Country music fans flocked to Nissan Stadium on Friday (June 7) for the second night of CMA Fest. The evening kicked off with Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson from Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly podcast, who introduced the fierce Gretchen Wilson as the first performer. Clad in a black tank top, ripped jeans, and tall black boots, Wilson energized the crowd with “Here For The Party.” She paused to greet everyone, expressing her joy at returning to the annual event after many years. Thanking her loyal fans, she picked up her guitar for a new song, “Little Miss Runner-Up,” a sequel to her 2004 hit “Homewrecker.” She then dedicated “Work Hard, Play Harder” to all the hardworking people in the audience, before launching into “Redneck Woman,” which had fans singing along as she closed her set.
As the sun set, Jelly Roll took the stage to introduce Parker McCollum. Bathed in red light, McCollum began with “To Be Loved By You,” sporting a black baseball cap, blue jeans, and a black t-shirt that read “made by music.” He followed with “Pretty Heart” and “Young Man’s Blues,” then declared “God bless country music” before performing “Handle On You” and the unreleased “Big Old Fancy House.” McCollum, honored to be on stage with such talent, thanked his label and the audience. He grasped his gold mic for “Burn It Down,” descending the stage stairs to interact with fans.
Next up on the platform stage was Puddin, also known as K. Michelle, who performed two tracks from her upcoming country collection. Jelly Roll then reappeared to welcome Jon Pardi, who opened with his No. 1 hit “Your Heart Or Mine.” Pardi kept the crowd moving with “Heartache On The Dance Floor” and “Last Night Lonely.” The highlight of his set was a surprise appearance by country icon Clint Black, with whom he performed “Killin’ Time.” Pardi, dressed in black with a tan cowboy hat, announced it was time for the “Night Shift” before delighting fans with “Dirt On My Boots” and “Head Over Boots,” mingling with fans as he sang.
Dasha then took the platform stage, keeping the crowd dancing with “Didn’t I” and “Austin.” Kelsea Ballerini followed, captivating the audience with her powerful vocals. Emerging amidst white light beams and blue and purple hues, she began with “Mountain With A View” from her Grammy-nominated project Rolling Up The Welcome Mat. Ballerini reminisced about attending CMA Fest as a child and toasted the crowd with “Hole in The Bottle.” She continued with “Love Me Like You Mean It,” “Dibs,” and “Yeah Boy,” before sharing her gratitude for being back on stage after two years. Slowing things down, she performed “Penthouse,” “Blindsided,” and finished with “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too).”
The audience was then treated to a surprise performance by Little Big Town on a small stage among the floor seats, singing “Girl Crush.” Cody Johnson soon took the main stage, starting with “That’s Texas” and showcasing his Texas-themed chest tattoo. He covered Charlie Daniels’ “Long Haired Country Boy” and welcomed Jelly Roll for a duet of “Whiskey Bent.” Johnson thanked country radio and acknowledged fans from around the world before closing with “Till You Can’t,” engaging the crowd by throwing t-shirts and high-fiving fans.
Luke Bryan, fresh off his apparence at his Jockey Outdoors pop up. Closed out the night. He kept the energy high with “That’s My Kind Of Night.” He displayed his guitar skills during “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” and “Huntin’, Fishin’ And Lovin’ Every Day.” Bryan shared a shot with his band before transitioning to “Love You, Miss You, Mean It” and his first No. 1 hit “Do I.” The audience joined him for “Play It Again” and “One Margarita,” before he concluded the night with “Country Girl (Shake It For Me)” and “I Don’t Want This Night To End.”
