Phantom – The Las Vegas Spectacular made history this weekend, when more than 1800 “Phantoms” gathered at The Phantom Theatre at The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino to celebrate the legendary show’s fourth anniversary on the Las Vegas Strip.

Following the performance, cast members, led by the show’s “Phantom,” filed into the audience handing commemorative versions of the iconic mask to the sold-out house setting the record for the world’s largest gathering of “Phantoms” ever assembled in a single location. As with any production orchestrated by “The Phantom,” it ended with the crash of the $5 million, 2,000-pound chandelier.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in Phantom Las Vegas and to the show’s many loyal fans and supporters. I can’t wait to see the video of this record-breaking moment!” says creator Andrew Lloyd Webber.

“Celebrating our fourth anniversary with a house full of Phantoms is a hell of an idea,” says legendary Director Hal Prince. “I wish I could be there to see it. It’s a real testament to the show’s fan base and a celebration of the success we’ve had at The Venetian.”

This lavish production of Phantom-The Las Vegas Spectacular thrills audiences six nights a week at The Venetian. This extraordinary, 95-minute version of Phantom is directed by 21-time Tony Award winner Hal Prince, the show’s original director, and guided by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber. From the moment you enter the magnificent custom-built theatre you are immersed in the storied Paris Opera House and become part of The Phantom’s world. Featuring every beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber song from the original, spectacular sets, new effects, and a breathtaking chandelier experience, Phantom is an only-in-Vegas experience.

Phantom at The Venetian is produced by The Really Useful Theatre Company Inc. and BASE Entertainment.

Xbox has opened a new era of entertainment for everyone, transforming the way the world plays, entertains and connects with friends and family. To kick-start the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Microsoft Corp. world premiered Kinect for Xbox 360, formerly known as “Project Natal,” in a spectacular live performance imagined by Cirque du Soleil. Unlike anything seen or experienced before, Kinect for Xbox 360 opens a new world of controller-free games and entertainment so everyone can have fun.

In addition to Kinect, Xbox showcased new and easy ways to enjoy music, movies and sports with friends and family. It also demonstrated that Xbox 360 remains the only place to play the biggest exclusive blockbusters with “Gears of War 3″ and what promises to be the biggest game of 2010, “Halo: Reach.” For its grand finale, the company surprised everyone with the launch of a new Xbox 360 console, designed for the future of games and entertainment. The new console ships to retailers tomorrow.

“At Microsoft, we believe fun is a universal magnet, uniting us and connecting us all together,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “We believe interactive entertainment is the greatest form of all entertainment, and it should be open and approachable to as many people as possible. It is this belief that led us to remove the last barrier between you and the entertainment you love. By making you the controller, we will transform how you and your friends experience games and entertainment.”

The Year We All “Kinect”

Kinect for Xbox 360 brings roaring rapids, wild tigers, mountainous obstacle courses and zooming racecars to living rooms in North America on Nov. 4 and will roll out to the rest of the world thereafter. Uniquely magical and instantly fun, Kinect for Xbox 360 tracks your body movements and gestures. It even understands your voice.

By taking technology out of your hands for the first time, Kinect lets people who have never picked up a game controller join the excitement. See a ball? Just kick it. Want to learn how to dance or get fit? Just follow the moves. With Kinect, all you have to do is be you — no controller required.

Kinect also puts your favorite movies, television shows and music at your fingertips, turning ordinary entertainment into an extraordinary experience.(1) Jump right into a movie in instant-on 1080p HD(2) by simply saying “Xbox, play.” Browse a selection of millions of songs with just a wave of your hand. Kinect instantly makes playing games, watching movies and listening to music more fun and interactive than ever before, and it is available only on Xbox 360.

The New Xbox 360

Microsoft also surprised the world with a new Xbox 360 console designed for the future. Back in black, the new Xbox 360 is sleek, silent and sexy. Connect in seconds to the always-expanding world of Xbox LIVE through built-in Wi-Fi N and store twice as many games and entertainment on a 250GB hard drive.

The newly designed console is whisper-quiet, so the silent tension of a game or movie is never broken. The new Xbox 360 system also comes with everything you need to get started, including an Xbox 360 wireless controller, Xbox 360 headset, HDMI input, USB flash drive storage capabilities and more, and a one-year limited warranty on the console, available this week and priced at $299.99 ERP.

