Kelsea Ballerini + Thomas Rhett Co-Hosting CMA Fest TV Special Again in 2019
Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett will once again co-host the CMA Fest TV special in 2019. The three-hour event will air in early August.
Ballerini and Rhett have co-hosted CMA Fest: The Music Event of Summer for three years now, since 2017. Rhett also co-hosted the special in 2016. In 2019, country radio DJ Bobby Bones will join the pair as a special guest host.
“This year’s CMA Fest offers something for every music fan,” says Sarah Trahern, chief executive officer of the Country Music Association. “From surprise collaborations to some of country music’s most exciting emerging and legendary talent, we’re excited to bring the festival to millions of fans around the world later this summer.”
CMA Fest 2019 is scheduled to begin on Thursday (June 6) in Nashville. The four-day event will run through Sunday (June 9) and feature hundreds of country artists, from across the globe, performing throughout Music City. A number of free daytime stages are scattered around downtown, while nightly concerts take place at both Ascend Amphitheater and Nissan Stadium.
CMA Fest also includes Fan Fair X -- Q&As, autograph signings and more -- and many artists use the week to throw fan club parties or host charity events. Artists who participate in CMA Fest donate their time, meaning a portion of ticket sales goes to the CMA Foundation, which aids music education initiatives throughout the U.S.
The CMA Fest: The Music Event of Summer TV special is airing for a 16th consecutive year in 2019. The broadcast, which will air on ABC on Aug. 4 at 8PM ET, will feature more than 30 performances from the festival's Nissan Stadium shows.
See Pictures From CMA Fest 2018