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A resolution recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee.
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WHEREAS, CMA Fest, the longest-running country music festival in the world will celebrate its milestone 50th anniversary June 8 through 11, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, the Country Music Association established Fan Fair, now known as CMA Fest, in 1972, drawing 5,000 country music fans to Nashville’s Municipal Auditorium; and
WHEREAS, artists participating in the first Fan Fair included Dolly Parton, Bill Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Ernest Tubb, Barbara Mandrell, and Roy Acuff; and
WHEREAS, the event was often noted as a “lovefest” between country music artists and their fans; and
WHEREAS, in response to the growing festival, Fan Fair moved to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1982; and
WHEREAS, during the 25th anniversary of CMA’s Fan Fair in 1996, Garth Brooks made an unexpected appearance and signed autographs for more than 23 consecutive hours; and
WHEREAS, in 2001 Fan Fair returned to downtown Nashville and was held in four different venues with nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium, then known as Adelphia Coliseum; and
WHEREAS, in 2004 Fan Fair was renamed to CMA Music Festival and for the first time ever, the event was filmed for a two-hour network television special. Many world-famous country music artists were featured in the television special including Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Martina McBride, Willie Nelson, Keith Urban, and Rascal Flatts; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the festival officially changed its name to CMA Fest and drew the largest engagement by country music fans in the event’s history with visitors from all 50 states and 37 international countries; and
WHEREAS, even though the in-person festival was postponed two years in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMA was still able to bring a new and unique two-night concert series experience to fans called CMA Summer Jam. The series was filmed for a three-hour primetime special featuring individual performances and collaborations from more than 20 of the biggest stars in country music; and
WHEREAS, this year CMA Fest will celebrate its 50th anniversary with music at nine different stages across downtown Nashville including Ascend Amphitheater and the four-night concert series at Nissan Stadium featuring country music’s biggest stars such as Luke Combs, HARDY, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert, and Little Big Town; and
WHEREAS, on this occasion of the CMA Fest’s milestone anniversary, the Metropolitan Council is delighted to celebrate County Music’s roots in our beloved Music City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan Council hereby goes on record as recognizing and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of CMA Fest in Nashville, Tennessee.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.