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Here’s Where You’ll Find That Nashville Girl During CMA Fest 2026
Our week, our must-sees, and yes — we're recording 7 podcast episodes with live audiences. Come find us.
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CMA Fest week is officially upon us and I have a lot of feelings about it. Good ones. Chaotic ones. The kind where you’re trying to figure out which boots are actually going to survive four days of downtown Nashville concrete while also planning which stages you cannot miss and also figuring out when you’re going to eat.
Here’s the thing about CMA Fest: it’s not just a music festival. It’s a full Nashville experience. And this year, That Nashville Girl is going to be in the middle of all of it — press days, events, wardrobe moments, surprise run-ins on Broadway, and yes, recording seven podcast episodes with live audiences that will be rolling out all summer long. (More on that below.)
Here’s your full guide to where I’ll be, what I’m doing, and the artists I genuinely cannot miss this week. Come find me. Let’s make a memory.
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 — Before the Fest Even Starts
The real week kicks off on Tuesday with press obligations and media commitments. This is the part of CMA Fest week that doesn’t make it to Instagram — the scheduling, the prep, the logistics of covering the biggest country music event in the world.
We’re also pulling together final wardrobe touches with the Daniel Diamond team, who are dressing me for the entire weekend. I can’t say more than that right now except that I am very excited, very grateful, and you should absolutely be following along on Instagram for the reveals.
PLUS, if you’re flying into BNA (Nashville International Airport) for the weekend, make sure you stop at the Daniel Diamond store and grab some bling for the weekend. And if you’re not flying in, follow them on Instagram to make sure you catch one of their pop-ups throughout the week! They’ll be easy to find in the fully rhinestoned Toyota Tundra!
Wednesday, June 3
Starting the Week Right
Before the official fest even kicks off, I’m spending Wednesday night doing one of my favorite Nashville things: sitting in a room with someone who is really, really good at their job.
| 7:00 PM | Shane McAnally Shane McAnally has written over 50 number one songs, won four Grammys, co-wrote a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, and now he’s doing stand-up comedy. If you know Shane, you know this is going to be hilarious and unexpectedly moving and one of those only-in-Nashville nights. He sold out so fast that he added a second show! Get tickets at nashville.zanies.com while you still can. | Zanies Comedy Club – 2025 8th Ave S |
Thursday, June 4
The First Full Day – So Many Activities!
CMA Fest officially opens and the city is buzzing. Here’s where I’m planning to be:
Every day is jam-packed during CMA Fest – it’s like an ultra-marathon for music lovers!
DAYTIME
| 12:55 PM | ★ Cody Hibbard If you’ve been keeping up with the podcast, you know Cody and you know how much we love him around here! One of my must-sees of the whole week. Cody Hibbard has a warmth and a storytelling instinct that makes you stop and listen. Just show up. | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
| 2:35 PM | ★ Walker Montgomery Walker is one of those artists where every time you catch a set you think “why doesn’t everyone know about him yet?!?” That’s about to change. Fun Fact: Walker’s sister Madison is a dear friend of mine, and at one point Walker’s dog Liberty (rest in peace) was one of my dog’s favorite buddies! | Chevy Vibes |
| 3:10 PM | ★ Stephen Wilson Jr. Non-negotiable. SWJ is one of my absolute favorite humans in Nashville and I will be at the Riverfront Stage at 3:10 screaming every word. If you’re not familiar yet, fix that before Thursday. Our prediction: seeing SWJ in 2026 is going to feel like seeing Taylor Swift in 2007. Don’t miss this one. | Chevy Riverfront |
| 4:15 PM | ★ Bre Kennedy She writes with the kind of emotional precision that makes you feel seen. I’ve been excited about this set for weeks and I will absolutely be in that crowd! (I’m writing this listening to Bre on vinyl with her candle burning beside me. You can shop her stuff HERE). | Tractor Supply Spotlight |
| 4:15 PM | ★ Stella Lefty A voice that stops you mid-step — a little haunting, a little golden. She’s the kind of CMA Fest discovery that has you texting your friends mid-set. I mean, “Boston” is living rent-free in all of our heads this summer! | Good Molecules Reverb |
| 4:50 PM | ★ Vincent Mason Stay at the Riverfront for Vincent Mason at 4:50. He’s also playing the Nissan Stadium Platform Stage Thursday night, so this is your chance to catch him in a more intimate setting before everything goes stadium-big. Trust me, if you don’t know this name yet, you will. | Chevy Riverfront |
NIGHT
| 10:00 PM | ★ Ella Langley Ella Langley takes the Nissan Stadium main stage Thursday night and I will be in my seat early. And can we all agree that we’re wearing jeans and a t-shirt, thank you very much?!? If you know, you know. If you don’t, DM me. I even made merch. | Nissan Stadium |
Friday, June 5
How Much Can We Do In One Day? 🙂
Friday is going to be a full sprint. We are recording podcast episodes, running between stages, eating whatever we can find along the way, and fully refusing to slow down.
