Kelsea Ballerini. Photo: Dusty Draper
Bobby Karl Works The Room: Chapter 594
The events surrounding the CMA Music Festival are all geared toshowing the fans a country good time, but the industry folks find theirfun spots, too.
The Music Row fabulons gathered on Friday (June 8) at the CMAHospitality Suite at Nissan Stadium. Working the room were AshleyCranford, Cheri Cranford, Terri Walker, Christy Walker-Watkins& Matt Watkins, Biff Watson, Ted Ellis and Tim Wipperman.
Larry McCormick and Rick Diamond headed for the photo pitwhile Mike Craft, Zach Farnum, Elizabeth Motley, Metro NashvilleCOO Rich Riebeling, Edie Emery and Lon Helton commencedschmoozing.
Charley Pride. Photo: Natasha Moustache
They and the 65,000 fans in the house were royally entertained.The yodeling Walmart kid, Mason Ramsey, proved he can really,really sing by delivering a flawless, a cappella “Star Spangled Banner”to inaugurate the evening’s music. Hall of Famer Charley Pride, 80,proved that age is but a number with a peppy, bopping set.
Wearing a groovy, Mariota/Titans No. 8 jersey, Brett Youngdelivered sensitive ballads and tempo tunes with equal aplomb.Incidentally, the tattoo inscription on his right forearm reads, “If itfeels like home, follow its path.”
Garbed in a vivid, red western shirt, Jake Owen sang “I WasJack (You Were Diane)” on a mid-field mini stage. By contrast, LukeCombs was practically invisible on the main stage due to his all-blackoutfit. Only his omni-present Red Solo Cup distinguished him from thestagehands. Vocally, he was solidly country, and the audience sang along with every word.
Jake Owen.
Blake Shelton drove the fans wild with his wits and sing-alonghits. He received a ton of media attention during the fest because ofthe official opening of his Ole Red mega honky-tonk on LowerBroadway.
But poor Jason Aldean was barely noticed when he opened hishonky-tonk across the street. This was because its interiorconstruction was barely finished in time to meet a fest-openingdeadline. Thus, no publicizing plans could be made. Blake had a “soft”opening weeks ago.
Also at the stadium on Friday night, Old Dominion continuedthe fan enthusiasm. Carrie Underwood (a.k.a The Queen of CMAFest) blazed brightly as the day’s finale act, outfitted in a sequinedgreen romper. Fest vendors sold crystal “tears” to be glued to yourcheeks in solidarity with Carrie’’s torrid smash “Cry Pretty.”
Carrie Underwood. Photo: Natasha Moustache
The industry schmoozing in the CMA suite reached its zenith onSaturday (June 9). The blizzard of fabulons included Dave Brainard,Frank Myers, Wayne & Pat Halper, Silverfish Media’s PatrickThomas (of Big D & Bubba fame), Alecia Davis, Jason Neufeldt,Laura Crawford, Metro councilman Freddie O’Connell (whosedowntown district houses the fest), Stephanie Teatro, SherodRobertson, Brian Schwenk and Stuart Dill.
Singer-songwriter Jenny Tolman was in respite mode, inbetween her CMA Fest showcases on Friday and Sunday. David Picktold me about his Vintage TV, England’s leading music channel that willsoon launch in the U.S. Ed Benson was there, too: He’s one of thedwindling few who attended Fan Fair in its original location atMunicipal Auditorium.
The Property Brothers greeted us from the stage. “We’re gladto be here with you tonight; the more noise the better,” said DrewScott — or was it his twin brother Jonathan Scott? Next, crimson-clad Jillian Jaqueline essayed the National Anthem to begin themusical entertainment.
Garth Brooks surprises fans with a performance Saturday, June 9 on the CMA Close Up Stage at Xfinity Fan Fair X during CMA Fest. Photo: Natasha Moustache
Lee Ann Womack’s set emphasized the tunes from her new hitAmericana CDs, but tossed in the 1962 George Jones classic “(AnEmpty Bottle, a Broken Heart and) You’re Still on My Mind.” Her ethoswas underscored via a powder-blue Hank Williams T-shirt.