Entertainment for Everyone

Xbox LIVE connects you and your Xbox 360 to a world of fun, friends and interactive social entertainment, with the best in games, movies, TV, music, sports and community experiences all in one place.

– The stadium experience at home. This November, Xbox LIVE Gold members will enjoy free, instant access to more than 3,500 ESPN live global events every year on ESPN3.com, including college basketball, college football and bowl games, MLB, NBA, international soccer, tennis including all four Grand Slam tournaments, golf majors and much more — exclusively on Xbox 360.(3) Members can also watch out-of-market games and access ESPN.com video clips on demand, refreshed daily.

With thousands of sporting events on ESPN3.com and the interactive social network of Xbox LIVE, ESPN on Xbox 360 brings the excitement of a stadium experience into the living room. Fans will be able to share the emotion, victory and heartbreak of world-class sports with friends and rivals from coast to coast on Xbox LIVE. They’ll also be able to see what games the Xbox LIVE community is watching, participate in polls, make predictions, play sports trivia and much more. With Kinect, fans control the action from their couches with just their voices or a wave of the hand. A first for home entertainment, ESPN on Xbox 360 brings the action to life like never before in an ultimate interactive experience for sports fans.

– Seven million songs at your fingertips. Building on the success of Zune video on Xbox, Microsoft announced the expansion of the Zune music experience to Xbox LIVE, bringing everything you love about music right into the living room. With a Zune Pass subscription (sold separately),(4) users can discover and play an unlimited number of songs from a catalog of more than 7 million tracks, all streamed instantly, on-demand and in crystal-clear quality.

Create a playlist for your next party, and watch as the music videos of your favorite artists play in the background. Get personalized song recommendations based on your favorite artists, and see your Xbox LIVE friends’ top songs. Plus, with the power of Kinect, you can control your music with hand gestures and your voice.

– Video Kinect. Share a smile and a wave with faraway friends and family as you come together from living rooms across the world, no headset required(5). Video Kinect pans to follow your movements and adjusts automatically to make chat on Xbox LIVE more intuitive and easier to use than ever before.

Next year, Microsoft will link Video Kinect with Windows Live Messenger, allowing the Xbox LIVE community to have rich, real-time video conversations with hundreds of millions of PC users around the world. It will also integrate custom news feeds, weather and videos from Bing, sparking conversation just like you’re in the same room reading the paper or watching the news together.

– Global expansion. This holiday, Xbox LIVE will roll out service to nine new regions — Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Russia and South Africa — delivering the core gaming and community features that have made Xbox LIVE the world’s premier online gaming destination. In addition, Australians will soon be able to watch live television and a range of video-on-demand programming on Xbox LIVE from satellite and cable TV provider FOXTEL with no set-top box required.

The Year of Blockbuster Games

Larger-than-life characters. Emotional storytelling. Groundbreaking gameplay. This year, the Xbox 360 is the only place to play the three biggest blockbusters — “Halo: Reach,” “Call of Duty” and “Gears of War 3.” In addition to these highly anticipated titles, games like “Fable III,” “Metal Gear Solid: Rising” and code-named “Kingdoms” are also on the way.

Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. This November, with the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 will forever transform social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as the largest on-demand library of music, standard- and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with the leading social network of 25 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.

Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy the largest on-demand library on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of 25 million people across 26 countries, expanding to 35 this fall, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.

High voltage superstar performances are a hallmark of “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” so it makes sense that one of the most electrifying entertainers in the format – Tim McGraw – would be tapped to host when the special airs Wednesday, Sept. 1 (8:00-11:00 PM/ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“The summer’s hottest concert special, just got hotter with the addition of Tim McGraw as host,” said Steve Moore, Chairman of the CMA Board of Directors. “He is a dynamic performer with an undeniable chemistry and relationship with the fans.”

Filming Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13, during the annual CMA Music Festival, the special features today’s most exciting Country Music stars during a four-day party and music celebration in Nashville.

Some of the artists already announced to appear at LP Field during CMA Music Festival include Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Kellie Pickler, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Zac Brown Band, and more.

Taylor Swift will host a free 13-hour fan meet and greet event during the Festival at the Bridgestone Arena, which includes a short acoustic performance.

