Plot Synopsis

Each year since 1972 -- except 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic -- the Country Music Association (CMA) has hosted the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, and now takes place over four days, featuring over 400 artists in country music. Originally started as Fan Fair in 1972, the legendary event has featured performances by every major star in country music. This primetime television special debuted in 2004 on CBS as a two-hour program highlighting the Festival and Music City. In 2005 the special moved to ABC, and expanded to three hours in 2009, where it had continued to air since.
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With first-time hosts Dierks Bentley and Elle King, the 2022 CMA FEST was broadcast by ABC on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 from 8-11pm ET/PT, featuring musical performances filmed during Nashville's four-day 49th CMA Fest on Thursday through Sunday, June 9-12, 2022 at Nissan Stadium. The special features performances by Bentley and Billy Ray Cyrus, Wynonna Judd and Carly Pearce, Dustin Lynch featuring MacKenzie Porter, Cole Swindell and Lainey Wilson, King and Ashley McBryde, Lady A featuring BRELAND, and Zac Brown Band with Darius Rucker. Additional performers include Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Russell Dickerson, Parker McCollum, Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett and Carrie Underwood.