by Hannah Loomis
As most of you probably know, Olivia Management is based out of Nashville, Tennessee (AKA Music City). We adore Nashville for endless reasons, but of course, the city’s love of music is always at the top of the list. Each June, the return of CMA Fest is a clear display of the talent and artistry that Nashville produces. This year’s CMA Fest, which took place last weekend, was no exception! After a two year break due to the coronavirus pandemic, fans flocked to downtown Nashville from near and far to see performances from the greatest names in country music. Here’s a quick recap of country music’s biggest weekend!
The festival kicked off on Thursday morning with artists taking to the stage as early as 10 AM! Throughout the day, we heard from a number of up and coming musicians and seasoned Nashville hitmakers. On the Fan Fair X Stages, we saw music from the likes of Breland, Tenille Townes, Lainey Wilson, and Runaway June. Natalie Stovall, a member of Runaway June, is a close friend and frequent collaborator of OM’s Ruthie Collins! She even co-wrote Ruthie’s single “Hypocrite,” which has been climbing country radio charts! Ruthie typically performs at CMA Fest, but instead this year she is headlining her Wish You Were Here Tour! Later that night, we heard from artists such as Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band from Nissan Stadium. All in all, a great way to kick off the weekend’s festivities!
Friday featured a lineup of iconic female country artists! In the morning, Kelsea Ballerini (who was also dubbed Artist of the Day) blessed the audience of the CMA Close Up Stage with her set. On stages nearby, Maddie & Tae, Lauren Weintraub, Danielle Bradbery, and Ingrid Andress played. At the end of the night, Kelsea returned to the stage alongside Carly Pearce, Deana Carter, Gabby Barrett, and Lainey Wilson. Of course, their fabulous male counterparts Cole Swindell, Kane Brown, and Thomas Rhett were there as well. Simply put, the Country Music Association knew what they were doing by having so many powerful ladies of country play back to back.
Saturday started off with a bang at Fan Fair X, where Matt Stell, Dylan Scott, and Mason Ramsey could be found winning over crowds. Throughout the day, some of the nation’s favorite artists were also featured on the CMA Close Up Stage in conversations regarding their careers, lives, and music. Luke Bryan got to spend time with fans as their Artist of the Day, while Trisha Yearwood participated in an interview with Lauren Alaina and Caitlyn Smith entitled “Up Close and Personal.” By the end of the day, fans had enjoyed music from their favorite artists while also getting to know them better.
Sunday’s events were just about the best way you could imagine to close out the festival. After a lovely day of music from several different stages, a star-studded lineup of ten artists rounded off the weekend at Nissan Stadium. According to Tennessean, Dierks Bentley and Elle King joined forces to perform their new single, and there was even a front-row proposal! Following these performances, Old Dominion sang some old favorites, Lady A performed new single “Summer State of Mind” and more.
And there you have it! The 49th CMA Fest was an incredible few days for Nashville. For those who couldn’t make it, grab a sweet tea (and maybe even some homemade hot chicken), kick back outside, enjoy some country tunes, and get ready for next year!