‘American Idol’s’ Megan Danielle, Iam Tongi, Colin Stough, And More To Reunite At All-Star Showcase During CMA Fest
Season 20’s Noah Tompson and HunterGirl will also perform.
Megan Danielle, Iam Tongi, Colin Stough; Photo by ABC/Stewart Cook
American Idol winners Noah Thompson and Iam Tongi as well as Idol finalists HunterGirl, Megan Danielle, Colin Stough, Haven Madison, Fritz Hager, and Grace Leer are set to perform in Nashville.
Free Event
The free event, dubbed “19 Takeover,” will take place on June 7 at 6 pm at The Valentine, a multi-level bar and music venue, located on Lower Broadway in the heart of Music City. The concert was organized by 19 Recordings, the label that partners with Idol to sign select contestants and the show’s winners.
“19 Takeover” comes just one day before the official kick off the of 50th Anniversary of Nashville’s famed CMA Fest, which will feature a star-studded lineup that includes Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, and many more. Click HERE to see the full CMA Fest lineup.
Fan-Favorite Contestants
Noah Thompson (Season 20), Iam Tongi (Season 21), HunterGirl (Season 20), Megan Danielle (Season 21), Colin Stough (Season 21), Haven Madison (Season 21), Fritz Hager (Season 20), Grace Leer (Season 18) are confirmed to perform at the event.
“Can’t wait to kick off CMA fest on Wednesday at The Valentine with some of my friends! It’s a free show so come swing by y’all, it’s gonna be a fun one,” Thompson said.
Season 21 winner, Iam Tongi, runner-up Megan Danielle, and third-place finalist, Colin Stough are fresh off the memorable American Idol finale, which took place on May 21. The finalists released their debut singles during their time on the show.
“Nashville! I’m playing a free show at @thevalentinenashville next week with some of my friends. if you’re in town make sure to stop by! 🤙🏾,” Tongi wrote on Instagram, announcing his appearance.
“So excited to be playing in Nashville next week at The Valentine!!! The show is free and starts at 6pm!! See y’all there🤍🤍,” Danielle added.
“My first show in Nashville is next week at @TheValentine_,” Stough said.
Debut Singles Out Now
Tongi turned heads with the emotional “I’ll Be Seeing You,” Danielle inspired listeners with “Dream Girl,” and Stough tugged at heartstrings with “I Still Talk To Jesus.”
Meanwhile, Thompson, who was crowned the winner of American Idol Season 20, is preparing to release his debut EP, Middle Of God Knows Where, on June 9. Season 20 runner-up, HunterGirl, is currently riding on the success of her latest release, “Lonely Outta You.”
Leer, a Top 11 contestant from Season 18, recently released her new single, “My Mind’s Made Up.”
Additional CMA Fest Performances
In addition to the “19 Takeover,” American Idol fans will have the chance to see many other Idol contestants during CMA Fest.
Iam Tongi, Megan Danielle, Colin Stough, Haven Madison and Wé Ani are slated to appear at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center, where they will deliver an acoustic performance. Grace Leer will perform on the Spotlight Stage on June 8.
After making their CMA Fest debut in 2022, Noah Thompson and HunterGirl will return to the festival to perform. Thompson will take to the Chevy Vibes stage on June 10, while HunterGirl will perform on June 11 on the Spotlight Stage.
Other Idol alum, including Lauren Alaina (Season 10 runner-up), Chayce Beckham (Season 19 winner), and Josh Gracin (Season 2 finalist), will also perform during CMA Fest.
American Idol judge Luke Bryan will close out CMA Fest with a headlining performance on Sunday, June 11. Former Idol judge Keith Urban will perform on the Nissan Stadium stage on June 8.
ABC recently revealed that American Idol will return for another season, however, the network has yet to confirm if Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Ryan Seacrest will come back for another season.
Written by
Lauren Jo Black
Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.