Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Julianne Hough, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, and Wynonna Among Celebrities Meeting Fans in Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall at 2009 CMA Music Festival

Reba McEntire, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Julianne Hough, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, and Wynonna Among Celebrities Meeting Fans in Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall at 2009 CMA Music Festival

Reba's First Autograph Signing at Festival in 13 Years

Taylor Swift to Sign All Day on Sunday, June 14

Durango Acoustic Corner Features Intimate Performances From Fan Favorites, ABC Daytime Divas, and Rising Artists

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- CMA Music Festival, recently named "the country's premiere Country Music festival" by the New York Times, is the ultimate experience for fans of America's music, with more than 100 hours of live music, celebrity events, family activities, and more. The event, now in its 38th year, will take place over four days (Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14) in Downtown Nashville.

CMA Music Festival is a celebration of the relationship between the fans and the artists, and nowhere is this connection more vividly demonstrated than at the Greased Lightning(R) Fan Fair(R) Hall. Located in the Nashville Convention Center, the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall gives four-day attendees the exclusive opportunity to meet some of their favorite entertainment personalities, discover new rising artists, and obtain a treasured autograph and photo.

"The heart of CMA Music Festival has always been the interaction between the artists and the fans, and the best place to witness that special relationship is in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

For the first time in thirteen years, six-time CMA Award winner Reba McEntire will be among the artists meeting their fans and signing autographs in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall.

2007 CMA Horizon Award winner Taylor Swift will be signing in the Big Machine Records booth all day (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM) on Sunday, June 14. Swift is a Fan Fair Hall favorite. Last year, she signed more than 900 autographs in eight straight hours with no break - the longest consecutive signing since Garth Brooks' legendary 23 hour signing in 1996.

Julianne Hough, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, and Wynonna will also meet their fans in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall. Other artists scheduled to be in booths include: Keith Anderson, Frankie Ballard, Luke Bryan, Sarah Buxton, Caitlin & Will, Jason Michael Carroll, Eric Church, Brad Cotter, Bucky Covington, Whitney Duncan, Gloriana, Jessica Harp, Randy Houser, Jack Ingram, Joey + Rory, Jason Jones, Jypsi, Kate and Kacey, Little Big Town, The Lost Trailers, Charlie Louvin, Love & Theft, Neal McCoy, Richie McDonald, Justin Moore, Craig Morgan, Lorrie Morgan, David Nail, Heidi Newfield, James Otto, Jake Owen, Michael Peterson, Point of Grace, Julie Roberts, Blake Shelton, Ashton Shepherd, Sunny Sweeney, Aaron Tippin, Trent Tomlinson, Jimmy Wayne, Emily West, Chuck Wicks, Holly Williams, Mark Wills, Darryl Worley, Chris Young, and many more. Dates and times for the signings are still being scheduled, so fans should check the artists' websites for details. The most current information will also be posted in the individual booths onsite at CMA Music Festival. Artists and schedules are subject to change.

Greased Lightning, a valued sponsor of CMA Music Festival for nearly a decade, takes on sponsorship of the Fan Fair Hall for the first time this year.

"We are so delighted to be a part of such a legendary event for the ninth year in a row," said Natalie Brooke, Assistant Marketing Manager for Greased Lightning. "CMA Music Festival provides an unparalleled outlet for Greased Lightning to connect with customers and promote brand awareness. For the first time, we will be sponsoring the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall located in the Nashville Convention Center. We look forward to this amazing opportunity to celebrate with the music industry's most loyal fans."

Durango(R) Acoustic Corner

The Durango(R) Acoustic Corner is located outside the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall on the second floor of the Nashville Convention Center. This the first year that Durango has sponsored the Acoustic Corner, a popular daytime stage that features intimate performances from fan favorites and artists on independent labels.

"Country Music and western boots obviously go hand in hand, so we are extremely excited to sponsor the Acoustic Corner where fans can enjoy rising stars of Country in a more intimate setting," said Amber E. Vanwy, Marketing Manager-Western Division, Rocky Brands, Inc. "Further, we're thrilled to have the opportunity to interact directly with customers at our Fan Fair Hall booth where we're having photo opportunities, artist autograph sessions, boot giveaways and more!"

Every artist performing at the Acoustic Corner will also appear in their booth in the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall to meet their fans. The artists selected to perform at Acoustic Corner this year are: Razzy Bailey, BroadBand, Don Campbell, John Carter, Will Clements, Timothy Craig, Candice Crain, Justin David, Divas of Daytime TV (a trio consisting of three ABC Daytime actresses: Kathy Brier ("Marcie Walsh") and Kassie DePaiva ("Blair Manning") from "One Life to Live," and Bobbie Eakes ("Krystal Carey") from "All My Children"), Dan Evans, Billy Gilman, Ben Gregg, KC Johns, Sage Keffer, Jimmy Kish, Miko Marks, Amanda Marsh, John Arthur Martinez, The Roys, Damon Smith, Daniel Smith, Brian Stace, TelluRide, Rhonda Towns, and Rachel Williams. For performance times and artist schedule, please visit www.CMAfest.com.

Entrance into the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall featuring Durango Acoustic Corner is included exclusively in the four-day ticket package, which also includes the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field, exclusive early entrance privileges to the free concerts on the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park, exclusive access to the Photo Lines at LP Field and Riverfront Park, exclusive access to the event shuttle between venues, admission to the Frist Center for the Visual Arts (June 8-15), and a registration bag, with collectible pin, and 2009 souvenir program book.

This is all in addition to the free areas, which include: Dr Pepper(R)-McDonald's(R) Family Zone in Hall of Fame Park, Chevy(TM) Music Stage at the Sommet Center, Chevy Sports Zone, Fun Zone, the GAC Stage in the Music City Zone on the Public Square, the Fifth Annual CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade, and the Fourth Annual CMA Music Festival Block Party.

To order four-day ticket packages, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form that can be faxed or mailed in; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online; or charge-by-phone at 1-800-745-3000. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices and participating artists are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

For up-to-the-minute information about CMA Music Festival tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances, and more, visit www.CMAfest.com.

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. Partners include: Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music; CMT; Dr Pepper(R); Durango(R); Greased Lighting(R); Great American Country (GAC); McDonald's(R); VAULT Citrus Soda; and Wrangler(R): The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival. CMA Music Festival(R) and Fan Fair(R) are registered trademarks of CMA.

Source: Country Music Association

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

Web Site: 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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