Even so, it was CMA New Artist of the Year Jon Pardi whoturned in the most solidly country set of the fest’s Nissan shows.Resplendent in a multi-hued, Southwestern-patterned shirt and whitecowboy hat, he included his sublime MusicRow Song of the Yearnominee “She Ain’t in It.”
The jumbo screen showed a tease/preview of Sugarland’s “Babe”video, which featured a red-wigged Taylor Swift as the plot’s vixen.Following a pattern set by Thursday’s Carly Pearce and Friday’s JakeOwen, there was a solo-song slot, “Downtown’s Dead” by Sam Hunt.
Chris Stapleton. Photo: John Russell.
Dustin Lynch, Kelsea Ballerini, Chris Stapleton and KeithUrban served up their signature sounds to close the show. The fanscheerfully sang an absent Carrie Underwood’s part during Urban’sperformance of “The Fighter.” The star concluded his crowd-pleasingset well past midnight.
Of course the big news on Saturday wasn’t at the stadium.Garth Brooks turned up at the Music City Center to chat and sing onthe CMA Close-Up Stage.
The health report was good at this point in the fest. The heatcollapses/incidents numbered 69 on Thursday, 92 on Friday and 79 onSaturday. This tally is lower than last year’s.
Brett Young. Photo: Donn Jones
Back in the CMA suite on Sunday (June 10), Brett Woolcott &Lydia Lenker, Mike Vaden, Bill Denny and suite stalwartDennisBanka were working the room. Municipal Auditorium manager BobSkoney was there, too. He shared that he’s now been with that facilityfor 41 years. That deserves a “wow” in an industry where nobody keeps the same job for an entire career.
A new addition to the suite this year was a population offluttering moths. Guests amused themselves by capturing them, swatting them or stomping them. The insects also dive-bombed thestadium spectators.
“We’ve got some surprises for you tonight,” said show hostStorme Warren slyly. He also had some calendar advice: “ABC-TV,Aug. 8, 8 p.m. Set your DVR’s now.”
Keith Urban. Photo: Donn Jones
Ray Stevens was Sunday’s National Anthem performer. RickySkaggs left the fans gasping for breath as he concluded his set withfiery picking on “Country Boy.” Brett Eldredge bounced out to thestrains of his new single “Love Someone.” Clad in a crisp whiteshirt/jacket, he charmed the crowd with “The Long Way” and had themlighting their phones during “Wanna Be That Song.”
Cole Swindell offered his new heartache ballad “In the End” asthe Sunday solo spot. The first surprise guest was Thomas Rhett,whose set was highlighted by a languid, lovelorn rendition of “MarryMe,” his jaunty, autobiographical “Life Changes” and a twinkling,stadium-lit “Die a Happy Man.”
Dierks Bentley rocked the house with “I Hold On” and more. Healso brought out the night’s second surprise, Dwight Yoakam, whooffered a thunderously received “Fast As You.” A third surprise wasBrothers Osborne on “Burning Man.” They get the award for pinpointscheduling. Following their barn-burning Thursday fest set, they zipped south to perform at Bonnaroo, then back.
The CMA hospitality buzzed with excitement as the eveningreached a crescendo with Florida Georgia Line. FGL’s “surprise”guests were Bebe Rexha, Morgan Wallen and The BackstreetBoys. Fest closer Luke Bryan serenaded Randy Travis.
Another music-biz hotspot is the Green Room in the Music CityCenter. Sunday’s visitors schmoozing there included Terry McBride,Don Murry Grubbs, Restless Heart, Buddy Kalb, T.G. Sheppard,Devon O’Day, Bobby Bare and Chris Young.
CMA fest may be over, but we will continue our eternal MusicRow merriment this week as we celebrate accomplishments by KaneBrown, Tony Brown, Hillary Williams and David Davis & The WarriorRiver Boys. Onward!
