Martina McBride Gives Fans a Big ‘Thank You’

Martina McBride loves performing to sold-out crowds all over the country, but there's one show she looks forward to the most. The powerhouse vocalist calls her CMA Music Festival gig the most important annual event on her schedule.

"We look forward to this week all year," Martina tells Nashville's Tennessean newspaper. "It's so exciting and we try to cram as much in as we can. I know everybody says it, but it really is a good opportunity to say thank you. These people plan their whole year around this week and they take time off work. This is their vacation.

"I feel like every time I go on stage, it's giving everything I have," Martina continues. "The fact that so many fans are in one place at one time from all over the world and they wait for hours for just a moment with their favorite artist ... All of country music is on display."

Currently on the road with Trace Adkins on their Shine All Night tour, Martina will take off for a little "girl time" this summer to perform on Lilith Fair, the historic festival of female artists at which she first appeared in 1998. "I was a part of Lilith Fair for two years. It was such an inspirational experience for me. Once you got there and got off the bus, you were welcomed with open arms. Everybody watched each other's sets and no one hid on their buses. I remember thinking, 'If I ever headline a tour, that's what I want it to be.'"

Martina is getting ready to head back into the studio to work on the follow-up to her chart-topping album, 'Shine.' Her current single, 'Wrong Baby Wrong,' is sitting at No. 11 on the charts.



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