June 8 - 11, 2023
CMA Fest at the Museum
This CMA Fest weekend, stop by the Museum for an all-new exhibit commemorating CMA Fest’s fiftieth year, In the Hands of the Fans: Fifty Years of CMA Fest. Additionally, the Museum will have a full roster of programming throughout CMA Fest weekend.
Friday, June 9, join CMT executive Leslie Fram as she hosts a conversation and performance featuring Kimberly Kelly, Catie Offerman, MaRynn Taylor, Kasey Tyndall, and Julie Williams, artists named in CMT’s Next Women of Country 2023.
Saturday, June 10, see Laura Veltz, nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the 65th annual Grammy Awards, take the stage for a Songwriter Session in the Museum’s Ford Theater. Then, stay for a special film screening of Fan Fair Phenomenon (1997). The documentary, made for the cable TV channel TNN (The Nashville Network) and hosted by LeAnn Rimes, takes viewers behind the scenes of the festival now known as CMA Fest.
In the Hands of the Fans: Fifty Years of CMA Fest Exhibit Opens June 6
To commemorate CMA Fest’s fiftieth year, the Museum exhibition In the Hands of the Fans: Fifty Years of CMA Fest opens Tuesday, June 6. Nashville’s annual CMA Fest—four days of live music, autograph signings, photo opportunities, and fan club parties—has been uniting country music fans and artists since 1972 when it was called Fan Fair. The exhibit, housed in the Museum’s Community Corridor, is free of charge.
Conversation and Performance: CMT’s Next Women of Country
Friday, June 9, 2023 | 12:30 – 1:45 PM | Ford Theater
Featuring Kimberly Kelly, Catie Offerman, MaRynn Taylor, Kasey Tyndall, and Julie Williams
CMT executive Leslie Fram hosts this showcase and discussion featuring artists involved in the media brand’s Next Women of Country franchise, which launched in 2013 and highlights up-and-coming country artists.
Songwriter Session: Laura Veltz
Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 12:00 – 12:45 PM | CMA Theater
Laura Veltz wrote the Grammy-nominated songs “Better Than We Found It” (Maren Morris), “Speechless” (Dan + Shay), and “The Bones” (Morris). She also wrote “Drunk Last Night” (Eli Young Band), “I Could Use a Love Song” (Morris), “Lonely Eyes” (Chris Young), “What If I Never Get Over You” (Lady A), and songs recorded by Ingrid Andress, Dierks Bentley, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Kelly Clarkson, Ryan Hurd, Little Big Town, Demi Lovato, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Jake Owen, Carly Pearce, and Thomas Rhett.
Film Screening: Fan Fair Phenomenon (1997)
Saturday, June 10, 2023 | 2:30 – 3:30 PM | Ford Theater
Fan Fair, now known as CMA Fest, was first held in April 1972 at Nashville Municipal Auditorium. The festival became known for providing a unique opportunity for country music fans to interact with artists. Over the years, the festival grew and, in 1982, relocated to the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. CMA Fest is now held in downtown Nashville. This documentary, made for the cable TV channel TNN (The Nashville Network) and hosted by LeAnn Rimes, takes viewers behind the scenes of the festival.
Musician Spotlight: Ilya Toshinskiy
Sunday, June 11, 2023 | 1:00 – 1:45 PM | Ford Theater
Ilya Toshinskiy is a multi-instrumentalist known for playing banjo and guitar. He has contributed to more than two hundred albums, including recordings by Lauren Alaina, Kelsea Ballerini, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Carrie Underwood. As a member of the bluegrass group Bering Strait, Toshinskiy received a 2002 Grammy nomination for Best Country Instrumental Performance. He is a four-time Academy of Country Music Specialty Instrument Player of the Year award winner, has been named top guitarist at the MusicRow Awards five times, and has received multiple nominations for the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year award.
