Dierks Bentley and Elle King are returning once again to host the CMA Fest TV special, but this year they will be joined by Lainey Wilson. The three singers will serve as the hosts of the three-hour primetime ABC show, airing on July 19.
“I could not be more excited to welcome Dierks, Elle and Lainey as our CMA Fest hosts this year,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “As fans experienced last year, the energy Dierks and Elle bring to the stage is palpable and will only be amplified with the addition of Lainey this year. Each of these artists have a deep passion for CMA Fest and the country music fans from around the globe who travel to Nashville for the event. We are thrilled to have all three of them together to help us celebrate 50 years!”
Bentley, Wilson and King shared the news first with Good Morning America, in a video that was posted on social media.
EXCLUSIVE: @ElleKingMusic and @DierksBentley are back this year to host the 50th anniversary of #CMAFest, along with @laineywilson! @countrymusic pic.twitter.com/0p8SeW6xI3
— Good Morning America (@GMA) June 5, 2023
CMA Fest kicks off on Thursday, June 8 in downtown Nashville, and will run through Sunday, June 11. This year’s lineup includes artists like Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean,, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Carly Pearce, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Tyler Hubbard, Dan + Shay, HARDY, Jordan Davis, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde, Jon Pardi and more performing at Nissan Stadium each night.
Hundreds of artists will perform at various stages in downtown Nashville as well, including Rodney Atkins, Blanco Brown, Craig Campbell, Home Free, Chrissy Metz, Shenandoah, Chapel Hart, Noah Thompson, Mark Wils, Anne Wilson and many more.
“We are so excited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CMA Fest this year!” Trahern says of the all-star lineup. “A lot has changed since our early days of Fan Fair, but all these years later, the heart of the festival remains that special connection between the fans and the artists. We are truly grateful to everyone who has supported us throughout the years, and we look forward to celebrating this milestone with all of our attendees in June. Stay tuned for much more!”
More information on CMA Fest, including a complete schedule and available tickets, can be found at CMAFest.com.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of CMA/ABC