'American Idol' Winner Carrie Underwood Makes First Post-Show Appearances in Nashville During CMA Music Festival Week

'American Idol' Winner Carrie Underwood Makes First Post-Show Appearances in Nashville During CMA Music Festival Week

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's "American Idol" winner, Carrie Underwood, will make her first post-show appearances during CMA Music Festival Week in Nashville.

Underwood will perform at CMA Music Festival on Thursday, June 9, at The Coliseum. The four-day event was named the "crown jewel of Country Music festivals" by USA Today. "Country Music's Biggest Party(TM)" takes place Thursday-Sunday, June 9-12, in Downtown Nashville.

"Carrie captured the nation's heart with her talent and her love for Country Music," said Ed Benson, CMA Executive Director. "We're excited to help celebrate her success at 'Country Music's Biggest Party!'"

While in Nashville for CMA Music Festival Week, Underwood will also perform at the "CMT: 100 Greatest Duets" concert taping on Wednesday, June 8. She will make her Grand Ole Opry debut on Friday, June 10.

The Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum (home of the NFL's Tennessee Titans) begin each night at 8:00 PM/CDT (with Pre-Show activities beginning at 7:30 PM/CDT on Thurs., June 9, only), and feature non-stop entertainment with state-of-the-art production on dual stages with fireworks at the conclusion of each show.

The artist lineups (in alphabetical order) for the Nightly Concerts at The Coliseum are as follows:

Thursday, June 9: Pre-Show Activities; Dierks Bentley, Dolly Parton and The Grascals, Julie Roberts, Sugarland, Trick Pony, "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Phil Vassar and Lee Ann Womack

Friday, June 10: Sara Evans, Josh Gracin, Alan Jackson, Craig Morgan, Rascal Flatts, SHeDAISY, Blake Shelton and Travis Tritt

Saturday, June 11: Trace Adkins, Miranda Lambert, Jo Dee Messina, Joe Nichols, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna and Trisha Yearwood

Sunday, June 12: Jeff Bates, Big & Rich with Special Guest Appearance by Cowboy Troy, Diamond Rio, Andy Griggs, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sawyer Brown, Van Zant and Gretchen Wilson

Advance-purchase tickets for each nightly show at The Coliseum cost $30 plus applicable handling fees, and can be purchased through the CMA Music Festival Box Office at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn., or toll-free at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Tickets will also be available through Ticketmaster at (615) 255-9600, at www.ticketmaster.com and all Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket prices are subject to change.

Single concert tickets will also be sold during CMA Music Festival at The Coliseum ticket office beginning Thursday, June 9.

A limited amount of on-site pay parking ($8 per vehicle) will be available nightly at The Coliseum in Lots E and F, just across the Woodland Street Bridge. This parking is not available for pre-purchase. It is only available for purchase on-site on a first-come, first-serve basis after 5:00 PM on Thursday and Friday (June 9-10), and all-day Saturday and Sunday (June 11-12). Ample paid surface lots and parking garages are available in Downtown Nashville, conveniently accessible to The Coliseum via the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge.

A limited number of CMA Music Festival four-day ticket packages, which include the Nightly Concerts, Daily Concerts at the Greased Lightning(R) Daytime Stages, Wrangler(R) Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) and more, are still available and can be purchased through the CMA Music Festival Box Office at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, 501 Broadway, Nashville, Tenn., or toll-free at 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable.

The CMA Music Festival is being filmed for a two-hour television special that will air on the ABC Television Network on August 2 (9:00-11:00 PM/ET). The special will be produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson.

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, Carl Black Chevrolet, Chick-fil-A(R), Cracker Barrel, CremeSavers(R) candies, Coca-Cola(R), Crisco(R), Greased Lightning(R), HCA/TRI-STAR, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, NBC Daytime, Prilosec OTC, Purity Dairies, T.G.I. Friday's, Tennessee Lottery, Ultra Pet and Wrangler(R). Fan Fair is a registered trademark of CMA.

Source: Country Music Association

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

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

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, media outlets should logon to our media-only website at www.CMApress.com. The site contains information and downloadable photos for the media only. Photos from CMA Music Festival events will be updated throughout the day to aid media in their coverage. The site is password protected and not meant for public use. The public should be directed to www.CMAfest.com.

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