ABC Presents CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL: COUNTRY'S NIGHT TO ROCK 9/1

Summer heats up when ABC heads to Nashville to take you to the hottest music event of the year - "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock." Filming Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13, today's most exciting Country Music stars will hit the stage during a four-day party and celebration of America's music for a special that will air WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

Some of the artists already announced to appear at LP Field during CMA Music Festival include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Zac Brown Band. Taylor Swift will host a free 13-hour fan meet and greet event during the Festival at the Bridgestone Arena, which includes a short acoustic performance.

"Our announced lineup this year is the strongest ever and a Country Music enthusiast's dream bill," said Steve Moore, Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors.

The annual event is unlike any other: four days, 30 hours of autograph signings, 100 hours of live music, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. This is the sixth time ABC will broadcast this special, which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash.

Originally started as Fan Fair(R) in 1972, the legendary event has featured performances by every major star in the format. What started with 5,000 fans has grown to a daily attendance of more than 56,000, representing every state and more than two dozen foreign countries. The primetime television special, "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," debuted in 2004 as a two-hour special highlighting the Festival and Music City. In 2005 the special moved to the ABC Television Network.

In 2009 the special expanded to three hours, boosting ABC ahead of CBS, NBC and FOX with the network's second-biggest audience during the summer season. With 7.4 million viewers and a 4.7/8 overall rating, it outperformed its broadcast rivals in Total Viewers, topping CBS by 6 percent, NBC by 32 percent and FOX by 85 percent. The special had a 43 percent increase in viewers compared to 2008, generating the biggest audience in four years, and tallied its highest Adult 18-49 rating (2.0/6) in three years. It was No. 12 for the week among Total Viewers and No. 11 for the week for Adults 18-49.

"CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson. The 2009 CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock" will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC's selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Partners include American Airlines; Barnes & Noble; Bicycle Playing Cards; Blue Bell Creameries; Carl Black Chevrolet; Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music; CMT; COMBOS(R) Snacks; Dillard's(R); Dr Pepper(R); DRIVE4COPD; Durango Boots(R); Farm Boy(R) & Farm Girl(R) Brands; Field & Stream(R); GEICO; General Cigar Co., Inc.; Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee; Greased Lightning(R) Cleaning Products; Great American Country (GAC); Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville; Kraft Lunchables; Jack Daniel's(R); Mahindra USA, Inc.; Makers Mark; McDonalds(R); MidSouth Satellite/DISH Network(R); Ocean Spray(R); PEDIGREE(R) Food for Dogs; PlayStation(R); PEOPLE Country; Random House Children's Books; RFD-TV; Roper Apparel & Footwear; Silpada Designs; Southern Belle Glamour; Sprint; SunnyD(R); Super 8(R); Tasti D-Lite(R); Texas on Tour; The Country Network; TNT Memphis Beat; United States Marine Corps.; U.S. Air Force; USDA Food Safety Mobile; VELVEETA(R) Shells and Cheese; Votre Vu; Waggin' Train (R) Dog Treats; World Vision(R); Wrangler(R). Fan Fair(R) is a registered trademark of CMA.

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