The Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages Features Strongest Daytime Lineup in CMA Music Festival History

The Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages Features Strongest Daytime Lineup in CMA Music Festival History

Montgomery Gentry Launches "Country Music's Biggest Party(TM)" With Riverfront Performance on Thursday, June 9 at 10:00 AM

More Than 100 Artists To Perform Including Bill Anderson, Keith Anderson, Cowboy Troy, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Grascals, Hanna McEuen, Buddy Jewell, Blaine Larsen, Neal McCoy, Lorrie Morgan, "Nashville Star" Winner Erika Jo, Jamie O'Neal and Aaron Tippin

Daily Tickets Available at the Gate for $14

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages during CMA Music Festival are a dream destination for music lovers this summer. More than 100 Country Music artists are scheduled to perform at Riverfront Park in the heart of Downtown Nashville during "Country Music's Biggest Party(TM)," Thursday through Sunday, June 9- 12.

"This year's Daytime Concerts lineup is our strongest yet," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "From today's hitmakers to fan favorites, legends and more, you can experience the entire spectrum of Country Music at the Daytime Concerts."

The summer temperature will skyrocket when Montgomery Gentry fires up the opening performance of the 2005 CMA Music Festival on Thursday, June 9 at 10:00 AM on the Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages. Known for their energetic live show, the Columbia Nashville recording artists will perform many of their hits including songs from their current Gold-certified album, You Do Your Thing. Montgomery Gentry was named CMA Vocal Duo of the Year in 2000.

"No one can kick off a party better than Montgomery Gentry," said Benson. "They will set a very high bar for all the performances during CMA Music Festival."

Each day will feature a rousing start at 10:00 AM (10:30 AM on Sunday, June 12). Lyric Street recording artist Aaron Tippin will open Friday, June 10; Columbia Nashville recording artist Buddy Jewell will launch Saturday, June 11; and two-time CMA award-winning Lorrie Morgan will christen Sunday, June 12.

The full lineup for the Daily Concerts showcases the diversity of Country Music from traditional to alt.country; from the legends to today's radio favorites. The non-stop performances take place on side-by-side stages with state-of-the-art production including video screens. More than 30 hours of musical performances are scheduled during the four days, with artists including: Jason Aldean; Jessi Alexander; Bill Anderson; Keith Anderson; Jessica Andrews; Steve Azar; David Ball; Tori Baxley; Bellamy Brothers; John Berry; Blue County; Paul Brandt (who will receive the 2004 CMA Global Country Artist Award during his performance); Catherine Britt; Lane Brody; Jim Ed Brown; T. Graham Brown; Melonie Cannon; George Canyon; Carolina Rain; Cowboy Crush; Cowboy Troy; The Crabb Family; Glenn Cummings; Billy Currington; Billy Ray Cyrus; Amy Dalley; Joey Daniels; Linda Davis; Joe Diffie; Amber Dotson; Emerson Drive; "Nashville Star" 2005 winner Erika Jo; Shelly Fairchild; Fanny Grace; Kevin Fowler; David Frizzell; Earl Gains and Band featuring Johnny Jones and Bobby Hebb; Billy Gilman; The Grascals; Hanna McEuen; Eric Heatherly; Ty Herndon; Hilljack; Steve Holy; Hometown News; Hot Apple Pie; Rebecca Lynn Howard; Jedd Hughes; Con Hunley; Carolyn Dawn Johnson; Jill King; Blaine Larsen; Aaron Lines; Little Big Town; Little Texas; Bill Lloyd and Friends; Lauren Lucas; Malibu Storm; Lila McCann; Brian McComas; Neal McCoy; Mel McDaniel; Justin McGurk (winner of Ireland's "Search for a New Country Star" competition televised on RTE TV1); David Lee Murphy; Oak Ridge Boys; Jamie O'Neal; Danni O'Neill; The Pajama Party (Deborah Allen, Anita Cochran and Tammy Cochran); Derryl Perry; Bobby Pinson; Jon Randall; Carmen Rasmusen (from "American Idol 2"); Eddy Raven; Restless Heart; Ray Scott; Kevin Sharp; T.G. Sheppard; Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand; Alyece Simmonds (the Australian winner of the 2004 Telstra Road to Tamworth/CMA Global Artist Talent Search); Connie Smith; Jeffrey Steele; Doug Stone; John Stone; Keni Thomas; Mel Tillis; Pam Tillis; Wayne Warner; Jimmy Wayne; Brittany Wells; The Wilkinsons; Trent Willmon; Mark Wills; Bryan White; Chely Wright; Michelle Wright; and The Wrights.

