Summer heats up when ABC heads to Nashville to take you to the hottest music event of the year: "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock."

Filming Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8, today's most exciting Country Music sensations will hit the stage during a four-day party and music celebration for a special that will air Monday, Sept. 8 at 9/8C on the ABC Television Network.

Some of the artists already announced to appear at the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field include Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, Billy Ray Cyrus, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Jewel, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Josh Turner, Carrie Underwood, Dwight Yoakam, and surprise appearances by Country superstars - a hallmark of the Festival.

"Our announced lineup this year is very strong and exciting with a depth and variety of performers that will certainly appeal to anyone who loves Country Music," said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese. "But what makes this Festival really thrilling is the energy charge created when an artist the fans weren't expecting to see steps onto that stage. The eruption of applause and screams lets us know that we delivered a Festival highlight."

The annual event is unlike any other: four days, 30 hours of autograph signings, 100 hours of live music, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. This is the fourth time ABC will broadcast this special - which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash. Originally started as Fan Fair in 1972, last year the event experienced its biggest attendance to date - 191,000.

In addition to exciting, never-before-televised music performances, viewers will also enjoy the ultimate, Country Music fan experience. In exclusively shot segments for the special, the cameras will capture behind-the-scenes moments between the artist and their fans and follow the stories of several passionate Country Music enthusiasts.

Tickets can be purchased for the 2008 CMA Festival at www.CMAFest.com

Labels: CMA Music Festival