Watch the ‘CMA Fest: 50 years of Fan Fair’ Documentary Featuring Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood & More

Mark your calendars and join us in celebrating 50 years of Fan Fair with the original documentary film “CMA Fest: 50 years of Fan Fair” Wednesday, July 5 on Hulu. The documentary tells the story of the world’s largest and longest-running Country Music festival, CMA Fest, featuring exclusive interviews with many of Country Music’s most notable artists including Brooks & Dunn, Luke Bryan, Vince Gill, Wynonna Judd, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and more! Watch the official trailer.

CMA Fest: 50 years of Fan Fair Official Trailer

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2023 was a special year for CMA Fest. The festival marked its 50th iteration, and the anniversary celebrations were everything we hoped they would be!

The aim of giving country music fans a dedicated place to hear and meet some of their favorite artists has never been greater. While the weather disrupted proceedings, CMA Fest 2023’s star-studded line-up was still absolute fire. With incredible performances from the likes of Reba McEntire, Jason Aldean, and Luke Combs, plus guest appearances and inspiring milestones, this was a festival that few are going to forget!

Whether you wish you could be back in Nashville or couldn’t make it this year, join SiriusXM as we look at some of the greatest moments of CMA Fest 2023.

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Day One — Thursday, June 8

The festival’s first day got off to a ripping start, with stellar performances from a variety of acts. Lainey Wilson, MacKenzie Porter, Bailey Zimmerman, and Ryan Griffin all took to the stage to dazzle the audience.

Fans also saw Luke Combs deliver a fantastic set. Alongside his own tracks, he also performed Vince Gill’s 1993 hit “One More Last Chance” alongside Gill himself.

Thursday night held a special significance for Carly Pearce in particular. She’s actively participated in CMA Fest every year since relocating to Nashville 13 years ago, and she finally achieved her dream this year: performing on the Nissan Stadium “big stage.”

 

Day Two — Friday, June 9

Day two of CMA Fest featured an eclectic mix of artists. There was something for everyone, from up-and-coming artists like David Morris and Austin Snell to mainstays like Keith Urban.

The second day of the festival also featured a surprise set by Jelly Roll, who received the Pandora Billionaire award for achieving 1 billion streams on the platform!

The day also coincided with the launch of Carrie Underwood’s very own SiriusXM channel, Carrie’s Country. She joined Buzz Brainard at The Music Row Happy Hour, where attendees helped her count down to the launch of the channel.

CMA Fest “Artist of the Day” for Friday, Reba McEntire, surprised fans by joining Cody Johnson onstage at Nissan Stadium. The pair blew the audience away with an awe-inspiring performance of McEntire’s 1986 hit “Whoever’s in New England.”

That wasn’t the only collaboration though. Miranda Lambert brought Leon Bridges, Avril Lavigne, and Elle King onstage, with Lavigne and Lambert’s rendition of “Sk8er Boi” being a fan highlight.  

Love was in the air throughout the weekend too, and Elle King helped with that — literally. Promoting her upcoming album, Come Get Your Wife, she used her status as an ordained officiate to marry two couples onstage. Who says romance is dead?

 

Day Three — Saturday, June 10

Day three featured performances from a host of established acts. Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Eric Church, and Little Big Town were just a few of the many iconic performers on the day.

Singer K. Michelle, who has pivoted from R&B to country music, also paid tribute to the late Tina Turner with a heartwarming cover of “Nutbush City Limits.” The tribute was particularly fitting as Turner wrote the song to commemorate her hometown of Nutbush, TN, which is only a few hours away from Nashville.

During his set, Jason Aldean hyped up his yet-to-be-named 11th studio album. Fans enjoyed a performance of “Try That in a Small Town,” and Aldean even stopped by Pandora for a chat before taking to the stage.

 

Day Four — Sunday, June 111

Despite an incredible start, Sunday’s festivities were temporarily halted due to severe weather. Strong winds, lightning, and thunderstorms compromised the safety of fans and artists, with outdoor performances suspended. But thankfully, once the worst of the weather cleared, the day continued without a hitch!

Fans celebrated 50 years of CMA Fest with some of the biggest names in country music. Ashley McBryde, Dierks Bentley, Tim McGraw, and Luke Bryan were just some of the acts that took to the stage to close out the festival.

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Experience CMA Fest at home with The Music Event of Summer hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King, and Lainey Wilson on Wednesday, July 19, at 8/7c on ABC. Listen to your favorite country songs on The Highway (Ch. 56).