DAYTIME
| 11:15 AM | ★ Dave Fenley Start the day at the Amp. Dave Fenley has one of the most distinctive voices in country music and this set is going to set the tone for the whole day. | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
| 12:05 PM | ★ Trey Pendley One of the more exciting rising voices in Nashville right now. Introspective, real, and worth discovering before everyone else does. Fan Alley’s new Remix Stage. | Wrangler Remix |
| 12:05 PM | ★ Ty Herndon A legend. Simple as that. If you have a chance to catch Ty Herndon live, you take it. | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
| 12:55 PM | ★ Melissa Etheridge MELISSA ETHERIDGE. At a free outdoor stage. During CMA Fest. This is not a drill. I don’t care how tired I am, I will be at the Amp at 12:55 PM | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
| 1:30 PM | ★ Kameron Marlowe Pull up No Need for Leavin’ before Friday and thank me later. | Chevy Riverfront |
| 1:45 PM | ★ Angie K Angie K is one of the most exciting artists in Nashville right now. Her voice, her writing, her whole energy — she is perfect. Don’t miss this. And if you aren’t caught up on That Nashville Girl podcast, catch up. Angie’s episode was SOOOO much fun! | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
FRIDAY NIGHT
Nissan Stadium ★ — Blake Shelton, Shaboozey, Keith Urban, Cody Johnson – a whole vibe! | Main Stage — requires pass
You’ll find me at the platform stage singing along to every word. Three moments I’m most excited about:
- Blake Shelton singing “Texas.” I heard it at Tin Pan South and knew it would be a hit. Can’t wait to hear it at Nissan.
- Shaboozey “Bar Song” in a stadium. He deserves this moment. We’ll all be singing loud to make sure he knows it!
- Keith Urban – will he break out yacht rock during this show? I think he has to, and I really hope he does. It would be truly magical if John Mayer popped out to play some Yacht Rock + Sob Rock with him. (A girl can dream.)
Saturday, June 6
Out and About
Daytime
| 12:05 PM | Sister Hazel Is it country? Honestly, who cares. It’s Sister Hazel. I will be in the front singing every word of All for You without a single apology. | Chevy Vibes |
| 12:30 PM | Cassidy Daniels Classic country energy and a voice that belongs on much bigger stages. This is a set you’ll feel good about having caught early. | Good Molecules Reverb |
| 3:25 PM | Travis Denning Travis Denning is criminally underrated and this is one of those sets that reminds you why. And he’s married to my girl Madison so obviously we’ll be there! | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
| 4:15 PM | Emily Ann Roberts I love this Yee Haw MeMaw. I’ve loved her since I saw her on The Voice. She made the finale alongside my friend Barrett Baber. She has been one of Nashville’s best-kept secrets for too long and CMA Fest 2026 is her moment. Her voice is jaw-dropping. Get to the Amp early for this one — it will fill up. | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
Also Saturday: We’re also heading to JBJ’s (yes, Jon Bon Jovi’s bar on lower Broadway) for Chanel West Coast’s event on Saturday. This one is going to be a full vibe and I cannot wait.
Sunday, June 7
Oh my God, Am I Okay? (Last Day Vibes)
Sunday at CMA Fest hits different. Your feet hurt, your voice is half gone, and somehow the music sounds even better. You can find me at these shows:
DAYTIME
| 12:55 PM | ★ Mae Estes Mae Estes writes the kind of country songs that sound like you’ve known them your whole life but you’ve never heard them before. A warm, soulful voice with real country bones — one of my personal can’t-miss sets of the whole weekend. | Chevy Vibes |
| 1:45 PM | ★ Drake White Stay at the Vibes Stage for Drake White at 1:45. The energy he brings to a live set is something you can’t replicate anywhere else. | Chevy Vibes |
| 2:20 PM | ★ Morgxn I saw Morgxn at Tin Pan South this year, and well, I fell in love with his voice, his energy, his heart…all of it. His voice will blow you away. His lyrics will give you those full-body chills that you never forget. Genre-bending, emotional, and the kind of artist that surprises you and then sticks with you. If you love when a song hits you somewhere unexpected, put this on your Sunday list. | Wrangler Remix |
| 2:35 PM | ★ Nappy Roots A full-circle moment for Nashville. If you know Nappy Roots, you already know. If you don’t — that’s about to change and you are going to love it. It will be a very Good Day. | Dr. Pepper Amp Stage |
| 3:10 PM | ★ Molly Tuttle Grammy-winning bluegrass and Americana. An artist’s artist. One of those sets that changes how you hear music. | Chevy Riverfront |
| 3:25 PM | ★ Ashland Craft Pure country voice, no frills, writing hard truths beautifully. She’s in that Miranda Lambert lineage of women who know exactly who they are and don’t apologize for a second of it. P.S. — Ashland is coming on the That Nashville Girl podcast on July 7th, so you’re going to want to be familiar with her before that episode drops. | Chevy Vibes |
| 5:20 PM | ★ Chancey Williams Wyoming-raised, Nashville-shaped. Real energy every single set. Close out the daytime at Fan Alley with this one. Little secret – I’m SO excited to interview him during CMA Fest! | Wrangler Remix |
THE BIG NEWS: 7 Podcast Episodes. Live Audiences. All Summer Long.
Okay, here it is. The thing I am most excited to tell you.
Throughout CMA Fest week, That Nashville Girl is recording seven podcast episodes with live audiences. SEVEN. These aren’t dropping all at once — they’re rolling out all summer to keep those CMA Fest vibes going all summer long.
I can’t tell you everything yet. But I can tell you the conversations are going to be good, the guests are incredible, and if you are in the room when we record them, you are going to be a part of something special. If you aren’t there, don’t worry — the episodes will be worth the wait.
Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single one as they drop all summer.
Come Find Us
Follow along in real time all week at @thatnashvillegirl on Instagram. We’ll be posting our location, going live when we can, and documenting all of it in real time. If you spot us out there — say hi. Seriously. That’s one of the best things about CMA Fest week and we love meeting our people. See you in Nashville. 🎸
