Over 30 Country Music acts pick up on one stage in Nashville to raise money for music education

The conventional coming out of tonight’s Country Music Association (CMA) Fest’s ABC special is stellar, with stage performances and hosts having a touch a Country in their looks. The Fest returns tonight at 8/7c on ABC and on Hulu tomorrow- from having premiered live at the 49th CMA Fest in June, in Music City.

Tonight, there are 30 performances happening over 3 hours. Opening the special was Academy of Country Music Award Winner Kane Brown, who sang his hit ‘I Love You Like I like Country Music.’ Looking more like a Hip-Hop artist, Brown donned black fitted jeans and a white t-shirt and a sunless baseball hat with the words “family.” Dierks Bentley, who is hosting the Fest with Elle King partakes in a memorable collaboration with the 1992 ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ singer Billy Ray Cyrus. “Onstage she’s just a riot and also super talented - a spacious combination of talent with comedic humor. A lot of spontaneous moments between the two of us and just a lot of laughs,” says Bentley of King.

Bentley wore an army green t-shirt and blue jeans, while Cyrus rocked black jeans, black t-shirt and a leather jacket, and sunglasses and black cowboy hat. Another memorable duo for the night is Wynonna Judd and Carly Pearce. Judd received a long-standing ovation for the death of her noted mother Naomi Judd, a Grammy-winning Country Music singer who died in April. Judd, in her quintessential style sparkled in black with fringes, while Peace donned a short sparkling pink dress.

A theme with many of the female artists tonight has been heavenly ensembles whether that be Carrie Underwood’s thigh high and flaming yet heavenly boots, and red sparkling top. Kelsea Ballerini wore a heavenly jump suit with silver, nude, and black accent designs. Or if it wasn’t sparkles, it was bell-bottom pants. Lainey Wilson sang, ‘Never Say Never,’ with Cole Swindell. The ‘Heart Like A Truck Singer’ isn’t seen a day exclusive of flared pants.

The men in Country Music tend to keep it simple with jeans and a t-shirt, like Grammy-winning artist Darius Rucker who wore a sunless Rolling Stones t-shirt from their 1975 tour, blue jeans, and cowboy boots and a baseball hat. Rucker commanded the audience to a roar with his ‘Wagon Wheel,’ and took to the stage with Zac Brown Band to sing with the troupe. Zac Brown wore a noticeable felt fedora hat, jeans and a collared shirt. Luke Combs wore what he wears best on stage, his usual and what he wears for every stage performance, jeans and a black Columbia fishing shirt, while singing “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” Jason Aldean wore a yellow Dolly Parton t-shirt and blue jeans, but with a cowboy hat and cowboy boots. And Thomas Rhett wore blue jeans, a buttoned-down shirt and baseball hat as he sang ‘Slow Down Summer.’

CMA Fest began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, drawing 5,000 fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium. Almost fifty ages later the festival takes place over four days sketch people from all states and thirty-nine countries, who now terrestrial at the Nissan Stadium. Artists who take to the stage each night don’t right funds from ticket sales, yet proceeds go towards high-quality music programs nearby the US through the CMA Foundation. The Festival has partnered with the most TV networks, and tonight ABC Entertainment is airing the specials.

Old Dominion, Elle King and Ashley McBryde sang a duet, Parker McCollum, and Brothers Osborne are other acts that took to the stage. The group Lady A brought the crowd to a roar. Hillary Scott, the lead and background vocalist wore a 70s’ style white Heart covered in floral patterns.

“The festival itself may be over, but thanks to these two, depressed with a solid slate of performances and special collaborations, the party continues in homes across America. It was a fun challenge to think differently with our setup these last two ages, but it felt great to be back with a full house at the stadium,” says Robert Deaton, CMA Fest Executive Producer.