Last Thoughts Upon Leaving Nashville and the CMA Fest

Had a great time with great people listening to great music and eating WAY TOO MUCH great food. Only thing we didn't overdo was drinking...thank heavens...I think it was too hot (although much of Nashville concertgoers appeared to differ on that opinion).

I forgot to talk about the City of Hope Charity Softball Game held the day before the festival...also known as Sweatin' in the Sun with the Stars....whoooheee it was hot! Here are a few photos from the event from Greer Stadium. Photos include Jo Dee Messina pitching (her team won despite the large number of opposing batters she walked), Sara Evans (who can really play softball, has a good arm, and does NOT run like a girl), and Joe Nichols (who looked good just standing there...but also could play).

Saturday Night's Concert

A great evening...an evening of men with low voices and one great band of magical harmonies! Jason Michael Carroll, Craig Morgan, Little Big Town, Jamey Johnson, Rodney Atkins, Darryl Worley, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, and Kenny Rogers. Trace had his "Game On"! Craig Morgan was a great crowd pleaser...I had never seen him perform before...he really loves the crowd and they love him...who knew you could rock to a song about an International Harvester!! The only disappointment of the evening for us was Kenny Rogers...the final act of the evening. Time has unfortunately taken a toll on him and working a big arena of 25,000 people is past him. Maybe smaller club venues where he can work that old kenny rogers charm. But he seemed frail and tenative and well...just not up to snuff as the rest of the acts...sorry to say...because he's been a great performer, but not anymore.

Friday Night Concert - Keith is the Man!

The CMA Festival nighttime concert at LP Field was as sizzlin' as the day had been. We laid low on Friday afternoon enjoying the air conditioning comfort of the Hermitage Hotel (what a civilizing invention...air conditioning). Come evening we again walked over the Cumberland River to LP Field and enjoyed one heck of an evening!!! Ashton Shepherd, Jack Ingram, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Josh Turner, Jake Owen, and Faith Hill. AND the surprise of the night...the wonder from down under...Keith Urban played us past midnight!!!

CMA Country Music Festival - Day One

What a great day! Peg, Colleen, Mo and I attended Trisha Yearwood's Fan Club Party. We met in a small bar just outside of downtown Nashville and Trisha sang, answered questions, and then took pictures with everyone. A gracious and talented woman with a fabulous, rich voice. Later in the day we went to the Old Ryman Theatre to watch a taping of Celebrity Closeups...interviews with Sara Evans, Joe Nichols, Bucky Covington, and (to be filled in when my memory returns). Great fun. Then last evening (a HOT evening) we enjoyed a great first night concert at the LP field. Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Montgomery Gentry, Kellie Pickler, Jewel, Luke Bryan, Jennifer Hanson, and Rascal Flatts. FABULOUS!

Trisha Yearwood at her Fan Club Party


Peg, Trisha Yearwood, Annette (with TJDuck)


Nashville's LP Field - home for 4 nights of the best Country music concerts

Nashville, Tennessee

The old and new of downtown Nashville


Jerry and I have joined good friends (Peg and Jeff cotter, Mo Cotter, and Colleen Noonan) in Nashville to do a little boot scootin' during the 4 day CMA Country Music Festival. We're staying at the gorgeous Hermitage hotel in downtown, which has great beds and really great air conditioning...both really important to Jerry since he is still battling a killer cold/bronchitis. It's an old historic hotel on 6th Ave and Union.

Last night we went to Marty Stuart's SEventh Annual Late Night Jam benefiting Nashville's MusicCares!. It was at least 3 1/2 hours long (that's when we left since it was 1:30...but it was still going). Marty Stuart and his fabulous superlatives were just that Superlative! We saw Charlie Daniels, John Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Mel Tillis (a surprise guest), new talent, bluegrass talent, old songwriters, and the guy who was the drummer for Johnny Cash for almost 40 years (I'll look up his name and post it later). It was in the Rynam Auditorium the former home of the grand ole opry...the church of country music. A great, great, evening...

Grethcen Wilson and Marty Stuart.


Today we're off to Tricia Yearwood's fan club party, a taping of GAC's Celebrity Spotlight, and this evening, the first of the BIG concerts at LP field. Yahooo! Where is my cowboy hat???