While this year’s CMA Music Fest had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Country Music Association is bringing back many of the epic performances over the years in a new ABC special. Luke Bryan is set to host “CMA Best of Fest,” a three-hour retrospective airing Monday, July 13th at 8pm ET/7pm CT. The live concert experience features more than 25 unforgettable performances having aired on television over the last 16 years of “CMA Fest,” plus a brand new, not-to-be-missed performance with Luke and special guest Darius Rucker.
Artists appearing in the TV special include: Trace Adkins, Lauren Alaina, Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn,
Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Billy Ray Cyrus, Dan + Shay, Lzzy Hale, Sam Hunt, Joan Jett, Lady A, Miranda Lambert, Lil Nas X, Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Maren Morris, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Dwight Yoakam and Zac Brown Band, with special appearances by Bobby Bones, Jim Gaffigan, Kirk Herbstreit, Peyton Manning, Lionel Richie, Rob Riggle, Gwen Stefani, Michael Strahan and Rita Wilson. “CMA Best of Fest” is executive produced by Robert Deaton.
“When Robert (Deaton) called me and he goes, ‘Luke, I know you’re kind of in quarantine, but would you want to come up and host the Best of Fest where we showcase great performances throughout the history of CMA Music Fest?’ And I said, ‘Robert, I’d love to.’ And I was glad to be able to work with Deaton and put on a show,” Luke tells Country Countdown U.S.A. “I think the fans’ll enjoy it. Obviously, it’s stuff they’ve seen before, but I think it’s going to be a pretty meaningful show.”
The festival will return to downtown Nashville June 10th-13th, 2021.
Audio / Luke Bryan talks about hosting the CMA Best of Fest TV special.
DownloadLuke Bryan (CMA Best of Fest 2020) OC: …meaningful show. :30 (courtesy of Country Countdown U.S.A.)
“When Robert (Deaton) called me and he goes, ‘Luke, I know you’re kind of in quarantine, but would you want to come up and host the Best of Fest where we showcase great performances throughout the history of CMA Music Fest?’ And I said, ‘Robert, I’d love to.’ And I was glad to be able to work with Deaton and put on a show. I think the fans’ll enjoy it. Obviously, it’s stuff they’ve seen before, but I think it’s going to be a pretty meaningful show.”