This will be McGraw’s first appearance at the event since 2001, when he was a surprise guest during Kenny Chesney’s performance as part of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field and the event was still known as Fan Fair. His last announced appearance was in 2000, the last year Fan Fair was held at the Nashville Fairgrounds. He has participated in the event eight times since his Fan Fair debut in 1993. McGraw has won 11 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 2001; Male Vocalist in 1999 and 2000; Album of the Year in 1998 (A Place in the Sun) and 1999 (Everywhere); and Musical Event of the Year in 2007 on “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” with Tracy Lawrence and Chesney.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tim back to CMA Music Festival in 2010 and in his role as host of the biggest concert event of the summer,” said Moore.

The annual event is unlike any other: four days, 30 hours of autograph signings, 100 hours of live music, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and a party list of thousands of avid, singing and dancing-till-dawn fans. This is the sixth time ABC will broadcast this special – which invites the whole country to America’s biggest Country Music bash.

Originally started as Fan Fair® in 1972, the legendary event has featured performances by every major star in the format. What started with 5,000 fans has grown to a daily attendance of more than 56,000 representing every state and more than two dozen foreign countries.

The primetime television special, “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” debuted in 2004 as a two-hour special highlighting the Festival and Music City. In 2005, the special moved to the ABC Television Network.

In 2009, the special expanded to three hours boosting ABC ahead of CBS, NBC and FOX with the network’s second biggest audience during the summer season. With 7.4 million viewers and a 4.7/8 overall rating, it outperformed its broadcast rivals in total viewers topping CBS by 6 percent, NBC by 32 percent and FOX by 85 percent.

The special had a 43 percent increase in viewers compared to 2008, generating the biggest audience in four years and tallied its highest Adult 18-49 rating (2.0/6) in three years. The special ranked No. 12 for the week among total viewers and No. 11 for the week for Adults 18-49.

“CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” is executive-produced by Robert Deaton and directed by Gary Halvorson. The 2010 CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock” will be shot in high definition and broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1 channel surround sound.

The night belonged to first-time winners and fan-favorite Carrie Underwood,who took home two wins at this year’s CMT MUSIC AWARDS.  Underwood took top honors for VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“Cowboy Casanova”) and CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR (“Temporary Home” from INVITATION ONLY: CARRIE UNDERWOOD); while Keith Urbantook home the buckle in a first-time category win for MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“‘Til Summer Comes Around,” and Miranda Lambertscored her first CMT Music Award for FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“White Liar”).  

Also for the first time, the multi-platinum Lady Antebellum won GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“Need You Now”); Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins won COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“Hillbilly Bone”), and Luke Bryan claimed the USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“Do I”).  Legendary duo Brooks & Dunn re-emerged as a fan favorite capturing DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR (“Indian Summer”), which marks their first DUO win since 2002.  Director Shaun Silva won his first VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR for his entire body of work over the last year.  

The evening kicked off with an explosive performance by the show’s host, Kid Rock, who was joined by many of his famous friends, including Trace Adkins, Zac Brown, Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson, Martina McBride, Kellie Pickler, and none other than Hank Williams, Jr.  

The party rolled on as Miranda Lambert sang her first #1 hit, “White Liar”; crowd-favorite Tim McGraw performed his 23rd #1 single, “Southern Voice”; and was followed by Brad Paisley’s stellar performance of “American Saturday Night.”  Next, Jamey Johnson took the stage for a first-time performance of his powerful new song, entitled “Macon,” and was joined by special guests Little Big Town, Kate and Kacey Coppola, and guitarist Jeremy Popoff from the band Lit.  

LeAnn Rimes came out “Swingin’” in a fully choreographed dance number that included an appearance by the song’s original artist and songwriter, John Anderson; Toby Keith revved up the crowd with his 19th #1 hit, “American Ride”; and Zac Brown Band performed their current single, “Free.”  

Carrie Underwood performed her rapidly-rising Top 10 single, “Undo It”; guitars were blazin’ when Keith Urban was joined by his CMT Crossroads partner, John Mayer, for a first-time television performance of Urban’s song, “Hit the Ground Running”; and Lady Antebellum closed out the night with the television exclusive of the unreleased single, “Stars Tonight,” off of their current album.