Single-day tickets to the Daily Concerts at Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages will only be available at the gate to Riverfront Park during the event for $14, with children 6 and younger admitted free. The single-day ticket to the Daily Concerts remains an unbelievable value, averaging just 56 cents per artist, making it a reasonably priced destination for family fun.

Admittance to all the Daily Concerts is also included in CMA Music Festival's four-day ticket package. Packages are divided into four categories, based on the level of reserved seating at The Coliseum (the Gold Circle and Floor Level ticket packages are already sold out). Four-day ticket packages include the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum; Daily Concerts at Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages; daily admittance to the Wrangler(R) Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) featuring the Acoustic Corner; Bush's(R) Baked Beans Family Zone; Fun Zone; Sports Zone and performance stage; CMA Music Festival After Hours(TM); free in-town shuttles; the CMA Music Festival Program Book; CMA Music Festival pin; special discounts to area attractions, restaurants, shops and more.

LEVEL Full Price 14 and younger Gold Circle SOLD OUT N/A Floor (Field) SOLD OUT SOLD OUT Lower Level $125 $86 Club Level $125 $86

Four-day ticket packages for CMA Music Festival are easy to purchase. Order over the phone by calling toll-free, 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

For up-to-the-minute information about tickets, travel information, schedules, artists appearing and more, visit www.CMAfest.com and sign up for e-news or purchase official CMA Music Festival merchandise.

2005 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. MJI Programming, a division of Premiere Radio Networks, is the official radio broadcaster. Chevy, An American Revolution, is the official automotive sponsor of the CMA Music Festival. Promotional partners include Bush's(R) Baked Beans, Camping World(R), CremeSavers(R) candies, Coca-Cola(R), Crisco(R), Greased Lightning(R), Monroe Carrell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, NBC Daytime and Wrangler(R). Fan Fair is a registered trademark of CMA.

2005 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL DAILY CONCERTS ON THE GREASED LIGHTNING(R) DAYTIME STAGES PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE (as of 5/5/05)

THURSDAY, JUNE 9 10:00 - 12:00 Country Kickstart (Hosted by Lon Helton of Radio & Records and "CMT Country Countdown USA") 10:00 - 10:30 Montgomery Gentry 10:30 - 10:50 Jamie O'Neal 10:50 - 11:10 TBD 11:10 - 11:25 Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand 11:25 - 11:40 Keith Anderson 11:40 - 12:00 Jessica Andrews 12:00 - 2:00 The Mega Music Show 12:00 - 12:05 Host Introduction 12:05 - 12:30 Mel Tillis 12:30 - 12:45 Danni O'Neill 12:45 - 1:05 Little Big Town 1:05 - 1:20 Chely Wright 1:20 - 1:35 Ty Herndon 1:35 - 2:00 Pam Tillis 2:00 - 4:00 Complete Country 2:00 - 2:05 Host Introduction 2:05 - 2:20 Hanna McEuen 2:20 - 2:40 Restless Heart 2:40 - 2:55 Melanie Cannon 2:55 - 3:15 Little Texas 3:15 - 3:30 Glenn Cummings 3:30 - 3:45 Cowboy Troy 3:45 - 4:00 Trent Willmon 4:00 - 6:00 Nashville Spotlight (Hosted by Cadillac Jack of WKHX Radio, Atlanta, GA) 4:00 - 4:05 Host Introduction 4:05 - 4:30 Bellamy Brothers 4:35 - 4:50 Shelly Fairchild 4:50 - 5:10 Steve Holy 5:10 - 5:30 Cowboy Crush 5:30 - 6:00 Neal McCoy

FRIDAY, JUNE 10 10:00 - 11:55 Boot Scootin' Brunch (Hosted by Storme Warren of GAC's "Country Music Across America") 10:00 - 10:25 Aaron Tippin 10:25 - 10:40 Carmen Rasmusen 10:40 - 10:55 Keni Thomas 10:55 - 11:10 Amy Dalley 11:10 - 11:30 Jon Randall 11:30 - 11:45 Hilljack 11:45 - 12:00 Jessi Alexander 12:00 - 2:00 Hooked On Music Show (Hosted by Rob Tanner of WSOC Radio, Charlotte, NC) 12:00 - 12:05 Host Introduction 12:05 - 12:20 Carolyn Dawn Johnson 12:20 - 12:35 Mark Wills 12:35 - 12:50 Amber Dotson 12:50 - 1:05 David Ball 1:05 - 1:25 Steve Azar 1:25 - 1:40 Linda Davis 1:40 - 2:00 Aaron Lines 2:00 - 4:00 Nashville Standard Time 2:00 - 2:05 Host Introduction 2:05 - 2:20 Bobby Pinson 2:20 - 2:35 Blaine Larsen 2:35 - 2:55 Billy Currington 2:55 - 3:15 Rebecca Lynn Howard 3:15 - 3:30 Malibu Storm 3:30 - 3:45 Lila McCann 3:45 - 4:00 The Wrights 4:00 - 6:00 Heartland Happin' Show 4:00 - 4:02 Host Introduction 4:02 - 4:25 Billy Ray Cyrus 4:25 - 4:40 Eric Heatherly 4:40 - 4:55 Wayne Warner 4:55 - 5:10 Jill King 5:10 - 5:25 Jeffrey Steele 5:25 - 5:40 Brittany Wells 5:40 - 6:00 Emerson Drive

