10 minute read
Cover Story A little bit country
Little Big Town returns to host annual CMA Music Festival special
By Jacqui Wiens TV Media
Nashville has certainly earned its nickname of “Music City” over the years, producing a breathtaking number of (primarily country music) artists and hosting numerous festivals and conventions throughout the year. At the start of June, Nashville residents were treated to a jam-packed few days of music, including the CMT Awards on June 10, the Concert for Love and Acceptance — organized by gay singer Ty Herndon and GLAAD — on June 12 and, serving as the backdrop to it all, the CMA Music Festival which ran from June 11 to 14.
The CMA Music Festival had an unprecedented level of success this year, setting attendance records with more than 87,000 fans attending both paid and free shows each day across the festival’s 11 stages. Tickets to the event sold out seven months ahead of time, but country music fans who weren’t able to score a seat will have a chance to experience the excitement from their own living rooms when the condensed “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” special airs Tuesday, Aug. 4, on ABC.
Launched as Fan Fair in 1972, the first event attracted just 5,000 people, but saw increased success at the second annual Fan Fair when it doubled attendance numbers. A decade later, the fair relocated to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds, and, in 2001, it changed from having a single location to several stages throughout downtown Nashville. The festival was rebranded three years later, dropping the familiar Fan Fair in favor of a more brand-friendly title.
With approximately 500 acts performing over the course of four days, capturing the entire festival experience would have been impossible, but producers have gathered and edited the footage down to bring the best of the best acts to the small screen. Among the featured artists are Carrie Underwood, Sam Hunt, Dierks Bentley, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Eric Church, Florida Georgia Line and hosts Little Big Town.
This year marks the third time that Little Big Town has hosted the “CMA Music Festival” TV special. Band members Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Phillip Sweet have gotten pretty adept at handling what don’t host a special on a regular basis.
“It’s so different from what we normally do,” Schlapman said in an interview with “People” magazine.
“We can sing and put on a show all day long, but when we have to in-
The band — which has a Grammy to its name, is the reigning CMA Award Vocal Group of the Year and holds a lot of other accolades — puts in a lot of work to get ready for the gig, but as Sweet admitted to “People,” sometimes all the prep
“We prepare as much as we can, but it’s different every year,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen, but that’s what makes it fun. We love the spontaneity of it. We just roll with it and try not to mess up.”
As well as hosting and performing, Little Big Town also had a lot of other duties to juggle during the event, taking part in a bit of community outreach. During the band’s sound check, young students in the Notes for Notes program dropped in to watch and meet the group — and even take a selfie!
Notes for Notes establishes and runs recording studios at Boys & Girls Club locations, allowing youth to explore their creativity and learn about careers in the music industry. They’re able to produce music using a variety of instruments and digital music equipment, and gain an understanding of the processes behind songwriting, sound engineering, instrumentals and theory. Founded in 2006, Notes for Notes currently operates several studios, including two in Nashville itself, and recently partnered with the CMA Foun- dation, which is dedicated to promoting country music education, thanks in large part to Fairchild.
“We met the founder [of Notes for Notes], Philip Gilley, a couple of years ago, and he explained to us what they do,” Fairchild said in the “People” interview. “The CMA Music Festival raises a lot of money, and they give millions away, and so much of it goes to music education. The foundation board was so impressed that we got them some money and now they’re going to be in 14 different cities! That’s all because of this festival.”
Some of country’s biggest names gathered in Nashville last month for the four-day CMA Music Festival. Setting attendance records, the festival reached unprecedented levels of success this year as the likes of Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Florida Georgia Line hit the stages to perform some of their greatest hits. If you missed out on the festival, though, don’t fret. Catch the highlights when Little Big Town hosts the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” airing Tuesday, Aug. 4, on ABC.
