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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
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CMA Fest 2025 Sunday Night Nissan Stadium Shows: 5 Top Moments
The 2025 CMA Fest concluded Sunday night (June 8), and after four days of festing, tens of thousands of country music fans kept the energy going strong as they filled Nashville's Nissan Stadium for one final evening. More from Billboard Morgan Wallen's 'I'm the Problem' Spends Third Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Country Artists Rock Billboard Country Live: On the Rise as Burgeoning Acts Show Off Impressive Talent Eric Church Reflects on Being Dragged Into Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' Lawsuit: 'How Did This Even Happen?' Throughout much of this year's CMA Fest, which ran from June 5 to 8, rainclouds hovered over Nashville, casting uncertainty on scheduled musical performances and ultimately forcing delays at Nissan Stadium one evening. But Sunday night, clear skies and warm temps setting the stage for a solid CMA Fest finale, as fans danced and sang along to new songs and classic hits. As the evening revelry continued into the wee hours of Monday morning, the roster essentially served as a display of the depth and breadth of sounds emanating from one of music's most dominant genres. The Sunday night lineup was also one of the venue's strongest during the fest, with the main stage offering a top-shelf lineup of performances from Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Zach Top, Ashley McBryde, Rodney Atkins and Bailey Zimmerman. 'This is the greatest weekend of our lives,' Bentley told the crowd during his set. 'Call it the 'country music singers' Thanksgiving.'' On the Platform Stage, fans caught a mighty glimpse at the talents of just a few sterling newcomers, including Avery Anna's dynamic folk-pop storytelling, Kashus Culpepper's blues-drenched brand of country, and rising hitmaker Tucker Wetmore. Meanwhile, Dylan Scott further amped up attendees with a crowd-pleasing performance of 'Country Til I Die.' Here, we look at 5 top moments at Sunday evening's Nissan Stadium show. Rodney Atkins kicked off the evening with renditions of his hits like 'If You're Going Through Hell,' but he brought one of the evening's sweetest, most nostalgic moments when he brought his 24-year-old son Elijah onstage to sing with him. They performed a collaboration of 'Watching You,' a tender song about how a young boy pays attention to his father's choices — positive and negative — and hopes to one day be just like his old man. Atkins wrote and recorded the song when Elijah was just four years old, so to see them collaborate on the song two decades later marked a sentimental moment for many fans. Grammy winner Ashley McBryde has forged a reputation for solid song craft and rock star-style performances, mixed with her wit and warmth as an entertainer. Her CMA Fest set at Nissan Stadium showcased her versatile performance style, as she not only offered up her own hits (like 'One Night Standards') but also introduced the Roots of Music marching band. A highlight came when she performed a cover of Don Henley's 1984 hit 'Boys of Summer,' as McBryde's commanding voice made the rock hit her own. Last year, Zach Top played the platform stage at Nissan Stadium. This year, he's graduated to the main stage, thanks to his debut country album Cold Beer and Country Music — which gave country music an '80s/'90s-inspired elevation via breakthrough hits 'Sounds Like The Radio' and 'I Never Lie.' His throwback sound conjures imagery of sawdust floors, well-worn honkytonks and country summer nights, but also feels refreshingly modern, a sound that can bring a party atmosphere to the biggest of stages. Meanwhile, his laid-back performance style and ace musicianship combine for a performer who can draw in a crowd in any kind of venue. 'This feels like a fun, full-circle moment,' he said, then used that massive moment in the CMA Fest spotlight to introduce a new summer anthem, 'Good Times and Tan Lines,' which he released not long after his performance. The song is from Top's upcoming new album, Ain't In It For My Health, out Aug. 29. Bailey Zimmerman brought his thousand-watt energy to Nissan Stadium's main stage on Sunday night, and brought an extra shot of star power when he welcomed BigXthaPlug for a rendition of their top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit collab 'All The Way,' extending the genre's canon of wildly successful rap/country hybrids. Zimmerman followed with his first Hot 100 top 10 hit, the angst-fueled 'Rock and a Hard Place,' which got the audience lighting up phones across the arena and shouting the lyrics back to the stage, spurred on by Zimmerman's strong, nimble vocal performance. Bentley gave the night a shot of humor and humbleness during his CMA Fest performance, as he took time to praise 'the all-star fans' early in his set. He went on to offer up hits both new and classic, including 'Gone,' 'Free and Easy (Down The Road I Go)' and 'Drunk on a Plane,' but also highlighted 'She Hates Me,' from his upcoming album Broken Branches (out June 13). Of course CMA Fest's Nissan Stadium shows and collaborations make for a classic pairing, and Bentley offered up one of the evening's best when he welcomed his tourmate Top back to the stage for a cover of Alabama's 1982 hit 'Mountain Music,' with Top even lending some appealing lead guitar runs. In addition to being an established, reliable hitmaker in his own right, Bentley has been a strong proponent of championing a new generation of artists, and did so that night by saying of Top, 'Let me tell you something about this guy… this is the future of country music right here, Zach Top.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
