02.18.2010 - Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band along with the previously announced Carrie Underwood are the first artists of 2010 to join a legendary group of acts who have performed at CMA Music Festival, which began as Fan Fair in 1972.  Here's a behind the scenes interview with Jason Aldean from last year.

 
More than 2,000 Country acts, including the superstars of the format, have lent their time and talent to the event over the decades. It is a legacy that began 39 years ago with legends including Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette thanking fans at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.

The Festival is an annual touchstone that connects the most ardent, passionate performers in the format with the superstars who came before them on behalf of the fans who support them.

CMA Music Festival is a unique celebration of the relationship between Country Music artists and their fans in the heart of Music City USA. The artists participate for free, and in appreciation, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program.

To date, $3,312,053 has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies, providing thousands of Metro Nashville Public Schools students with the resources and opportunities they could not have afforded on their own, and giving many of them a strong reason to remain in school.

2010 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13. Nashville's signature music event features concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more. This unparalleled celebration of America's music draws thousands of fans and media from all corners of the globe to Nashville. CMA Music Festival was dubbed the "crown jewel of Country Music festivals" by USA Today and winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association's 2004, 2006, and 2008 LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year.

2010 will live up to its lauded reputation with the first list of performers announced for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field:

•Jason Aldean, received his first CMA Award nomination in 2007 for the Horizon Award. A year later, the Award was renamed, the New Artist of the Year and Aldean was nominated in the coveted category once again.

•Lady Antebellum, the reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, who has received a total of three CMA Awards.

•Martina McBride, who was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year four times (1999, 2002-2004) and is tied with McEntire for the most wins in that category. She has a total of five CMA Awards.

•Reba McEntire, a former CMA Entertainer of the Year and four-time Female Vocalist of the Year, who has won a total of six CMA Awards.

•Brad Paisley, the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year (for three consecutive years, 2007-2009), who has received a total of 13 CMA Awards.

•Rascal Flatts, who has won a total of seven CMA Awards, including six consecutive Vocal Group of the Year Awards (2003-2008).

•Darius Rucker, the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year.

•Carrie Underwood, who was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year for three consecutive years (2006-2008) and has received a total of five CMA Awards.

•Keith Urban, the reigning CMA Musical Event of the Year Award winner (along with Paisley for their duet "Start a Band"). A former Entertainer of the Year (2006), Urban has received a total of six CMA Awards.

•Zac Brown Band, who received their first three CMA nominations in 2009, with lead singer Zac Brown receiving an additional nomination as songwriter.

Underwood was previously announced as a performer for this year's Festival on Feb. 5 after she surprised one her biggest fans, fifteen-year old Riley Ahlstrand, with a phone call. Ahlstrand had written CMA asking if Underwood would be performing at the event this year, and the singer called to personally give her the good news.

"This is an amazing collection of superstar artists who perform a broad spectrum of Country Music styles," said Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. "Our attendees are going to love the lineup."