CMA Fest Heads to ABC on August 4

"CMA Fest," the Music Event of Summer, brings the hottest music acts together on one stage for three full hours of epic collaborations and must-see performances, SUNDAY, AUG. 4 (8:00-11:00 p.m. EDT), on ABC. The prime-time special, hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini with special guest host Bobby Bones, brings Country Music's Ultimate Fan Experience to a national television audience for a 16th straight year.

Filmed during Nashville's 48th annual CMA Fest in June, the television special features more than 30 of music's biggest acts as they hit the stage during the four-day festival. Fans won't want to miss special collaborations including for the first time ever Lil Nas X joined by Billy Ray Cyrus and Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini and The Chainsmokers, Brothers Osborne with Brooks & Dunn and Ashley McBryde, Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell, Tim McGRaw and Luke Combs, Maren Morris and Brandi Carlile, and Carrie Underwood with Joan Jett. Additional performers include Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Chris Janson, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Midland, Old Dominion, Pistol Annies, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett and Brett Young.

Thomas Rhett returns to host "CMA Fest" for a fourth year, first co-hosting the special in 2016; while Kelsea Ballerini returns for a third year. Bobby Bones appears as a special guest host for the first time. "CMA Fest" is executive produced by Robert Deaton.

The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience™ began in 1972 as Fan Fair®, which drew 5,000 fans to Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. Now in its 48th year, the legendary festival has become the city's signature Country Music event that hosts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and 36 international countries. In 2018, CMA Fest featured 11 official stages with hundreds of artists performing-all to benefit music education. CMA Fest is a one-of-a-kind festival with artists donating their time to perform so ticket proceeds can directly benefit high-quality music programs across the country through the CMA Foundation. CMA Fest is filmed for a primetime ABC Television Network special, with 2019 marking the 16th consecutive year the event has been filmed for television, a feat no other music festival has achieved.

"CMA Fest," the Music Event of Summer hosted by Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini with special guest host Bobby Bones, airs Sunday, Aug. 4, at 8/7c on ABC.

Photo credit: CMA/ABC