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Country Artists Rock Billboard Country Live: On the Rise as Burgeoning Acts Show Off Impressive Talent
As rain poured down outside, within downtown Nashville's Category 10 multi-level bar it was warm and cozy — and ultimately packed to the rafters — on day two of Billboard Country Live. Billed as On the Rise, Friday's (June 6) lineup featured seven hot newcomers who, based on their infectious sets, all have promising futures. Day two followed Thursday's (June 5) Billboard Country Live Presented by Bud Light, which highlighted six acts, including Mitchell Tenpenny, Reyna Roberts, Alexandra Kay, Drew Baldridge, Max McNown and Ashley Cooke. More from Billboard 5 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Hudson Westbrook, Dylan Scott, Lauren Watkins & More Olivia Rodrigo Brings Out David Byrne for Scorching 'Burning Down the House' (And Does Some of His Dance Moves) at Gov Ball Mariah the Scientist's Governors Ball Set Canceled Last Minute 'Due to Unforeseen Circumstances' CMT host Carissa Culiner emceed both evenings, keeping things lively between sets, with assistance from DJ Grant Fisher. Annie Bosko Bosko, whose new Stone Country Records album arrives in October, was the perfect opener to kick off the afternoon with her warm, welcoming presence and denim shorts and vest. The California native opened with the spirited 'California Cowgirl,' explaining 'because I think no matter where you're from, you've got a cowgirl inside,' before launching into her inspirational current single, 'God Winks.' 'I've hit low points in my life when I wanted to give up and I got a sign from God to keep going,' Bosko said, as fans held up their lighted cell phones, waving their arms in the air. She closed her short set with '(Country Girls) Who Runs the World,' an empowering twangy successor to Beyoncé's 'Run the World (Girls)' that saw her accompanying herself on harmonica. Harper Grace Sporting a T-shirt that read, 'Country music makes you live longer,' the Curb Records artist opened with a sassy, thumping version of 'Mr. Mystery' and followed up with the fiddle-laden 'Take It Like a Truck,' which would fit right in on a Lainey Wilson album. Grace then went old school with a gorgeous version of the classic heartbreaker 'Tennessee Waltz,' first made famous by Patti Page in 1950, before closing out with 'IDK,' her current duet with Franklin Jonas, who, dressed in a dapper suit, joined her to the audience's delight. The two roamed the stage as they sang the searching ballad about trying to find a love that has previously eluded them. Graham Barham Barham, backed with a full band, kicked the energy up with his blend of country, rock and trap beats on songs like the intoxicating 'MIA' and the driving 'Camo.' The Sony artist showed off his sense of humor as he introduced 'Whiskey,' admonishing the audience to 'please remember everything you see on screen isn't necessarily true. With that being said, this is about me getting hammered.' He followed with a faithful version of Brooks & Dunn's 'Red Dirt Road,' before finishing strong with his boisterous hit, 'Oil Money,' as accomplices shot fake money into the audience. Cooper Alan Alan brought the party with him in a ridiculously high-energy, fun set, which started with the loping 'To the Bar,' adding he used to play in the location before it became Combs' Category 10. His cover of choice was a galloping version of Avicii/Aloe Blacc's 'Wake Me Up,' which he admitted he goofed up, but made up for it by inviting the audience to jump along with him in a unifying moment. He then launched into 'the stupidest thing we've ever done,' his TikTok viral novelty hit, 'Cold 45,' which was inspired by Afroman's 'Because I Got High.' Alan and the audience caught their collective breaths when he turned serious, slowing it down and strapping on a guitar to play the sweet ballad 'Take Forever (Hally's Song),' which he wrote about his wife, whom he married in September 2023. But he finished by raising the roof again with 'Plead the Fifth,' a hilarious ditty sung to the tune of 'Auld Lang Syne,' with rapid-fire lyrics, from which he segued, appropriately enough, into John Michael Montgomery's 'Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)' and Eminem's 'Without Me.' Alan wasn't on stage for a long time, but he was definitely there for a good time. Timmy McKeever There was cause for celebration for Big Loud artist Timmy McKeever, who had moved to Nashville exactly a year ago and showed why he'd already made great strides in that time. In a striking acoustic set with just him and his guitar, the 18-year-old deliberately slowed down the pace and showed off his sweet voice and fine writing skills with such tunes as the earnest, romantic 'I've Known Better,' his first song to go viral on TikTok ('for the first two lines,' he joked) and the