Joining Kid Rock onstage were presenters “Dancing With the Stars” competitors Erin Andrews and Maks Chmerkovskiy, Laura Bell Bundy, Sheryl Crow, Paula Deen, Kara Dioguardi, Gloriana, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Terrell Owens, Hayden Panettiere, Richard Petty, Kellie Pickler, Jada Pinkett-Smith, LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton, “Jersey Shore’s” Snooki and The Situation, David Spade, Taylor Swift, Kenan Thompson, Carrie Underwood, Luke Wilson, Trisha Yearwood and Zac Brown Band.  

For the third year in a row, the CMT MUSIC AWARDS featured a second concert stage sponsored by Nationwide Insurance that included such up-and-coming artists as Laura Bell Bundy, Easton Corbin, Justin Moore, Steel Magnolia, Trailer Choir and Chris Young.  

CMT.com simulcast the live 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS online, and interacted with fans throughout the telecast with live Twitter updates from the red carpet and backstage.  CMT.com also served as an online hub for all fan interaction surrounding the show with live streams of the red carpet, backstage press room and more, in addition to streams from popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Flickr.  Exclusive content can be found on CMT.com and CMT Mobile, and CMT will later bow the awards on its digital all-music channel, CMT Pure Country, and the HD network, Palladia.

The evening’s winners are as follows:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.

• Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Casanova”

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR  

Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist

• Keith Urban – “‘Til Summer Comes Around”

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist

• Miranda Lambert – “White Liar”

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video by a group; awarded to the artists

• Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists

• Brooks & Dunn – “Indian Summer”

USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video from an artist’s major debut album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo)

• Luke Bryan – “Do I”

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)

• Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins – “Hillbilly Bone”

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on a broadcast or major cable network; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

• Carrie Underwood – “Temporary Home” from INVITATION ONLY: CARRIE UNDERWOOD

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Best video director of the year; awarded to the director for his or her body of work from the past year

• Shaun Silva

The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will encore Wednesday, June 9 at 11:30 p.m.; Thursday, June 10 at 12:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.; Friday, June 11 at 10:00 p.m.; Saturday, June 12 at 5:30 p.m., and Sunday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m.  The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS RED CARPET SPECIAL will re-air on Sunday, June 13 at 6:00 p.m.  All times listed are ET/PT.

The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is executive produced by Jesse Ignjatovic and directed by Hamish Hamilton.  John Hamlin and Margaret Comeaux serve as executive producers for CMT.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store and Wynonna Judd are pleased to celebrate the #7 debut of the exclusive CD Love Heals on the Billboard Magazine Top Country Albums chart. This CD is the latest release in Cracker Barrel’s exclusive music program.

The twelve-song CD, now available exclusively at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® and online at crackerbarrel.com, features a collection of Wynonna’s top singles and three other tracks that had not been available for sale until now. One of the new tracks, Let Your Light Shine, is a song that Wynonna and her teenaged daughter sang every day before school, and it speaks to the importance of being true to oneself.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each CD is being donated to Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that assists wounded service men and women and their families.

“I’m honored to be part of this Cracker Barrel project that supports the service men and women who have given so much so that Americans can have the lives that we do,” said Wynonna.

“Our congratulations and thanks to Wynonna on the success of this project,” said Peter Keiser, Cracker Barrel’s Vice President of Marketing. “Wynonna’s commitment to our service men and women is as clear as her talent, and Cracker Barrel is pleased that this CD, Love Heals, has done so well in its very first week. This strong performance is yet another example of Cracker Barrel’s growing role as a non-traditional music retailer,” he added, “and Cracker Barrel is glad to continue its multi-year support of Wounded Warrior Project.”

“Wounded Warrior Project is deeply grateful to Wynonna and Cracker Barrel for their ongoing support,” said Steve Nardizzi, Executive Director of Wounded Warrior Project. “The funds raised through this partnership will support our injured warriors who have given so much for our country and help us ensure this generation of veterans is the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation’s history.”

Billy Currington, Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw and Kellie Pickler are the latest additions to the artist lineup for 2010 CMA Music Festival, which will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13 in Nashville, Tenn.

