Travis, Evans, Cyrus and Yoakam Bring CMA Music Fest to a Close

The annual love fest between country artists and their fans wound to a close Sunday night, as this year's CMA Music Festival concluded with a star-studded show. Randy Travis, James Otto, Bucky Covington, Sara Evans, Billy Ray Cyrus, Phil Stacey, Chuck Wicks and Dwight Yoakam were among the performers at Nashville's LP Field.

The evening's highlights were many. Randy Travis held the crowd in the palm of his hand, serving up songs from his new album, as well as old favorites like 'DIggin' Up Bones,' 'Deeper Than the Holler,' 'Three Wooden Crosses' and 'Forever and Ever Amen.'

Wicks got the evening off to a great start with his current single 'All I Ever Wanted,' before introducing his breakthrough hit, 'Stealing Cinderella.' "I wrote this song two years ago and it has changed my life," said Wicks, as he thanked fans for calling radio stations to request it. He then pointed to the top of the stadium and told the crowd that last year, he was seated way up there. "Thanks for bringing me down here!" he said, before launching into his third number, 'She's Gonna Hurt Somebody.'

Sara Evans looked stunning in an off-the-shoulder black and white print top and skinny black pants as she wowed the crowd with 'Suds in the Bucket,' 'Born to Fly' and 'A Real Fine Place to Start.' She called fiance Jay Barker on stage, introducing him to the crowd and holding his hand as she sang the first verse of her new single, 'Love You With All My Heart.' She concluded her set with a cover of Cheap Trick's 'I Want You to Want Me.'

Evans wasn't the only artist of the evening to give the crowd a taste of rock 'n roll. 'American Idol' alum Bucky Covington concluded his set with Pink Floyd's 'The Wall,' and Billy Ray Cyrus delivered a fiery version of Sheryl Crow's 'Real Gone.' Cyrus' set also featured such crowd pleasing fare as 'Could've Been Me,' 'I Want My Mullet Back,' and of course, 'Achy Breaky Heart.' Though there were rumors that daughter Miley would be joining him as a surprise guest, she didn't appear, but his lovely daughter Brandy joined her proud papa on stage for 'Get Ready, Get Set, Don't Go.'

Between Cyrus and Yoakam, another 'Idol' alum, Phil Stacey, performed an acoustic set that included 'Old Glory,' a powerful tribute to the American flag. The former Navy man received enthusiastic response from the patriotic crowd.

Yoakam closed the evening with his first CMA Music Fest performance in 20 years, and the crowd showed how happy they were to have him back. He opened his set with 'Under Your Spell Again' and 'Act Naturally' from 'Dwight Sings Buck,' his wonderful tribute to the late Buck Owens.

"It's great to be back. It's been a long, long time," said Yoakam. "Thank you for sticking around so late, and anybody who has bought my records in the last 22 years, thank you for doing so."

Yoakam continued to thrill the crowd with such hits as 'Honky Tonk Man,' 'Little Sister,' 'Fast As You' and 'A Thousand Miles from Nowhere.' He even served up a cool rendition of 'Nashville Cats' and saluted Johnny Cash with 'Ring of Fire.' He closed out the night with another nod to his friend and mentor Buck Owens by singing 'Close Up the Honky Tonks' . . . as another CMA Music Fest headed for the history books.