Cindy Watts

2 days ago | americansongwriter.com | Cindy Watts

Country music fans have poured into Nashville for more than five decades to meet their favorite country singers and see them perform. What started in 1972 as a ploy to distract fans from a popular radio convention has morphed into an official four-day event called CMA Fest – that unofficially lasts almost one week. This year, CMA Fest is June 5-8 in downtown Nashville. Headliners include Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts with Carly Pearce and more.

3 days ago | americansongwriter.com | Cindy Watts

Darius Rucker has been living in London recently, working on new music. This week, he’s back in Music City for CMA Fest. On Monday night, he unofficially launched the event with his 16th annual Darius and Friends concert, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Before the concert, Rucker’s Darius & Friends event has raised more than $4.3 million for the Memphis-based hospital. That number will surely grow after his team calculates proceeds from Monday night’s auction and show.

5 days ago | americansongwriter.com | Cindy Watts

The Grand Opry is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year by making country music history across the pond. For the first time, the Opry will broadcast from England. The Opry is the longest-running radio program in U.S. history and will bring a star-studded lineup including Opry members Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, Carly Pearce, Darius Rucker, and Marty Stuart to headline the iconic Royal Albert Hall, marking its first live international broadcast. The curtain will go up on Friday, September 26.

5 days ago | americansongwriter.com | Cindy Watts

It will be Team Reba for the win this year at CMA Music Fest. Reba McEntire will bring a special exhibit featuring some of her most prized memorabilia to Fan Fair X at CMA Fest this year, including her famous spinning chair from The Voice. Dubbed Reba House, the country queen has made the space an immersive, multi-sensory fan experience.

6 days ago | americansongwriter.com | Cindy Watts

Reba McEntire was entirely in her element Thursday night in Nashville when she headlined Music City Rodeo, Nashville’s first-ever PRCA Pro Rodeo, at Bridgestone Arena. The Music City Rodeo continues Friday and Saturday nights with Jelly Roll and Tim McGraw as headliners. McEntire is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame with 35 No. 1 songs and a slew of hit movies and television shows under her belt buckle – but she’s also, in her words, a third-generation rodeo brat.