37 Ritz or saltine that’s been partially
51 Munich’s country, for short
52 “The __ Hunter” (1978) starring Robert De Niro
53 New newts
Down
1 41st President’s monogram
2 Hawaiian feast
3 America’s Maritime Guardian org.
4 The scary mask-wearing killer on “Scream” on MTV
5 Twin brother of Romulus in ancient Roman mythology
6 Architect of the Chrysler Building in New York, William Van __ (b.1883d.1954)
7 Brand of ketchup
8 Ms. d’Abo, Bond Girl in “The Living Daylights” (1987)
9 “Mr. __” (New sitcom on NBC about a middle school music teacher)
10 Air freshener target
11 Furniture wood
19 Body of water for San Francisco
23 ‘50s variety series showcasing the latest chart-topping songs, “Your
__ __”
24 “__ 54, Where Are You?” (‘60s comedy)
25 Kimono sash
26 Debbie __ (The drama at 37 Down is based on this author’s same-named series of books)
28 Pou __ (Vantage point)
29 Cut the grass
33 Screen legend Ms. Bergman
34 Vase
36 Give an address from the podium
37 Hallmark Channel show, “__ Cove”
38 Mr. Poehler (brother of comic actress Amy) who stars on NBC’s “Welcome to Sweden”
39 Past time
41 First word of Massachusetts’ motto
42 Count __, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” (2004) role
43 Bypass
44 Large amount
Solution on page 10
Sunday, Aug. 2
11:00 a.m. FSN Xterra USA Championship (1:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (1:00)
11:30 a.m. (23) WUCW Sunday Shockwave (0:30)
Noon (5) KSTP Xterra Adventures (0:30)
ESPN 30 for 30 (2:00)
ESPN2 WTT Tennis Final (Live) (2:00)
FSN Destination Polaris (0:30)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Quicken Loans National. From Robert Trent Jones Golf Club-- Gainesville, Va. (Live) (1:30)
NBCSN Countdown to Green (0:30)
12:30 p.m. (11) KARE Swimming World Championship. Kazan, Russia (2:00)
CNBC IndyCar Auto Racing Mid-Ohio Race (Live) (3:00)
FSN Twins Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Auto Racing Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400. From Pocono Raceway-- Pocono, Pa. (4:00)
1:00 p.m. (5) KSTP Pacific Blues (0:30)
(7) KCCO PGA of America (1:00)
FSN MLB Baseball Sea. at Min. From Target Field-- Minneapolis, Minn. (Live) (3:00)
TBS MLB Baseball N.Y. Y. at Chi.W. From U.S. Cellular Field-- Chicago, Ill. (Live) (3:00)
1:30 p.m. (5) KSTP Pacific Blues (0:30)
GOLF Golf Central Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
2:00 p.m. (7) KCCO PGA Golf Final Round Quicken Loans National. From Robert Trent Jones Golf Club-Gainesville, Va. (Live) (3:30)
ESPN Basketball Final The Tournament. (Live) (2:00)
ESPN2 ATP Tennis Final Atlanta Open. From Atlantic Station-- Atlanta, Ga. (Live) (2:00)
GOLF CHAMPS Golf Final Round 3M Championship. From TPC Twin Cities-Blaine, Minn. (Live) (3:00)
2:30 p.m. (11) KARE Red Bull Signature Series Vans Pool Party. Orange Country (1:30)
4:00 p.m. (5) KSTP LPGA Golf Final Round Women’s British Open. From Trump Turnberry-- Turnberry, Scotland (1:00)
(11) KARE Horse Racing Breeder’s Cup Challenge Series Haskell Invitational. From Monmouth Park-Oceanport, N.J. (1:00)
ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 MLS Soccer Por at SJ From Avaya Stadium-- San Jose, Calif. (Live) (2:00)
FSN Twins Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
4:30 p.m. FSN Vikings Game Plan (0:30)
NBCSN Sprint Cup Series Post-Race (Live) (0:30) p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00) FSN Cliff Diving Fort Worth, Texas (1:00) GOLF Web.com Golf Final Round Utah Championship. From Thanksgiving Point Golf Course-- Lehi, Utah (Live) (3:00) NBCSN IndyCar Auto Racing IndyCar Series Honda 200. From Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course-- Lexington, Ohio (2:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN Baseball Tonight (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 Arm Wrestling Championship World League. From Ernest N. Morial Convention Center-- New Orleans, La. (1:00)
