Country stars Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde will co-host ABC’s annual “CMA Fest” special, which will be taped at this week's festival and air on June 25. This marks the first time either singer has hosted a prime-time special.
The 16-day turnaround between the end of CMA Fest and the ABC special is notably shorter compared to previous years when the special aired in August or September.
The earlier air date reflects confidence in country music's current popularity, warranting a quicker commemoration of the genre’s biggest annual live event.
CMA Fest runs from Thursday through Sunday in Nashville. While the lineup for the ABC special hasn’t been announced, it’s likely to feature top performers from the festival's nightly Nissan Stadium concerts.
Both hosts have their own performances scheduled, with McBryde playing Thursday night and Jelly Roll closing the main stage late Saturday.
Other likely candidates for the special include Lainey Wilson, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, Cody Johnson, Kelsea Ballerini, Parker McCollum, the War and Treaty, and the rising star Shaboozey.
Last year's special was co-hosted by Lainey Wilson, Dierks Bentley, and Elle King. Bentley and King also hosted in 2022 without Wilson. The festival was canceled in the two years prior due to COVID-19.
“CMA Fest,” now in its 21st year as a broadcast network special, will again be produced by longtime veterans executive producer Robert Deaton and director Alan Carter, who have helmed multiple CMA awards and festival programs in the past.
Comments