Previously announced artists include Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band. All of the announced artists will perform during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

This will be McGraw’s first appearance at the event since 2001, when he was a surprise guest during Kenny Chesney’s performance as part of the Nightly Concerts at LP Field and the event was still known as Fan Fair. His last announced appearance was in 2000, the last year Fan Fair was held at the Nashville Fairgrounds. He has participated in the event eight times since his Fan Fair debut in 1993. McGraw has won 11 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 2001; Male Vocalist in 1999 and 2000; Album of the Year in 1998 (A Place in the Sun) and 1999 (Everywhere); and Musical Event of the Year in 2007 on “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” with Tracy Lawrence and Chesney.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tim back to CMA Music Festival in 2010,” said Steve Moore, CMA Board Chairman. “Our event established its tradition of hosting the superstars of our format at its inception in 1972 with artists such as Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette. Take a glance at this year’s performer list and you’ll see we’re living up to that tradition.”

Few superstars have been as supportive of the event as Jackson, who has made 15 appearances since his Festival debut in 1990. Jackson last performed during the Nightly Concerts at LP Field in 2008. He has received 16 CMA Awards, including three Entertainer of the Year trophies (1995, 2002, 2003); two Male Vocalist wins (2002, 2003); and two Album of the Year Awards (1994 for Common Thread: The Songs of the Eagles, and 2002 for Drive).

“We appreciate the tremendous support that Alan has always shown to CMA Music Festival and the fans,” said Moore.

Currington has participated in the event four times since his Festival debut in 2004 as part of the Daytime Concerts at Riverfront Park. He last performed on the Nightly Concerts at LP Field in 2007. Currington has received three CMA Award nominations, including two in 2009 for Single and Music Video of the Year, both for “People Are Crazy.”  

Pickler performed before an intimate audience at a nightclub as part of filming for the Festival television special during last year’s event, but her last appearance as part of  the Nightly Concerts was in 2008. She made her CMA Music Festival debut in 2007. Pickler has received two CMA Award nominations: both in the New Artist of the Year category (2007, when it was called the Horizon Award, and 2008 under its new name). She has also served as an active spokesperson for CMA’s Keep the Music Playing program and participated in a delivery of new musical instruments to a Nashville middle school and at the presentation of the 2009 CMA Music Festival contribution in December.  

Now in its 39th year, CMA Music Festival began as Fan Fair in 1972 as a unique celebration of the relationship between Country Music artists and their fans in the heart of Music City USA. More than 2,000 Country acts, from the legends and superstars to today’s rising hit makers and hopefuls, have lent their time and talent to the event over the decades.  

The artists participate for free, and in appreciation, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program. To date, $3.3 million has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies, providing thousands of Metro Nashville Public Schools students with the resources and opportunities they could not have afforded on their own, and giving many of them a strong reason to remain in school.    

Nashville’s signature music event features concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more. This unparalleled celebration of America’s music draws thousands of fans and media from all corners of the globe to Nashville. CMA Music Festival was dubbed the “crown jewel of Country Music festivals” by USA Today and winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s 2004, 2006, and 2008 LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year.  

CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, has been updated for 2010. In addition to up-to-the-minute information about tickets, schedules, and artist appearances, there are new features to enhance interactivity on the site including CMA’s first venture into the blogging world. Fans will be able to comment on blog posts such as event history, tips, and personal experiences, as well as Top 10 lists to help attendees better plan their Festival experience. Fans will be able to submit their own Festival stories and photos. Accepted submissions may be featured on the CMAfest.com site. Fans can also sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news while on the website. In addition, MySpace users may want to visit www.MySpace.com/cmamusicfestival, while Facebook users can check out http://www.facebook.com/CountryMusicAssociation.

Tickets are available now. Four-day ticket prices range from $110 to $185. To purchase tickets, call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.CMAfest.com to download an order form to fax or mail; visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (800) 745-3000. Prices do not include applicable handling fees. Ticket prices are subject to change without notice. All sales are final and non-refundable. Four-day ticket package categories correspond to a different level of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE.  For information on ADA seating, please call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378).

A limited number of four-day parking passes for LP Field are available. Call toll-free 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378) to order. The price is $28 for cars; $60 for vans/shuttles; and $120 for RVs/motor coaches. Prices do not include handling fee. Spaces are limited, and no overnight parking is allowed. All persons planning to park at LP Field must pre-purchase the parking pass. Free shuttles (for four-day registrants) will run daily between major Festival event locations.

