2008 CMA Music Festival Artist Lineup Grows With Star-Powered Concerts at Greased Lightning Daytime Stages

NASHVILLE, Tenn., March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The excitement is building for 2008 CMA Music Festival, Thursday-Sunday, June 5-8 in Downtown Nashville, as artists performing at the Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages at Riverfront are announced.

"The CMA Music Festival artist performer lineup truly reflects the diversity and strength of our music," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "We have today's hitmakers, legends and rising stars from the worlds of contemporary and traditional Country Music. If you want to experience the best of the format, you'll find it everywhere you turn during CMA Music Festival."

In 2007, attendance at the Festival topped 191,000 with fans from every state and 21 foreign lands. In fact, 10Best.com (Trusted Advice for Travelers(TM)), named CMA Music Festival a 2008 Best Bet for Times to Visit Nashville. Now in its 37th year, the Festival (formerly known as Fan Fair(R)) spotlights the unique relationship between Country Music artists and their fans while raising funds to support music education in Metro Nashville's public schools through the CMA's philanthropic program "Keep the Music Playing."

Artists scheduled to perform on the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages include (in alphabetical order):

    Thursday, June 5                     Friday, June 6
    Keith Anderson                       Eric Church
    Bellamy Brothers                     Cowboy Crush
    Luke Bryan                           Crossin' Dixon
    Tracy Byrd                           Ashley Gearing
    Carters Chord                        Jennifer Hanson
    Mark Chesnutt                        Heartland
    Emerson Drive                        Sarah Johns
    Adam Gregory                         Lonestar
    Jypsi                                Neal McCoy
    Lost Trailers                        Lorrie Morgan
    Richie McDonald                      Megan Mullins
    David Nail                           Jake Owen
    Heidi Newfield                       The Road Hammers
    James Otto                           Crystal Shawanda
    Danielle Peck                        Ashton Shepherd
    Phil Stacey                          Fisher Stevenson
    Aaron Tippin                         Emily West
    Chuck Wicks                          Chris Young


    Saturday, June 7                     Sunday, June 8
    Katie Armiger                        Charlie Allen
    John Berry                           T. Graham Brown
    Lee Brice                            Laura Bryna
    Eli Young Band                       Carolina Rain
    "Honky Tonk Tail Gate Party" with    Drew Davis Band
         Buddy Jewell                    Whitney Duncan
         Ray Scott                       Jimmy Fortune
         Trent Willmon                   Ty Herndon
         Mark Wills                      LoCash Cowboys
    Randy Houser                         Rockie Lynne
    Emma Mae Jacob                       Raul Malo
    Justin Moore                         Mel McDaniel
    Michael Martin Murphy                Oak Ridge Boys
    Minnie Murphy                        Jamie O'Neal
    Jasmine Rae                          Rissi Palmer
    Mica Roberts                         Rio Grand
    The Roys                             Sunny Sweeney
    Jeffrey Steele                       Bryan White
    Doug Stone                           Billy Yates
    Mel Tillis
    Trailor Choir
    Jimmy Wayne
    Whiskey Falls
    Darryl Worley

Additional artists will be announced as performers on the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages in the coming weeks.

Admission to the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages is included in CMA Music Festival four-day ticket packages. Single-day tickets for the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages will be sold the day of each show at the gate for $16 each. Children 6 and younger are admitted free of charge, making the Riverfront concerts a popular destination for families who want to enjoy great musical performances while relaxing on the sloping bank of the Cumberland River. The concerts are fun in the sun within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites, with food vendors, activities and more.

But the fun doesn't end there. Performers announced for the nightly concerts at LP Field include Rodney Atkins, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, and Dwight Yoakam. Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks, and surprise artist performances - a hallmark of the event - are also being planned.

Tickets for 2008 CMA Music Festival are available now. To order tickets 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. Prices do not include applicable handling fees.

Four-day ticket package categories correspond to different levels of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE. Four-day ticket packages include the Nightly Concerts at LP Field; Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning Daytime Stages; daily admittance to the Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) featuring the Acoustic Corner; McDonald's(R)-Dr Pepper(R) Family Zone; Fun Zone; Chevy(TM) Sports Zone; CMA Music Festival After Hours; free in-town shuttles; the CMA Music Festival Program Book; CMA Music Festival pin; and more. Ticket prices and artist appearances are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

    2008 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL FOUR-DAY TICKET PACKAGE PRICES
    LEVEL                            ADULT          12 & YOUNGER
    Gold Circle (Floor)              SOLD OUT       N/A
    Floor Level                      SOLD OUT       SOLD OUT
    Lower Level                      $145           $102
    Club Level                       $135           $95
    Upper Level (general admission)  $110           $78


    * NOTE: Please call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) for information on ADA
            seating, which may be available in Sold Out sections.

Between now and March 24 at 5:00 PM/CDT, fans also have an opportunity to bid on a limited number of CMA Music Festival ticket packages through Ticketmaster VIP Auctions at ticketmaster.com.

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

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. Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music. Borders(R) Books & Music: The Exclusive Music & Book retailer of the CMA Music Festival. Wrangler(R): The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival. Additional promotional partners include, Dr Pepper(R), Greased Lightning(R) Cleaning Products, McDonald's(R), Music City Rising Star and Tetley(R) Iced Tea. Fan Fair(R) is a registered trademark of CMA.

For information, logos and downloadable photos, visit our media-only website, www.CMApress.com. You may also register on this site for media credentials to cover activities during the 2008 CMA Music Festival.