Fans flocked to Nissan Stadium on Saturday, June 8, eagerly anticipating performances from Jelly Roll, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, Old Dominion, The War And Treaty, and more during the third night of CMA Fest. Audacy’s Katie Neal of Katie & Company welcomed the crowd, introducing Canadian Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry member Terri Clark to kick off the show.
Clark, wearing her signature white cowboy hat, reminisced about her first CMA Fest in 1987, back when it was known as Fan Fair. “Seeing how much Fan Fair has grown over the years makes my heart burst,” she said, beaming. She set the tone for the evening with her throwback hits, “Better Things to Do,” “Girls Lie Too,” “I Just Wanna Be Mad,” and “I Wanna Do It All,” the latter blending into Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do.”
Making their CMA debut, The War And Treaty kept the energy high with “Yesterday’s Burn” and “Stealing a Kiss” before performing their new release, “Called You By Your Name.” The husband-wife duo showcased their soulful vocals, powerful stage presence, and infectious bond, even singing directly to the audience. “It’s our very first CMA Fest, and I can’t believe we are playing at Nissan Stadium,” marveled co-frontman Michael Trotter. “If you had told me back in 2005, while I was in Iraq, that this would happen… I would have called you a liar. No matter where we are from, love will always lead us back home.” They closed their set with “Lead Me Home.”
Shortly after, fans turned their attention to the Platform Stage where newcomer Tanner Adell, a contributor to Beyoncé’s recent Cowboy Carter album, performed “Buckle Bunny” and “Whiskey Blues.”
Back on the main stage, CMA’s 2023 Vocal Group of the Year, Old Dominion, declared their mission to make Saturday night the loudest night of CMA Fest. Lead vocalist Matthew Ramsey announced, “We’ve only got a short time, but we’re going to make the most of it.” They launched into their high-energy hit, “I Was On a Boat That Day,” which had the crowd on their feet. The group then played a series of hits, including “Snapback,” “Hotel Key,” and “One Man Band,” before closing with “Memory Lane.”
On the platform stage, singer-songwriter Dylan Marlowe, joined by two band members, performed his unreleased track “Heaven Sakes” and excitedly shared that his next song, “Boys Back Home,” was his “first ever song at country radio.”
Next, Lainey Wilson delivered a set worthy of the reigning ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year. She began with her hit “Hang Tight Honey” and then brought Clark back on stage for a memorable performance of “Poor Poor Pitiful Me,” with Wilson assisting on percussion and Clark strumming her guitar. Wilson shared her own CMA memories, reminiscing about her perfect attendance since she was 14, and encouraged the girls in the crowd to follow their dreams. She kept the energy high with hits like “Heart Like a Truck,” “Watermelon Moonshine,” and “Country’s Cool Again,” closing with her recent No. 1 hit “Wildflowers and Wild Horses.”
Between main stage sets, newcomer Brittney Spencer brought the groove with “I Got Time” from her debut album, My Stupid Life.
Country icon Keith Urban took the energy up a notch with “Straight Line” and “Messed Up As Me” before inviting Wilson back on stage for “Go Home W U.” Urban wowed the audience by bringing his mic stand down from the main stage and into the crowd, singing “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Better Life,” and “Long Hot Summer.” He even donned an audience member’s hat during the final verses of his closing song, further energizing the crowd.
Closing out the night was CMA’s 2023 New Artist of the Year, Jelly Roll. The Nashville native, teary-eyed, looked into the audience after singing “The Lost,” reflecting on his journey from juvenile detention to headlining CMA Fest. “Everyone make some noise for the juvenile detention center behind me. I know they can hear us because I was once one of them, in and out of jail, but tonight I am here headlining CMA Fest in my hometown,” he said, covering his face with his cap.
Jelly Roll turned his heavy emotions into excitement and energy, sharing memories of listening to country music with his mother and ’90s hip-hop with his brother. He performed a medley of classic hits, including “Boyz n the Hood,” “Lose Yourself,” “Ms. Jackson,” and “Just a Friend,” sprawling out on the floor in awe as the crowd sang back to him. He continued with his hits, such as his recent No. 1 “Halfway to Hell,” followed by “Son of a Sinner,” “I Am Not Okay,” “Wild Ones,” and “Need A Favor.” Wilson returned to the stage to close out the unforgettable night with “Save Me,” marking a triumphant end to night three.
