May 19, 2008

Scheduled to Appear Include Rodney Atkins, Bucky Covington, Emerson Drive, Josh Gracin, Author Denise Jackson, Little Big Town, James Otto, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson, and Wynonna

NASHVILLE -- 2008 CMA Music Festival is the ultimate experience for fans of America's music, with more than 100 hours of live music, celebrity events and more during four days (Thursday-Sunday, June 5-8) in Downtown Nashville.

The event celebrates the relationship between fans and celebrities, and is perhaps best realized at its core: the truTV(tm) Fan Fair® Hall. Held at the Nashville Convention Center, the truTV Fan Fair Hall gives four-day attendees the rare opportunity to meet some of their favorite entertainment personalities, discover new talents, and receive a cherished autograph and photo.

"The artist/fan interaction in the truTV Fan Fair Hall is the heart of CMA Music Festival," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "Watching their faces as the fans meet one of their favorite artists or discover a new talent is one of my favorite things to do during CMA Music Festival."

Entrance into the truTV Fan Fair Hall is included in the four-day ticket package. For the first time ever, individual daily tickets will be available for Saturday and Sunday, June 7-8, for $20 per day, plus applicable handling fees. The tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); or onsite during the event at the box offices at both the Sommet Center and LP Field.

Artists Appearing in truTV Fan Fair Hall

Among the artists who will be appearing in booths and meeting their fans in the truTV Fan Fair Hall are: Bill Anderson, Katie Armiger, Rodney Atkins, Jeff Bates, John Berry, Laura Bryna, Tracy Byrd, Jason Michael Carroll, Cherryholmes, Brad Cotter, Bucky Covington, Cowboy Crush, Linda Davis, ABC-TV's "One Life to Live" actress/singer Kassie DePaiva, Emerson Drive, Erika Jo, Donna Fargo, Billy Gilman, Josh Gracin, The Grascals, Andy Griggs, Heartland, Con Hunley, Jack Ingram, Emma Mae Jacob, author Denise Jackson, "Dukes of Hazzard" television star Ben "Cooter" Jones, Jeannie Kendall, Kentucky Headhunters, Brenda Lee, Little Big Town, Charlie Louvin, Neal McCoy, Rich McCready, Richie McDonald, Jo Dee Messina, Michael Martin Murphey, James Otto, Jake Owen, Danielle Peck, Michael Peterson, Kevin Sharp, Ricky Skaggs, Fisher Stevenson, Sunny Sweeney, Taylor Swift, Mel Tillis, Aaron Tippin, Carrie Underwood, Rhonda Vincent, Taylor Ware, Jimmy Wayne, Bryan White, The Whites, Chuck Wicks, Trent Willmon, Gretchen Wilson, Darryl Worley, Kyle Wyley, Wynonna, Chris Young, and many others. All artists and celebrities are subject to change.

truTV and "Black Gold"

truTV is making its debut appearance this year at CMA Music Festival. The popular cable network is promoting its highly anticipated real life series, "Black Gold." From the creator of "Deadliest Catch," "Black Gold" follows the real-life world of high-stakes drilling for oil in west Texas and will premiere Wednesday, June 18, at 10:00 PM/ET. The six, hour-long episodes, which feature an original theme song written and recorded by Trace Adkins, will be previewed on screens at truTV's booth near the entrance of the Fan Fair Hall as well as at their outdoor both in the Chevy(tm) Sports Zone.

"truTV is thrilled to be the title sponsor of the Fan Fair Hall at this year's CMA Music Festival," said Mary Corigliano, truTV Senior Vice President, Marketing. "Our upcoming original series 'Black Gold' is exactly the kind of show the CMA fans will love. We see the festival as a truly unique and timely opportunity to introduce this gripping new series to the CMA audience."

Borders Books & Music and Other Exhibitors

Borders® Books & Music, the exclusive CD, book and DVD retailer sponsor at CMA Music Festival, will host book and CD signings in the truTV Fan Fair Hall booth. In addition to the Exhibit Hall, Borders will also host booths at Riverfront Park and LP Field. Borders will collect CDs, books and DVDs purchased by customers to be sent to the troops. Collection areas for these items will be set up at all three Borders booth locations at CMA Music Festival. All items collected will be donated to the USO for distribution.

Official CMA Music Festival merchandise can be purchased from the Music City Merchandise booth located in the truTV Fan Fair Hall. Music City Merchandise will also have booths at LP Field, Riverfront, Sommet Center, McDonald's®-Dr. Pepper® Family Zone and the Chevy(tm) Sports Zone.

Other exhibitors include: American Songwriter Magazine; Assets®; Big Machine Records; Chevy; CMA; CMT(tm); Conway Twitty United; Country Life Magazine; Coyote Ugly; Cupit Records; Curb Records; Digital Rodeo; Fan Clubhouse; FanAttic; Grand Ole Opry; Greased Lightning® Cleaning Products; Great American Country; Hearsomethingcountry.com; IFCA; Mary Kay®; Mr. Coffee®;  Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau; The Outdoor Channel; RFD-TV;  Rocky Brands, Inc; SELECT COMFORT; Skaggs Family Records; Silpada Designs® Sprint Nextel Corporation; Sunday Mornin' Country (Music City Christian Fellowship); Tetley® Iced Tea; Tootsies Orchid Lounge; Universal Music Group; Universal South; VAULT(tm); Warner Bros. Records; and Wrangler, among many others.

Mary Kay Presents the Acoustic Corner

Mary Kay Presents the Acoustic Corner, which is located outside the truTV Fan Fair Hall on the second floor of the Nashville Convention Center. The Acoustic Corner has become a popular area to enjoy intimate performances from artists on independent labels.

"Mary Kay is thrilled to be able to provide a forum for Country Music fans to enjoy the sounds of their favorite artists or discover new music and talent in a casual setting at the CMA Music Festival," said Yvette Franco, Mary Kay Vice President, U.S. Marketing. 

This is the second year that Mary Kay has sponsored this stage. Every artist performing at the Acoustic Corner will also appear in a booth in the truTV Fan Fair Hall to meet their fans. The artists selected to perform at Acoustic Corner this year are Cash Creek, Will Clements, Austin Cody, Dan Colehour, Cowboy Joe and The Babcocks, Timothy Craig, James Taylor Curtis, Justin David, Kassie DePaiva, Jace Everett, Chris Gray, Ben Gregg, Dennie Hall, Sage Keffer, Jimmy Kish the Flying Cowboy, Miko Marks, Marshal Reign, Brooke Morton, Mustang Creek, Todd O'Neill, Ashlee Page, Thom Shepherd, Damon Smith, TelluRide, Brandi Thornton, Rhonda Towns,  singer/actress Jenna von Oy, Well Hungarians, Rachel Williams, and The World's Greatest Fishing Band. For performance times and artist schedule, please visit www.CMAfest.com. 

For up-to-the-minute information about CMA Music Festival tickets, travel information, schedules, artist appearances, and more, visit www.CMAfest.com and sign up for 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® Books & Music: The Exclusive Music & Book retailer of the CMA Music Festival. Wrangler®: The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival. Additional promotional partners include, Carl Black Chevrolet, CMT(tm), Dr Pepper®, Greased Lightning® Cleaning Products, Mary Kay®, McDonald's®, Music City Rising Star, Tetley® Iced Tea, truTV(tm), and VAULT(tm). Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA.