CMA Fest Returns With Stadium Lineup
Country Music Association announced CMA Fest's return with a massive stadium lineup for its four-night event, with passes now on sale via cmafest.com. Blues Hall of Famer and 3x Grammy winner Bobby Rush will perform live at The Jazz Cafe on May 27, announced by DMP Concerts. Blues Blast Magazine featured an interview with Hill Country bluesman Kenny Brown alongside reviews of new releases from Sugar Ray & The Bluetones, Ben Rice & The PDX Hustle, and Pat Pepin.
CMA Fest began in 1972 as "Fan Fair," an event created by the Country Music Association and WSM radio to give fans dedicated access to their favorite artists. The inaugural four-day fair drew 5,000 fans to Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, featuring 20 hours of live music and 100 exhibit booths for autographs. Now a global event, CMA Fest attracts tens of thousands of fans from all 50 states and dozens of countries, with nightly concerts at Nissan Stadium. The 2026 stadium lineup includes major names like Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Carly Pearce, HARDY, and Tim McGraw. A portion of the proceeds benefits the CMA Foundation, which supports music education programs in schools. Blues legend Bobby Rush, who will perform at The Jazz Cafe, was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2006. Rush won his first Grammy Award at the age of 83 for his album "Porcupine Meat" and has a signature style that blends blues, rap, and funk. Hill Country bluesman Kenny Brown was a longtime collaborator and protégé of the legendary R.L. Burnside, who often called Brown his "adopted son." Brown is a central figure in preserving the North Mississippi Hill Country blues style and co-founded the annual North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic to honor its traditions. Sugar Ray & The Bluetones' new album, "Blues From Sibculo," was recorded live over three days in a studio in the Netherlands. The release is the band's first since their 2020 album "Too Far from the Bar," which featured one of the last recordings by acclaimed guitarist Little Charlie Baty. Three-time Blues Music Award nominee Ben Rice showcases his expanded sound on the new album "Fallen Angel" with his band The PDX Hustle. The record features 10 original tracks that blend his traditional blues roots with soul, R&B, folk, and country influences.
