The surprises are endless at CMA Fest and this year was no different as ‘90s country icon Billy Ray Cyrus shocked the Nissan Stadium crowd with a performance of his breakout hit alongside Dierks Bentley.
Cyrus surprised during Bentley’s set when he came on stage to join him for a performance of 1992 hit, “Achy Breaky Heart.”
The surprise collab brought on a full-on sing-along at Nissan Stadium with fans singing along to every word, from the field to the rafters.
Bentley also performed his boozy hit, “Drunk On A Plane” for the CMA Fest crowd.
CMA Fest ABC Special was filmed in Downtown Nashville at Nissan Stadium during the star-studded, four-day festival, which took place Thursday, June 9 through Sunday, June 12.
The three-hour music event of the summer featured 30+ performances and surprise collaborations from some of Country music’s hottest stars, including Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Russell Dickerson, Lady A, Parker McCollum, Carly Pearce, Thomas Rhett, Darius Rucker, Cole Swindell, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, and Zac Brown Band and more.
The Music Event of Summer, which marked the 49th year of the festival, was hosted by first-time hosts Dierks Bentley and Elle King.
“I think Elle brings so much to the table,” Bentley shared. “Onstage she’s just a riot and also super talented – a great combination of talent with comedic humor. A lot of spontaneous moments between the two of us and just a lot of laughs.”
“I am co-hosting this whole shebang,” King added. “Not only do I get to do it with my buddy Dierks, I also get to see all these incredible performances and be a part of a big party!”
The CMA Fest special aired at 8/7c on Wednesday, Aug. 3 via ABC Network and will stream via Hulu on Thursday (Aug. 4).
Additionally, CMA Fest will return to Nashville in 2023 for its 50th anniversary. The event will take place June 8-11 and tickets are on sale now.
