Dierks Bentley and Elle King To Host ‘CMA Fest’ Concert Special On ABC
The primetime concert special airs Wednesday, August 3 at 8/7c on ABC.
Dierks Bentley, Elle King; Photo Courtesy CMA, ABC
Dierks Bentley and Elle King are set to host CMA Fest on ABC.
The Country Music Association announced the news early Thursday morning, revealing plans to air the much-anticipated primetime concert special on Wednesday, August 3 at 8/7c on ABC.
CMA Fest, the music event of the summer, is filmed in Nashville during the star-studded, four-day event, set to take place Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12. The television special features performances and surprise collaborations taking place on stage at Nissan Stadium.
This marks Bentley and King’s CMA Fest hosting debut. Along with hosting, King has been added as a performer for the Nissan Stadium Stage on Sunday, June 12. Bentley was previously announced to perform on Sunday as well. The news comes just weeks after superstars released their new duet, “Worth A Shot.”
“I’m thrilled we get to partner with Dierks and Elle as our hosts this year,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “They have such passion for the fans. I know the chemistry and camaraderie they bring to the stage will be felt by the millions of TV viewers around the globe.”
“We are excited to once again collaborate with our longtime partners at CMA for this summer’s must-see music event, ‘CMA Fest,’” says Rob Mills, Executive Vice President, Unscripted and Alternative Entertainment, Walt Disney Television. “With Dierks Bentley and Elle King hosting the evening, music fans everywhere can be sure to expect an unforgettable night featuring the biggest names in Country Music.”
The nighttime shows at Nissan Stadium will also feature performances from previously announced artists Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Gabby Barrett, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Alan Jackson, Lady A, Parker McCollum, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, and Zac Brown Band.
CMA Fest features hundreds of performances from artists throughout downtown Nashville. The artists donate their time and a portion of ticket sales directly benefit high-quality music education initiatives across the United States through the CMA Foundation.
The festival is unlike any other as tens of thousands of fans visit Music City for four consecutive days of non-stop music on eight official stages. Fans can also experience meet and greets and up-close-and-personal experiences with artists inside Fan Fair X.
A limited number of four-day passes, plus recently announced single night tickets, for the Nissan Stadium nightly concerts are available at CMAfest.com or through the CMA Box Office at 1-800-CMA-FEST. Tickets are also available for CMA Fest Nighttime Concerts at Ascend Amphitheater, Fan Fair X and CMA Fest’s new Riverside Retreat, an exclusive premium destination along the Cumberland River. View all the perks and purchase four-day and single-day tickets at CMAfest.com/tickets.
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.
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