WATCH: CMA Fest Delivers A Magical Moment As Luke Combs And Vince Gill Team Up For Duet
The country legends joined Combs in singing the 1993 chart-topper, “One More Last Chance.”
Luke Combs, Vince Gill; Photo by Andrew Wendowski
Reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, Luke Combs took the stage at CMA Fest for a show-stopping performance that fans won’t soon forget.
Combs effortlessly captivated the crowd with performances of some of his biggest hits, like “Beer Never Broke My Heart,” “The Kind Of Love We Make,” “Beautiful Crazy,” and more. But, it was his special surprise guest that drew the biggest response from the audience.
In the middle of his set, Combs welcomed one of his musical heroes, Vince Gill, to the stage to join him in performing Gill’s 1993 chart-topper, “One More Last Chance.” Together, the artists showcased their undeniable talents as fans sang along to the beloved country hit.
Prior to taking the stage with Combs, Gill shared, “What can fans expect from my performance with Luke? Maybe just a lot of mutual admiration. I’m the first concert Luke ever went to as a nine year old boy. Fun to find that out. I’m a fan of his talent and he of mine, so just makes for a great friendship and when people really, really get on and like each other, I think all that can happen is something good.”
The full-circle moment aired as part of the CMA Fest special on ABC.
During the festival, the North Carolina native reflected on his past CMA Fest performances.
“CMA Fest has been a lot to me. I can’t believe it’s been five years, honestly, feels like my first year and or second year in a lot of ways. Time flies, I guess, when you’re having fun, but it’s been amazing. It’s like you move to town and you spend a couple years kind of just meandering around downtown and watching all the craziness, and you’re playing the park stage one year, and then you’re going and meeting fans at the convention center, and then all of a sudden you’re on the riverfront stage and then somehow end up here at Nissan. It’s insane. This is, gosh, I don’t know, probably my fifth time playing here. Overall, I had two shows on my own here a few months ago, and it’s just crazy. It’s just really hard to believe, to be honest, but it’s been a whole lot to me.”
Additionally, Combs’ performance of “Love You Anyway” garnered airtime during the three-hour CMA Fest special.
Co-written by Combs alongside Ray Fulcher and Reid Isbell, “Love You Anyway” finds Combs professing his endless love for his wife, Nicole Combs.
“There’s just some things that leave a man no choice / Like a compass needle needing its true north / Even if I knew, the day we met, you’d be the reason this heart breaks / I’d love you anyway,” Combs sang on the track.
This isn’t the first song he’s written that was inspired by his wife. In fact, Combs has written a trilogy of hits with her in mind, including “Beautiful Crazy,” “Better Together” and “Forever After All.”
The three-hour CMA Fest special was hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King, and Lainey Wilson and aired on ABC on Wednesday, July 19.
Dubbed “the music event of summer,” the special featured 30+ performances and surprise collaborations from some of Country music’s hottest stars, including Alabama, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Leon Bridges, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, HARDY, Tyler Hubbard, Jelly Roll, Cody Johnson, Elle King, Miranda Lambert, Avril Lavigne, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Jo Dee Messina, Old Dominion, Jon Pardi, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, Tanya Tucker, Keith Urban, and Lainey Wilson.
CMA Fest marked its 50th Anniversary with a record-breaking celebration in Nashville, June 8 through June 11.
The four-day event hosted an estimated daily attendance of over 90,000, a 12% increase from 2022, according to the Country Music Association. Additionally, the nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium saw 10% growth from 2022.
The festival also hosted fans from all 50 states as well as a record-breaking 51 countries.
“What a weekend! As we’ve spent the past year reflecting on this milestone celebration, one theme has persisted—the incredible connection between Country Music fans and the artists,” Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer, shared in a statement. “It’s magical because it still matters after all these years. From first-timers to legends, so many artists started as fans—some as far back as Fan Fair. Almost every artist who performs during the festival has had their own experience as a fan, so for many of them, taking the stage at CMA Fest is a full-circle moment. We only get the chance to celebrate our 50th anniversary once, and to do so in such an impactful way has meant the world to us. Thank you, Country Music!”
More than 300 acts took part in CMA Fest this year, including performances at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, Dr Pepper Amp Stage, Chevy Vibes Stage, Maui Jim Reverb Stage and the Hard Rock Stage as well at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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