The current CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town will host the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” set to air on Monday, August 12th (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
 
Taylor Swift CMA Music Festival 2013The three-hour special event will feature performances and appearances by Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Sheryl Crow, the cast of “Duck Dynasty,” “Nashville” star Charles Esten, Hunter Hayes, “Dancing with the Stars” champion Derek Hough, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Lennon and Maisy Stella of “Nashville,” Little Big Town, Tim McGraw, Kip Moore, Jason Mraz, Kacey Musgraves, Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.
 
Filmed June 6-9, the special features behind-the-ropes access and interviews, day-in-the life segments, late-night jams, exciting performances, and surprise collaborations. This is the 10th anniversary of this one-of-a-kind special, which showcases America’s biggest Country Music bash.
 
Hosting the special for the first time, Little Big Town has been nominated for 12 CMA Awards and took home trophies in 2012 for Vocal Group of the Year and Single of the Year. The quartet’s fifth studio album, “Tornado,” was released on September 11, 2012 and debuted at the top of the Billboard Country Chart, where it stayed in the No. 1 position for five consecutive weeks. The album, which is certified Gold, was produced by Jay Joyce and includes the double Platinum-selling, No. 1 hit single, “Pontoon,” and the follow up single and title-track, “Tornado,” which also reached No. 1. Their current single, “Your Side of the Bed,” is quickly climbing the charts and is currently in the Top 30.
 
Originally started as Fan Fair® in 1972, the legendary event has featured performances by every major star in the format. What started with 5,000 fans has grown to a daily attendance of more than 80,000 representing every state and 27 foreign countries. The primetime television special, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” debuted in 2004 as a two-hour special highlighting the Festival and Music City. The ABC Television network has aired the special since 2005, and expanded the program to three hours in 2009. The special will air annually on ABC through 2021.
 
Featuring concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more, CMA Music Festival is the Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience – a four-day celebration of America’s music. CMA Music Festival is a four-time winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010).