The 51st annual CMA Fest is taking over downtown Nashville from Thursday, June 6 through Sunday, June 9 and the annual country music celebration kicks off with none other than Dolly Parton!
The country queen will be at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center for the start of the festival having an extra special conversation at the CMA Close Up Stage on Thursday, June 6.
Other celebrity highlights inside Fan Fair X are special appearances from the Artists of the Day: Thomas Rhett, Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson. The venue opens its doors daily at 9:30 a.m.
Fan Fair X offers an exclusive country music experience with panels, special performances, meet-and-greets and a special vendor marketplace. The venue, located inside Music City Center, also has two stages: CMA Close Up Stage and Spotlight Stage.
CMA Close Up Stage Celebrity Appearances
- Thursday, June 6: Dolly Parton hosted by Rachel Smith
- Friday, June 7: Artist of the Day – Cody Johnson hosted by Cody Alan
- Saturday, June 8: Artist of the Day – Thomas Rhett on “Country Heat Weekly” LIVE
- Sunday, June 9: Artist of the Day – Lainey Wilson hosted by special guest
- Enlisted: Where Music Meets Military with Craig Morgan and Gary Sinise
- Jake Owen: A Barefoot Blue Jean Afternoon
- “Got it from My Momma” with Lauren Akins
- Old Dominion: “Good Times, Great Odies”
- Sam Hunt on “Country Heat Weekly” LIVE
- Latin Roots: The ‘Equis’ Factor in Country Music with Frank Ray, Angie K, Leah Turner, Louie TheSinger and Sammy Arriaga hosted by Tomás Mier
- Country Central Presents: Midland, Kashus Culpepper, Maggie Antone and Tucker Wetmore
- 50 Years at The Opry House, hosted by Mark Wills with fellow Opry Members Jeannie Seely and Larry Gatlin & more
- Idol Hour with Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl, Colin Stough and “American Idol” ’24 Winner and Runner-Up
- Charles Esten: Deacon, Ward & Love Ain’t Pretty
- Song Suffragettes with Alison Nichols, Callista Clark, Cyndi Thomson, Matraca Berg and Melissa Fuller
- Carly Pearce on “Country Heat Weekly” LIVE
- Soulcial Hour with Mickey Guyton + Friends
- Nate Smith on “Country Heat Weekly” LIVE
- Black Opry Presents: Willie Jones, Denitia, Jett Holden, Carmen Dianne and Aaron Vance
The Spotlight Stage inside Fan Fair X is open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Spotlight Stage (inside Fan Fair X) Artist Lineup
- Abbie Callahan
- Adam Mac
- Andrew Swift
- Ashley Ryan
- Boomtown Saints
- Cale Tyson
- Camille Parker
- Carson Wallace
- Charly Reynolds
- Conor Clemmons
- Dillon James
- Dzaki Sukarno
- The Heels
- Holdyn Barder
- Ian Harrison
- Jacquie Roar
- Jarvis Redd
- JD Shelburne
- Jenny Teator
- Kezia Gill
- Lane Pittman
- Leah Turner
- Michael Warren
- Nice Horse
- Orlando Mendez
- Remember Monday
- Ryan Larkins
- Sacha
- Sasha McVeigh
- Scoot Teasley
- Taylor Moss
- Taylor-Rae
- Teigan Gayse
- Valerie Ponzio
- Veronique Medrano
- Wade Forster
- Wardel
- Zach John King
In addition, Parton will have a pop-up experience open daily inside Fan Fair X featuring her global branding and merchandise items. Fans of the Tennessee queen can also sample bites from Good Lookin’ Cookin’, Parton’s anticipated cookbook written by herself and her sister, Rachel Parton George.
Fan Fair X takes place Thursday, June 6 through Saturday, June 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, June 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Entry into Fan Fair X is included with all CMA Fest four-night stadium passes. There is a limited number of single day tickets at $10 and four-day tickets at $25. All Fan Fair X tickets can be purchased here.