FSN Bull Riding Championship. (1:00)
7:00 p.m. ESPN MLB Baseball Wash. at N.Y. M. From Citi Field-- New York, N.Y. (Live) (3:00)
ESPN2 Arm Wrestling World League. From Cox Pavillion-- Las Vegas, Nev. (1:00)
FSN The Current (1:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30) 11:05 p.m. (9) KMSP Whacked Out Sports (0:30) 11:30 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
NBCSN Mixed Martial Arts World Series of Fighting. (2:30) Monday, Aug. 3 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00) ESPN2 His & Hers (Live)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour
& Hers (1:00)
FSN Twins Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN Lucas Oil Motorsport Hour (1:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)
FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30) ESPN2 Baseball Tonight (Live) (0:30)
FSN Due North Outdoors (0:30)
GOLF Playing Lessons (1:00)
6:30 p.m. FSN Twins Live Pre-game (0:30)
7:00 p.m. FSN MLB Baseball Min. at Tor. From Rogers Centre-- Toronto, Ont. (3:00)
GOLF The Golf Fix (1:00)
USA WWE Monday Night Raw (3:05)
8:00 p.m. GOLF Altered Course (1:00)
9:00 p.m. ESPN Baseball Tonight (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 NFL Live (1:00)
GOLF Feherty (1:00)
10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 E:60 Reports (1:00)
FSN Twins Live Post-game (0:30)
GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
10:30 p.m. FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 Baseball Tonight (Live) (1:00)
FSN UCI Cycling Tour of Utah. (1:00)
GOLF Altered Course (1:00)
Tuesday, Aug. 4
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (0:25)
FSN MLB Baseball Min. at Tor. From Rogers Centre-- Toronto, Ont. (2:00)
NBCSN Into the Blue (0:30)
11:25 a.m. ESPN2 Soccer Real Madrid vs. Tottenham Hotspur Audi Cup. From Allianz Arena-- Munich, Germany (Live) (2:05)
11:30 a.m. NBCSN Sweetwater (0:30)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique (0:30)
ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
GOLF The Golf Fix (1:00)
NBCSN The Next Bite (0:30)
12:30 p.m. NBCSN Hobie Outdoor Adventures (0:30)
1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
FSN UEFA Soccer Semifinal Champions League. Juv. vs. R. Mad. (2:00)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Babe Winkelman (0:30)
8:00 p.m. ESPN2 NHRA Drag Racing
Mello Yello Series Sonoma Nationals. Sonoma, Calif. (3:00)
FSN WPT Poker L.A. Classic. (1:00)
GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
9:00 p.m. FSN UFC Unleashed (1:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Quicken
Loans National. From Robert Trent Jones Golf Club-- Gainesville, Va. (5:00)
9:30 p.m. (23) WUCW The Sports Show With Mike Max (0:30)
10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:30)
FSN Vikings: Beyond the Gridiron (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR Victory Lap (1:00)
10:30 p.m. FSN Vikings Game Plan (0:30)
10:35 p.m. (9) KMSP Fox 9 Sports Now (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN2 ESPN FC (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker L.A. Classic. (1:00)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique (0:30)
ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 First Take (2:00)
FSN MLB Baseball Min. at Tor. From Rogers Centre-- Toronto, Ont. (Live) (3:00)
GOLF PGA Golf Final Round Quicken Loans National. From Robert Trent Jones Golf Club-- Gainesville, Va. (5:00)
NBCSN Field Sports (0:30)
12:30 p.m. NBCSN Field Sports (0:30)
