Summer's Hottest Event, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" on ABC

Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Dwight Yoakam Announced to Appear at the Festival

Monday, May 19, 2008 -- Summer heats up when ABC heads to Nashville to take you to the hottest music event, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Filming June 5-8, today's most exciting Country Music sensations will hit the stage in a four-day party and music celebration for the special that will air MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 (9:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

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Some of the artists already announced to appear at the nightly concerts include Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood and Dwight Yoakam, plus surprise appearances by Country superstars - a hallmark of CMA Music Festival.

The annual music festival is unlike any other, with four days, 30 hours of autograph signings by Country Music's biggest names and up and comers, 100 hours of live music, more than 400 artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. This is the fourth time ABC will broadcast this special-which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash-since the original Fan Fair(r) was launched in 1972. Last year more than 191,000 fans attended CMA Music Festival, its biggest turnout yet.

In addition to exciting, never-before-televised music performances, viewers will also get the ultimate Country Music fan experience firsthand. In exclusively shot segments for the special, the cameras will capture the Festival's behind the scenes moments between the artist and their fans and follow the stories of several passionate Country Music fans at the fest.

"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson. The 2008 CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

Source: ABC