Artist Lineups Grow for 2006 CMA Music Festival

Artist Lineups Grow for 2006 CMA Music Festival

Billy Ray Cyrus Added To Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum

Tickets for Daily Concerts at Greased Lightning Riverfront Stages Only $14 Each

"Nashville Star" winner Chris Young, John Berry, Billy Gilman, Andy Griggs, Neal McCoy, Pinmonkey, Kevin Sharp and More Added to Daily Concerts

Artists Announced for Acoustic Corner at Wrangler Fan Fair

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Music is everywhere during the CMA Music Festival, and this year's event carries on that tradition as artists continue to be added to the more than 70 hours of live musical performances taking place in venues throughout Downtown Nashville. CMA Music Festival is Thursday-Sunday, June 8-11.

Superstar singer/songwriter/actor Billy Ray Cyrus has joined the artist lineup for the Nightly Concert at The Coliseum on Saturday, June 10. The multi-Platinum selling artist is known for hit singles including "Some Gave All," "In the Heart of a Woman," "Busy Man," and "Achy Breaky Heart." He starred in the PAX-TV television series "Doc" from 2001-2004, and currently appears on the Disney Channel television series "Hannah Montana," which also stars his daughter Miley as the title character. Cyrus' last album was his gospel-oriented, The Other Side. He will release his new album, Wanna Be Your Joe, on New Door Records on July 18.

Artists already announced as performing during the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum include: Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Gary Allan, Keith Anderson, Clint Black, Brooks & Dunn, Terri Clark, Billy Currington, Sara Evans, Pat Green, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Los Lonely Boys and Ronnie Milsap, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Martina McBride, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, SHeDAISY, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Hank Williams, Jr., Wynonna and Trisha Yearwood.

"We always love it when Billy Ray performs at CMA Music Festival," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Operating Officer. "In addition to being a great entertainer, he also makes time to meet with his fans each year in his booth at the Wrangler(R) Fan Fair exhibit hall. You can feel the electricity in the air when Billy Ray and his fans get together. The roar from his fans shakes the walls!"

Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning(R) Riverfront Stages Additions

John Berry, Luke Bryan, Whitney Duncan, "Ireland's Search for a New Country Star" winner Aileen Flanagan, Billy Gilman, Andy Griggs, Craig Hand, Ty Herndon, Neal McCoy, Pinmonkey, Pirates of the Mississippi, Rio Grand, Kevin Sharp and the new "Nashville Star" winner Chris Young have joined the artist lineups for the Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning(R) Riverfront Stages.

"It is very gratifying to have Chris Young return to CMA Music Festival and perform on the Riverfront Stages after winning 'Nashville Star' this year," said Genovese. "During the last several years, he has been a strong supporter of our event, meeting fans in his autograph booth in our Wrangler Fan Fair(R) exhibit hall as he built the foundation of his career. Last year he also performed at our Acoustic Corner. His career evolution is an inspiration to all the budding acts who participate in CMA Music Festival."

Performers who have already been announced for the Daily Concerts lineup include Rhett Akins, Jessi Alexander, Keith Anderson, Jessica Andrews, Rodney Atkins, Steve Azar, Jeff Bates, The Bellamy Brothers, BlackHawk, Blue County, Bomshel, Catherine Britt, Lane Brody, Shannon Brown, T. Graham Brown, Sonny Burgess, Sarah Buxton, Tracy Byrd, Carolina Rain, Eric Church, Earl Thomas Conley, John Corbett, Cowboy Crush, Amy Dalley, The Charlie Daniels Band, Linda Davis, Deryl Dodd, Katrina Elam, Emerson Drive, Ty England, Erika Jo, Jace Everett, Jimmy Fortune, The Fox Brothers, Todd Fritsch, The Grascals, Hot Apple Pie, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Con Hunley, Jack Ingram, Buddy Jewell, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Jamey Johnson, Sammy Kershaw, 2006 Telstra Road to Tamworth winner Nick Kingswell, Blaine Larsen, Little Texas, Brice Long, The Lost Trailers, Rockie Lynne, Bobby Marquez, Brian McComas, 2006 CMA Global Artist Award winner Jason McCoy and the RoadHammers, Ashley Monroe, Megan Mullins, David Lee Murphy, Gary Nichols, Oak Ridge Boys, Jake Owen, Shane Owens, Danielle Peck, Bobby Pinson, Povertyneck Hillbillies, Jon Randall, Restless Heart, Ray Scott, Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband, Luke Stricklin, Keni Thomas, Mel Tillis, Pam Tillis, Aaron Tippin, Trent Tomlinson, Trick Pony, Tanya Tucker, Lane Turner, Jimmy Wayne, Bryan White, Trent Willmon, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley, Chely Wright, Michelle Wright and Billy Yates. Please see the schedule at www.CMAfest.com for the specific day and time for each artist's performance.

