The second day of the CMA Fest event highlighted the re-emergence of the genre’s legends and post-COVID era stars of the genre, who are finally making their mark in real-time.
Both ends of that spectrum came together early in the evening when rising star Lainey Wilson was joined onstage by soon-to-be Country Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker, a breakthrough star from five decades earlier (around whose hit “Texas” came out in to sing in 1978). (‘Till I die).’
The duo’s performance – like others that followed Friday night – set the stage for an evening of virtuoso performances, surprise performers and unlikely collaborations at a packed Nissan Stadium.
Priscilla Block’s digital fame reaches live crowd excellence
Day two of CMA Fest kicked off on the banks of the Cumberland River on the Riverside Stage with Priscilla Block’s star development.
The small-town idealism that drives big-city Nashville takes shape in Block’s songs.
Songs like “My Bar,” “Off The Deep End,” and “You Me and The Whiskey” prove that the genre’s most authentic fanbase may be using words unexpressible in The Tennessean to describe their easygoing attitude while simultaneously loud and proud is her favorite local pub or her penchant for a pair of jean shorts that are a hair’s breadth too small.
In a genre that celebrates steel guitar wails amid intelligent odes to the darker side of wild, alcoholic behavior, there’s a lighter quality to Block’s material that conveys the notion that there’s always another, possibly better, night out there.
Reba McEntire joins Cody Johnson and shocks the crowd
Rodeo outlaw-turned-CMA Award-winning superstar Cody Johnson must have surprised many of the tens of thousands who watched Nissan Stadium.
However, those who knew (and lived) the western-to-country tradition well — like his special guest Reba McEntire — were by no means surprised that rising star Johnson didn’t make his CMA Fest debut on Lower Broadway. but rather a boat ride across the Cumberland River.
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Yes, Reba McEntire sang her classic Whoever’s In New England with Johnson at Nissan Stadium in 1986. Their unannounced appearance on the CMA Fest stage prompted a collective piercing scream from a truly shocked crowd. As might be expected, the crescendo rise from Johnson’s mournful voice to McEntire’s soulful shot made for a dynamic performance worthy of a jet engine roar or a standing ovation.
The performance capped a busy day for McEntire, who appeared at Spotify House in the late afternoon, singing the hits “The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia,” “I’m a Survivor” and “Fancy” in half an hour. hour set. She also performed at a standing room only event at the Music City Center, where she shared stories from her upcoming lifestyle book, Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots.
Miranda Lambert’s Something Bad is getting a surprise Sk8er Boi update
Instead of Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert had other ideas for a collaborative rendition of her 2014 single “Something Bad” at Nissan Stadium: Canadian pop superstar Avril Lavigne.
The “Sk8er Boi” singer at a country festival?
It’s not that far fetched. At the 2022 ACM Honors, Shania Twain was celebrated by Lavigne and Kelsea Ballerini with guest appearances.
On “Sk8er Boi,” Lambert and Lavigne sang a 90-second snippet of their two-decade-old megahit.
And that wasn’t the only guest Lambert spawned during a fast-paced set. She also shared the stage with Elle King for the duo hit “Drunk (and I don’t want to go home)” and Texas soul singer Leon Bridges, who performed his new Lambert collaboration “If You Were Mine.”
Jelly Roll, now an unlikely country superstar, hits the 50-yard line at Nissan Stadium
Jelly Roll’s redeeming journey from Nashville’s social fringe and incarceration to the city’s highest stages arrived at CMA Fest with an announced performance at NFL Stadium, where he was relegated to the cheap seats for years.
The country star-turned-rapper made his CMA Fest debut, performing his 2023 No. 1 hit “Son of A Sinner” and new radio single “I Need A Favor” on an elevated, spotlight-lit stage in the 50-yard stadium of Nissan Stadium. Line.
Thirty-four years after his first fan fair attendance and 14 years after his release from prison, Jason DeFord sang country songs he wrote to over 50,000 people.
“It actually means a lot to me that the kids in the juvenile detention center in parking lot A are going to hear that,” he told The Tennessean ahead of his surprise performance.
Of the more than 40 times he was imprisoned in the 38 years of his life, many were in the correctional facility adjacent to the juvenile court next to Nissan Stadium.
“[My success] just keep going. I wake up every day with a dream and before I get up it happens,” he said of his impressive rise in national fame.
As usual, Keith Urban delivers with his legendary country styles with a touch of rock
Keith Urban is 55 years old.
At the same time, he is the type of timeless country artist whose rocking guitar skills always give his music catalog an irresistible appeal. During the second night of CMA Fest, he opened his brief set with two songs that were 20 years apart — the 2022 single “Wild Hearts” and the 2002 hit “Somebody Like You.”
Finally, Urban was the first artist to take an offstage tour of half of Nissan Stadium, interacting with the thousands of people seated on the stadium floor.
It’s not uncharted territory for Urban. It is a common part of his arena and stadium sets.
As he listened to a version of his 2016 single “Blue Ain’t Your Color” on a raised stage on the stadium floor, he encouraged the crowd to sing along to his amorous ballad.
As was the case throughout Urban’s performance, his outstanding guitar work and charisma, coupled with his maestro-like control over the instrument’s emotional abilities, shone bright as the floodlights of Nissan Stadium.
Urban is a crossover superstar whose unshakable position as the preeminent country star always draws appreciative audiences.
Did he briefly sing the University of Tennessee Volunteers’ “Rocky Top” fight song? Naturally. Urban also clearly knows how to recognize a crowd.
HARDY delivers heavy rock for the biggest party in the country
The Hybrid Theory-era Linkin Park vibe was reminiscent of the arrival of Big Loud-signed rockers HARDY on stage at CMA Fest to headline Night Two.
During “SOLD OUT,” the song that opened his performance, he announced his name and his swearword-laden desire to drive the crowd insane.
At some point in country music history, there’s a poster of Johnny Cash with his middle finger in the air aggressively in front of the camera that shares the same virtues as HARDY’s statement.
As such, the Philadelphia-Mississippian native’s heavy, hard-hitting styles aren’t that far removed from the many, diverse traditions of country music.
HARDY’s evolution of country music is to bring a beat-driven, alt-rock inspired song about hangover escapades (“TRUCK BED”) to the genre’s acclaimed radio station.
Any questions as to whether the move was too bold could easily be answered with tens of thousands singing each word of the track out loud.
Finding that his trip to CMA Fest a decade ago was highlighted by watching Blake Shelton perform “Ol’ Red,” he embarked on another loving murder ballad, his recent No. 1 single “Wait in.” the Truck, which he joined Lainey Wilson for, who duets the song with HARDY.
He was moments later joined by Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson on 2019’s “One Beer.” His three-year live set favorite “GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL” was well received as usual.
Those skeptical about HARDY’s edgy appeal: They probably weren’t impressed, but might have been even more intoxicated by the experience.
CMA Fest is a celebratory experience in every way and there’s no denying it.