Stage for the next day at noon. They concluded with "Small Town Kid."

The Fan Social concluded as Smith revealed another secret in the form of a prize: a guitar autographed by each artist that had performed that afternoon. Lisa Payne of Lexington, Ky., was the winner.

As the party-goers made their way out the front doors, attendees spoke positively about the experience. Sporting a Mohawk, Will Follett, 6, of Plainfield, Ill. relished his time onstage with Smith and Williams, while Erika Lopez, 11, of Pembrook Pines, Fla., couldn't stop talking about meeting the Carter Twins.

-- Alyssa Smith

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DIY Network’s Matt Blashaw Breaks It Up in Family Zone

As host of DIY Network’s “Deconstruction” show, Matt Blashaw proved true to his calling as he demonstrated the fine, or at least the gleeful, art of taking things apart on the Main Stage in the Dr Pepper-McDonald’s Family Zone.

“You know I like to pull things apart and I don’t like to fix them,” Blashaw explained.

The demonstration began as Blashaw pointed out similar objects were nonetheless often different in critical ways, such as granite table tops and laminate table tops, and that these differences would lead one to respond better than the other to fire or weight tests.

To make the point clearer with help from his assistant, Warner Bros. Records Nashville artist Whitney Duncan, Blashaw then threw baseballs through windows, set fire to tables and broke granite with bowling balls.

After the show, fans stuck around to take pictures with Blashaw and Duncan. A lucky few received t-shirts as well.

-- Amber Garner

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An Historic Reunion Adds to an Epic Night of Music at LP Field

On a cool, cloudless and beautiful summer night, the stream of people seemed endless as it crossed the Cumberland River via Shelby Street Bridge from Downtown Nashville for the third night of CMA Music Festival concerts at LP Field.

The sun was setting and the VMFA 251 Thunderbolt Marines, from Beaufort, Texas, roared overhead as fans in LP Field cheered.

Josh Turner jogged onto the VAULT Concert Stage amidst a blaze of camera flashes and began with a bang as he tore into his hit song, “Firecracker.” Concert attendees streamed through the Photo Line to snap closeups of Turner as he kept the set rolling with “Your Man” and “Everything Is Fine.” Between songs, Turner took a moment to thank everyone who helped him to fame by reminding the audience, “If it wasn’t for the Country fans, we wouldn’t have a CMA Music Fest so give yourselves a big round of applause!” At that, the audience went wild and continued the energy as they danced, clapped and cheered through Turner’s two final songs, crowd favorites “Long Black Train” and “Would You Go with Me?”

As Turner thanked the crowd and ran backstage, host Storme Warren of GAC and Sirius Satellite Radio cued up the audience for a memorable photo-op. Warren asked that every person in the audience be armed and ready with their cell phones to light up LP Field during Jamey Johnson’s “In Color” and went on to introduced Johnson, the man he described as “the most refreshing voice to hit Country Music in years.”

Johnson opened with “High Cost of Living,” and kept it going with “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” and “That Lonesome Song.” Then everyone stood when Johnson strummed the first chords of “In Color.” As the familiar words of the chorus filled the stadium and the lights went down, arms went waving and thousands of cell phones lit up the night, right on cue. Johnson responded by asking, “Any of y’all out there sing?” With countless phones raised high and glowing under Saturday’s black sky, the crowd at LP Field helped Johnson close out his performance by singing along to the final words of “In Color.”

Next to the VAULT Stage was 31st birthday boy Jason Michael Carroll, who sang his upcoming single, “Hurry Home.” After egging on the audience with “if you’re proud of where you’re from, let me hear you make some noise!” Carroll crooned about his own down-home roots with “Where I’m From.” He had ended his set and was on his way backstage when Warren called Carroll back for a birthday serenade from thousands of his biggest fans. With a huge grin across his face, Carroll shouted, “That was the biggest birthday party I’ve ever had!”

Bringing some female flair to Saturday night’s show was Lee Ann Womack, who shouted out to a full house that she was “so fired up to be here tonight!”  Womack delighted the crowd with “A Little Past Little Rock,” “Last Call” and her current single, “Solitary Thinkin’.” Finishing out her lineup by hailing back to her Texas roots with “San Antonio Rose,” Womack had fans two-stepping in the aisles.

The one and only Wynonna was next on the program. Flashing peace signs as she sauntered out onto stage, the fiery redhead kicked off with “No One Else on Earth,” which she said described exactly how she felt about Country Music fans. Toes continued to tap as Judd performed “I Want to Know What Love Is,” Merle Haggard’s “Are the Good Times Really Over” and a cover of MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine.”

Then came a long-anticipated announcement. “The time has come, get your cameras ready,” hinted Wynonna. “It’s ‘Bring Your Mom to Work Day.’ So come out, come out, wherever you are, Mama!”

The crowd let loose as Naomi Judd took her place alongside her daughter and the two broke into “A Girls Night Out.” Obviously enjoying her own girls night out, Naomi exclaimed, “What a fabulous way to spend a beautiful summer night. I’ve missed you characters!” The twosome continued with their first Number One hit, “Mama He’s Crazy,” “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” and “Why Not Me” In their emotional finale, the mother-daughter pair clutched hands and hugged throughout “Love Can Build a Bridge.” Wiping away tears, Naomi kissed a band member on the cheek and left the stage hand-in-hand with her daughter. Before disappearing in the wings, Wynonna poked her head back on stage, gave an excited fist pump and a final “Yeah!”

Though the Judds were a tough act to follow, Trace Adkins was up to the challenge. As he ambled onto the stage in his black cowboy hat, the female screams proved that there is truth to the title of his first song of the night, “Ladies Love Country Boys.” The crowd was on it’s feet for all of Adkins’ set, which included “Marry for Money,” “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “All I Ask For Anymore” and “Muddy Water.” Yellow beach balls bounced from section to section as cowboy-hat-topped heads bobbed along to Adkins’ last number, a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.”

Martina McBride topped off a night to remember, a point she acknowledged by saying “I’ve been watching this show all night long and I just have to say, what a great show! Wasn’t everybody fabulous?”  McBride got her show going with “This One’s for the Girls” and kept up the heat with “Ride,” “I Just Call You Mine” and her spin on the Bill Withers classic “Lean on Me.” She kept the fans dancing with “Wrong Baby Wrong Baby Wrong,” “Anyway,” “Broken Wing” and “Independence Day.” Following in the footsteps of many of tonight’s earlier performers, McBride thanked the crowd by saying, “I know that I wouldn’t here if it wasn’t for you, so thank y’all for making my dream come true.”

-- Rachel Carden and Campbell Glenn