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association. Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Fan Fair® is a registered trademark of CMA.

Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band along with the previously announced Carrie Underwood are the first artists of 2010 to join a legendary group of acts who have performed at CMA Music Festival, which began as Fan Fair in 1972.

More than 2,000 Country acts, including the superstars of the format, have lent their time and talent to the event over the decades. It is a legacy that began 39 years ago with legends including Chet Atkins, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, and Tammy Wynette thanking fans at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.

The Festival is an annual touchstone that connects the most ardent, passionate performers in the format with the superstars who came before them on behalf of the fans who support them.

CMA Music Festival is a unique celebration of the relationship between Country Music artists and their fans in the heart of Music City USA. The artists participate for free, and in appreciation, CMA donates half the net proceeds of the Festival to support music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools through the Keep the Music Playing program.

To date, $3,312,053 has been donated to purchase musical instruments and supplies, providing thousands of Metro Nashville Public Schools students with the resources and opportunities they could not have afforded on their own, and giving many of them a strong reason to remain in school.

2010 CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 10-13. Nashville’s signature music event features concerts, autograph signings, family activities, and more. This unparalleled celebration of America’s music draws thousands of fans and media from all corners of the globe to Nashville. CMA Music Festival was dubbed the “crown jewel of Country Music festivals” by USA Today and winner of the International Entertainment Buyers Association’s 2004, 2006, and 2008 LIVE! Award for Festival of the Year.  

2010 will live up to its lauded reputation with the first list of performers announced for the Nightly Concerts at LP Field:

• Jason Aldean, received his first CMA Award nomination in 2007 for the Horizon Award. A year later, the Award was renamed, the New Artist of the Year and Aldean was nominated in the coveted category once again.
• Lady Antebellum, the reigning CMA Vocal Group of the Year, who has received a total of three CMA Awards.  
• Martina McBride, who was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year four times (1999, 2002-2004) and is tied with McEntire for the most wins in that category. She has a total of five CMA Awards.
• Reba McEntire, a former CMA Entertainer of the Year and four-time Female Vocalist of the Year, who has won a total of six CMA Awards.
• Brad Paisley, the reigning CMA Male Vocalist of the Year (for three consecutive years, 2007-2009), who has received a total of 13 CMA Awards.
• Rascal Flatts, who has won a total of seven CMA Awards, including six consecutive Vocal Group of the Year Awards (2003-2008).
• Darius Rucker, the reigning CMA New Artist of the Year.
• Carrie Underwood, who was named CMA Female Vocalist of the Year for three consecutive years (2006-2008) and has received a total of five CMA Awards.
• Keith Urban, the reigning CMA Musical Event of the Year Award winner (along with Paisley for their duet “Start a Band”). A former Entertainer of the Year (2006), Urban has received a total of six CMA Awards.
• Zac Brown Band, who received their first three CMA nominations in 2009, with lead singer Zac Brown Band receiving an additional nomination as songwriter.

Underwood was previously announced as a performer for this year’s Festival on Feb. 5 after she surprised one her biggest fans, fifteen-year old Riley Ahlstrand, with a phone call.  Ahlstrand had written CMA asking if Underwood would be performing at the event this year, and the singer called to personally give her the good news.

“This is an amazing collection of superstar artists who perform a broad spectrum of Country Music styles,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chairman of the Board. “Our attendees are going to love the lineup.”

CMAfest.com, the official website of CMA Music Festival, has been updated for 2010. In addition to up-to-the-minute information about tickets, schedules, and artist appearances, there are new features to enhance interactivity on the site including CMA’s first venture into the blogging world. Fans will be able to comment on blog posts such as event history, tips, and personal staff stories, as well as Top 10 lists to help attendees better plan their Festival experience. Fans will be able to submit their own Festival stories and photos. Accepted submissions may be featured on the CMAfest.com site. Fans can also sign up for the CMA Exclusive e-news while on the website. In addition, MySpace users may want to visit www.MySpace.com/cmamusicfestival, while Facebook users can check out http://www.facebook.com/CountryMusicAssociation.