As previously announced, the performance by The Charlie Daniels Band will kick off the CMA Music Festival at 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 8. Neal McCoy will kick off the Daily Concerts at 10:00 AM on Friday, June 9; Andy Griggs will launch the Daily Concerts at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 10; and The Fox Brothers will crank up the fun at 10:30 AM on Sunday, June 11. The National Anthem will be sung by Whitney Duncan on June 8; Joni Harms on June 9; Carly Goodwin on June 10; and Rhonda Towns on June 11. Among the hosts scheduled to appear on the Daily Concerts throughout the four days are: XM Satellite Radio personality Jon Anthony; singer/songwriter Lane Brody; WKRN-TV (Nashville ABC affiliate) personality Joe Dubin; WSIX Radio (Nashville) personality Slam Duncan; GAC television personality Nan Kelly; Nashville Bureau Chief for Radio & Records and host of the weekly "CMT Country Countdown USA" Lon Helton; WSM Radio/The Wolf (Nashville) personality Karen Keeley; Sirius Satellite Radio personality Scott Lindy; the "Unofficial Mayor of Music Row," Charlie Monk; The Tennessean celebrity reporter Brad Schmitt; WZTV-TV (Nashville FOX affiliate) personality Kelly Sutton; MuzikMafia member Two Foot Fred; GAC "Country Music Across America" television host Storme Warren; and WGKX Radio (Memphis) personalities Young & Elder, with additional hosts to be announced later.

Individual tickets for the Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning(R) Riverfront Stages can be purchased on the day of show at the Riverfront Park gate for $14, with children ages 6 and under admitted for free with a paying adult. The Daily Concerts are also included in the four-day ticket packages.

Acoustic Corner

The Acoustic Corner lineup at the Wrangler Fan Fair has been announced. Curtis Alan, Bernadette, Josh Brister, Eddie Bush, Will Clements, Austin Cody, Brad Cotter, Justin David, Kassie DePaiva, Carly Goodwin, Chris Gray, Kyle Jennings, Miko Marks, Daniel Lee Martin, Lee McCormack, Kristen McNamara, Ken Mellons, Amanda Pearce, Damon Smith, Jay Teter, Tresa Street, Rhonda Towns, The Well Hungarians and Kyle Wyley will perform at this intimate stage in the Nashville Convention Center outside the Exhibit Hall. The Acoustic Corner can only be accessed by four-day ticket holders. For performance times and artist schedule, please visit www.CMAfest.com.

"Acoustic Corner is a wonderful way to be introduced to an artist you haven't heard before, or to rediscover an old favorite in a new light," said Genovese. "These performances started out as CMA Music Festival's best-kept secret, but they have grown into concerts packed with fans looking to discover new music and talent."

CMA Music Festival Tickets Benefit Charity

All of the artists participating in CMA Music Festival donate their time. They are not compensated for performing. In appreciation of their continued support, CMA recently launched "Keep the Music Playing," a program which donates half the net proceeds from the event to the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, to support music education in metro Nashville's public schools. To date, CMA has donated more than $800,000 to charity on behalf of the artists who participate in the Festival.

For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances and more, visit www.CMAfest.com and sign up for e-news.

To order tickets for the 2006 CMA Music Festival call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600.

Four-day ticket package categories correspond to a different level of reserved seating at The Coliseum. Four-day ticket packages include the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum; Daily Concerts at the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages; daily admittance to the Wrangler Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) featuring the Acoustic Corner; Family Zone; Crisco(R) Country Favorites Corner; Fun Zone; Sports Zone; CMA Music Festival After Hours; free in-town shuttles; the CMA Music Festival Program Book; CMA Music Festival pin; special discounts to area attractions, restaurants, shops and more. Prices start at $125 for adults; $86 for children ages 4-14; and children 3 years and younger admitted free, and do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices and artists are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

Once again in 2006, CMA Music Festival will be filmed for a two-hour, ABC Network Television special that will air later this summer. The special is produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson.

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. CMA Board member Tony Conway is the Executive Producer of CMA Music Festival. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Promotional partners include Crisco(R), Greased Lightning(R) and Wrangler(R). Fan Fair(R) is a registered trademark of CMA.

Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Wendy Pearl or Scott Stem of CMA, +1-615-244-2840

Web site: http://www.cmaworld.com/
http://www.cmafest.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: For information, logos and downloadable photos, visit our media-only website, www.CMApress.com

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