1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN Field Sports (0:30)
1:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)
NBCSN Field Sports (0:30)
2:00 p.m. ESPN2 SportsNation (Live) (1:00)
FSN Halls of Fame (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (1:00)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
ESPN2 Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)
FSN Golf Life (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 Around the Horn (0:30)
FSN WPT Poker L.A. Classic. (1:00)
GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
5:30 p.m. ESPN2 Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN MLB Baseball Chi.C. at Pit. From PNC Park-- Pittsburgh, Pa. (Live) (3:00)
ESPN2 CFL Football Tor. at Ham. From Tim Hortons Field-- Hamilton, Ont. (Live) (3:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
4:30 p.m. ESPN Pardon the Interruption (0:30)
ESPN2 Outside the Lines (Live) (0:30)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
5:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 SportsNation (1:00)
FSN Destination Polaris (0:30)
GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
5:30 p.m. FSN Twins Live Pre-game (Live) (0:30)
6:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter Special (Live) (1:30)
ESPN2 SportsCenter (0:30)
FSN MLB Baseball Min. at Tor. From Rogers Centre-- Toronto, Ont. (Live) (3:00)
GOLF Inside the PGA Tour (0:30)
6:30 p.m. ESPN2 Baseball Big League World Series. From J.B. Red Owens Complex-- Easley, S.C. (Live) (2:30) GOLF Champions Tour Learning Center (0:30)
7:00 p.m. GOLF Golf’s Greatest Rounds (3:00)
7:30 p.m. ESPN Hey Rookie, Welcome to the NFL (0:30)
8:00 p.m. ESPN E:60 (1:00)
9:00 p.m. ESPN Baseball Tonight (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 WNBA Basketball Min. at L.A. From Staples Center-- Los Angeles, Calif. (Live) (2:00)
FSN Twins Live Post-game (Live) (0:30)
9:30 p.m. FSN 18 Holes With Jimmy Hanlin (0:30)
10:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
FSN WPT Poker L.A. Classic. (1:00)
GOLF Golf Central (1:00)
10:30 p.m. NBCSN NASCAR America (0:30)
11:00 p.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 Baseball Tonight (Live) (1:00)
FSN UCI Cycling Tour of Utah. (1:00) GOLF Golf’s Greatest Rounds (3:00)
Wednesday, Aug. 5
11:00 a.m. ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
ESPN2 His & Hers (Live) (0:25)
FSN MLB Baseball Min. at Tor. From Rogers Centre-- Toronto, Ont. (2:00)
GOLF Inside the PGA Tour (0:30)
1:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Insiders (Live) (1:00)
ESPN2 Soccer Bayern Munich vs. AC Milan Audi Cup. From Allianz Arena-Munich, Germany (Live) (2:15)
NBCSN Americana Outdoors (0:30)
2:00 p.m. GOLF Feherty (1:00)
NBCSN Field Sports (0:30)
2:30 p.m. ESPN NFL Live (Live) (1:00)
NBCSN Motorhead Garage TV (0:30)
3:00 p.m. FSN MLB Baseball Min. at Tor. From Rogers Centre-- Toronto, Ont. (2:00)
GOLF Altered Course (1:00)
3:30 p.m. ESPN Highly Questionable (0:30)
3:45 p.m. ESPN2 ESPN FC (0:15)
4:00 p.m. ESPN Around the Horn (0:30)
ESPN2 Highly Questionable (0:30)
GOLF Golf Highlights (1:00)
NBCSN Bill Dance Outdoors (0:30)
11:25 a.m. ESPN2 Soccer Third Place Match Audi Cup. From Allianz Arena-Munich, Germany (Live) (2:05)
11:30 a.m. GOLF Altered Course (1:00)
NBCSN G3 Sportsman (0:30)
Noon (9) KAWE Classical Stretch: The Esmonde Technique (0:30)
ESPN SportsCenter (1:00)
NBCSN Into the Blue (0:30)
12:30 p.m. GOLF Inside the PGA Tour (0:30)
NBCSN Saltwater Experience (0:30)
1:00 p.m. ESPN College Football Live (Live) (0:30)
FSN UEFA Soccer Semifinal Champions League. Mun. vs. Barc. (2:00)
GOLF Playing Lessons (1:00)
NBCSN George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing (0:30)
