CMA Coverage: Global Artist Party

CleveRock’s Chad Carlson is live in Nashville covering the 42 annual CMA Music Festival! Stay tuned for daily updates this week and into the weekend!

The 2013 CMA Music Festival doesn’t officially start until Thursday, but there are numerous events this week leading up to the official beginning of the four-day extravaganza. Most notable was Monday’s CMA Global Artist Party, as well as fan club parties held by a handful of country music stars.

The CMA Global Artist Party kicked off the week’s events on Monday, a five hour special celebrating a special accomplishment. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Global Artist Party, which was held at The Stage On Broadway.

The event was hosted by David Bradley (UK), and featured an incredible lineup including Richard Smith (UK), Kaylee Bell (Toyota Star Maker Winner – New Zealand), Jill Johnson (Sweden), Rodrigo Haddad (Brazil), Small Town Pistols (Canada), Natalie Howard (Australia), Jason Blaine (Canada), Jody Direen (Horizon Award Winner – New Zealand), Baylou (CRA/NA2N Winner – Australia), Michelle Wright (Canada) and The Wolfe Brothers (Australia).

Also held yesterday was Darius Rucker’s fourth annual “Darius And Friends” benefit concert at the Wildhorse Saloon. Proceeds from the event went directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year’s event was sponsored by Transitions lenses and Visionworks, and featured performances by Luke Bryan, Sam Bush, John Coward, Radney Foster, Randy Houser, Dustin Lynch, and Justin Moore.

Rodney Atkins held his annual fan club party on Monday. As usual, the event was free for fan club members, who had the chance to receive tickets through a lottery drawing. Ticket winners received a meal, an acoustic concert, and a Meet & Greet with Mr. Atkins himself.

Lee Brice and Jerrod Niemann held a joint fan club party of their own on Monday at Rocketown. A $45 ticket included an acoustic show from Lee and Jerrod, as well as lunch, a souvenir, prizes and drawings, and Meet & Greet opportunities.

And that was just on Monday! Stay tuned, as we are tracking all the coverage live from Nashville all week long!