CMA Fest 2025 Airs Nationwide, Showcasing Country Music’s Biggest Stars

The 52nd annual CMA Fest, held earlier this month in Nashville, Tennessee, was broadcast as a three-hour primetime special on ABC on June 26. Hosted by country music stars Cody Johnson and Ashley McBryde, the televised event featured 30 standout performances from major artists, including Jason Aldean, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn with Lainey Wilson, and a duet by Shaboozey and Jelly Roll. The special is available for on-demand viewing on ABC.com and Hulu starting June 27.

The televised special, titled “CMA Fest Presented by SoFi,” was filmed during the four-day festival held from June 5 to June 8 in downtown Nashville. The event, which began in 1972 as Fan Fair, has evolved into the world’s longest-running country music festival, drawing an estimated 90,000 daily attendees. This year’s festival featured performances across multiple stages, with the main stage at Nissan Stadium hosting the biggest names in country music.

The broadcast showcased a mix of solo performances and collaborations. Highlights included Jason Aldean’s “Whiskey Drink,” Kelsea Ballerini’s “Baggage,” Luke Bryan’s “Country Song Came On,” and Rascal Flatts performing “Life Is A Highway.” Collaborative performances featured Brooks & Dunn with Lainey Wilson on “Play Something Country,” and a duet by Shaboozey and Jelly Roll on “Amen.”

The special also included performances by Dierks Bentley, who teamed up with Zach Top for a medley of “Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)” and “Mountain Music,” and Blake Shelton, who performed “Stay Country or Die Tryin'” and joined Trace Adkins for “Hillbilly Bone.” Other notable performances included Cody Johnson’s “The Fall,” Ashley McBryde’s “Rattlesnake Preacher,” and Keith Urban’s “Straight Line.”

The event was co-hosted by Ashley McBryde, returning for her second consecutive year, and Cody Johnson, making his hosting debut. Both artists also performed during the special, with Johnson delivering “The Fall” and a duet with Carín León on “She Hurts Like Tequila,” while McBryde performed “Rattlesnake Preacher.”

In addition to the musical performances, the special highlighted the festival’s commitment to supporting music education through the CMA Foundation. Artists donate their time to perform at CMA Fest, with proceeds supporting music education initiatives nationwide.

For those who missed the live broadcast, “CMA Fest Presented by SoFi” is available for streaming on ABC.com and Hulu starting June 27. Fans can relive the performances and experience the energy of the festival from the comfort of their homes.

Looking ahead, the 53rd CMA Fest is scheduled to take place in Nashville from June 4 to June 7, 2026. Four-night stadium passes will go on sale through Ticketmaster on June 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. CDT. CMA Country Connection email subscribers and SoFi Plus members will receive exclusive presale access starting June 23, 2025.