vulnerable 'Bulletproof' (an original, not a cover of the recent Nate Smith hit). He then delivered a tasty cover of Megan Moroney's 'Tennessee Orange' — dubbed 'Tennessee Orange (Breakup Version)' — that had not only a gender flip, but a twist, where he's a Georgia boy in love with a girl who is now wearing Tennessee orange for her new beau, before going into a softer, less aggressive version of Toby Keith's 'Courtesy of the Red, White & Blue.' He finished with three originals that showed off his promise as a budding talent, the yearning, infectious 'Cravin' You,' the upcoming single 'Hold You to It,' and 'Lightning Speed,' a song about losing yourself to the music industry. Jake Worthington Armed with just an acoustic guitar, the 2014 The Voice contestant and Big Loud artist conjured up the ghosts of country legends like George Jones and Waylon Jennings with his twangy, authentic traditionalism and big voice. Even breaking a guitar string early on (which he eventually was able to replace) didn't slow down Worthington on songs like the irrepressible, upbeat 'I'm the One' (the recorded version of which features Marty Stuart) and the aching 'Hello S—ty Day,' which would have felt just right performed by Jones. His 30-minute set was filled with such chestnuts, including the up-tempo, yet downtrodden 'It Ain't the Whiskey' and 'Not Like I Used To,' before the Texan played 'Ain't Got You a Hold,' a western swing twirler that would have done George Strait proud. His cover of Merle Haggard's 'Half a Man' fit perfectly in his wheelhouse and was delivered with just the right amount of pathos. Tayler Holder From the time he stepped on stage, Holder had the audience eating out of his hand. With more than five million Instagram followers, it felt like all the influencer-turned-country- singer's fans were crammed into Category 10. Holder prowled the stage as he launched in the hypnotic 'Neon,' immediately hand-slapping with the front row with a bad-boy appeal that connected with the audience. His set showed off his ease tackling various tempos and styles, including 'Time in This Truck,' which conjured up a windows-down, wind-in-your-hair feel, as well as the slowed down breakup song 'Someone You Knew,' followed by another breakup song he wrote about a four-year relationship that went south, 'California Tennessee.' (Happy ending: There's a new girlfriend in the picture.) Holder, who moved to Nashville three years ago, and his band did a blazing mini-set of covers that opened and closed with a few bars of 'Sweet Home Alabama' and a raucous 'Freebird,' with a sweet version of One Direction's 'What Makes You Beautiful,' Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' and Teddy Swims' 'Lose Control' (delivered by Holder's gruff-voiced guitarist) in between. Holder than ended his set — and day two of Billboard Country Live — with a new song that has already garnered more than a million stream in a few days, the mid-tempo, propulsive 'Ain't You Leaving,' and 'Dyin' Flame,' which has more than 12 million streams. Holder penned the song with Barham. 'We sent it to Morgan [Wallen] and [he] politely sent it right back to me,' Holder said. 'I'm glad he did.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
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Olivia Rodrigo Brings Out David Byrne for Scorching ‘Burning Down the House' (And Does Some of His Dance Moves) at Gov Ball
'We're in for nasty weather,' prophesied David Byrne 42 years ago on his band Talking Heads' biggest Billboard Hot 100 hit. He probably wasn't making specific predictions about 2025's Governors Ball festival in New York, but that's certainly what was in store for attendees Saturday (June 7), as heavy rain and possible thunder and lightning forced the fest to delay its Day Two start time by four hours. As a result, headliner Olivia Rodrigo didn't take the stage at Gov Ball until 9:35 p.m. ET — but the packed audience showed that few if any fans had been deterred by the bad weather and late start time. And along with her usual captivating set of heart-rending acoustic ballads and stomach-punching alt-rock riffers, Rodrigo had a surprise in store for those who'd stuck around with a Byrne guest appearance, as he came out to duet with the singer-songwriter on the Heads' 1983 smash 'Burning Down the House.' More from Billboard Mariah the Scientist's Governors Ball Set Canceled Last Minute 'Due to Unforeseen Circumstances' Country Artists Rock Billboard Country Live: On the Rise as Burgeoning Acts Show Off Impressive Talent Governors Ball 2025 Delays Headliners, Cancels Early Sets Due to Weather on Day 2 After being introduced by a starstruck Rodrigo, Byrne — who could be seen earlier in the night checking out Feid's performance at the Kiehl's stage — emerged in an all-white outfit, covered by red overalls to match Rodrigo's own two-piece getup. The two traded off lines throughout the always-incendiary new wave classic, and then Rodrigo joined Byrne in some of his signature on-stage moves — bending her knees, running in place, and generally looking his traditional combination of charmingly stilted and impossibly cool. Watch Billboard video of the performance and the original song's music video below, and check back for more Billboard coverage of Governors Ball all weekend. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