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 10:00 - 12:00 Country Jamboree 10:00 - 10:30 Buddy Jewell 10:30 - 10:50 Brian McComas 10:50 - 11:05 The Grascals 11:05 - 11:20 Michelle Wright 11:20 - 11:40 Erika Jo 11:40 - 12:00 John Berry 12:00 - 1:30 Saturday in the Park (Hosted by the NBC Daytime Stars) 12:00 - 12:05 Host Introduction 12:05 - 12:20 Derryl Perry 12:20 - 12:40 Jimmy Wayne 12:40 - 12:55 Lauren Lucas 12:55 - 1:15 Bryan White 1:15 - 1:30 Hot Apple Pie 1:30 - 3:25 Riverside Country (Hosted by NBC Daytime Stars) 1:30 - 1:35 Host Introduction 1:35 - 1:50 T. Graham Brown 1:50 - 2:05 John Stone 2:05 - 2:20 Con Hunley 2:20 - 2:35 Carolina Rain 2:35 - 2:50 Ray Scott 2:50 - 3:05 Lane Brody 3:05 - 3:25 Doug Stone 3:25 - 5:00 Nashville City Limits (Hosted by NBC Daytime Stars) 3:25 - 3:30 Host Introduction 3:30 - 3:45 Kevin Fowler 3:45 - 4:00 Joey Daniels 4:00 - 4:15 Kevin Sharp 4:15 - 4:30 Billy Gilman 4:30 - 4:45 George Canyon 4:45 - 5:00 Blue County 5:00 - 6:00 The Nammie Experience 5:00 - 5:20 Bill Lloyd and Friends 5:20 - 5:40 TBD 5:40 - 6:00 Earl Gaines and Band - Featuring Johnny Jones and Bobby Hebb

SUNDAY, JUNE 12 10:30 - 12:00 Sunday Morning Country 10:30 - 10:50 Lorrie Morgan 10:50 - 11:10 Jim Ed Brown 11:10 - 11:25 Eddy Raven 11:25 - 11:40 David Frizzell 11:40 - 12:00 Bill Anderson 12:00 - 1:40 Wide World of Country (Hosted by GAC's Kylie Harris) 12:00 - 12:05 Host Introduction 12:05 - 12:20 Catherine Britt 12:20 - 12:35 Paul Brandt 12:35 - 1:00 Aleyce Simmonds &Justin McGurk 1:00 - 1:20 Jedd Hughes 1:20 - 1:40 The Wilkinsons 1:40 - 3:30 Sunday in the South (Hosted by Kelly Sutton of WZTV-TV's "Tennessee Mornings," Nashville, TN) 1:40 - 1:45 Host Introduction 1:45 - 2:10 Joe Diffie 2:10 - 2:25 Connie Smith 2:25 - 2:40 Jason Aldean 2:40 - 3:00 David Lee Murphy 3:00 - 3:15 Mel McDaniel 3:15 - 3:30 Fanny Grace 3:30 - 6:00 Riverfront Grand Finale 3:30 - 3:35 Host Introduction 3:35 - 4:05 The Oak Ridge Boys 4:05 - 4:45 The Pajama Party (Deborah Allen, Tammy Cochran, Anita Cochran) 4:45 - 5:00 Hometown News 5:00 - 5:25 T.G. Sheppard 5:25 - 5:45 Tori Baxley 5:45 - 6:00 The Crabb Family

Source: Country Music Association

CONTACT: Wendy Pearl or Scott Stem of CMA, +1-615-244-2840

Web site: http://www.cmafest.com/ http://www.cmaworld.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Apply for media credentials to cover CMA Music Festival online at www.CMApress.com until May 13. The site contains information and downloadable photos for the media only. The site is password protected and not meant for public use. The public should be directed to www.CMAfest.com.

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