CMA Fest 2026 Recap: Favorite Moments, ABC Special & Planning for 2027

CMA Fest 2026 Recap: Favorite Moments, ABC Special & Planning for 2027

CMA Fest 2026 may be over, but the excitement hasn't worn off! We're still riding the CMA Fest high, and trust us, you'll be able to tell from the moment you hit play! In this episode of the Country Music Rocks Podcast, we're sharing our complete CMA Fest 2026 recap, from our favorite performances and fan moments to the incredible atmosphere that makes CMA Fest one of the best country music festivals in the world. We discuss what stood out most during our time in Nashville, why the CMA continues to outdo itself year after year, and how the festival creates an unmatched experience for country music fans. We also dive into the CMA Fest television special on ABC, sharing our thoughts on the performances, memorable moments, and how it brought us right back to the excitement of Music City. Whether you attended CMA Fest or watched from home, this episode is your chance to relive the memories with us. The special is available to stream on HULU now. And if CMA Fest is on your bucket list, now is the time to start planning. CMA Fest 2027 returns to Nashville June 10 - 13. Start making your plans now, because this is an experience every country music fan should have at least once. Get your hotels and airfare booked as soon as you can, and then start counting down to the days to CMA Fest 2027. Tune in to this new podcast episode as we celebrate the music, the memories, and the community that make CMA Fest unlike anything else. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529269/fan_mail/new]  Be sure follow along as we'll have a new episode each week! Follow the Country Music Rocks Podcast [https://countrymusicrockspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529269/follow] on all streaming platforms:  Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-music-rocks/id1838615116],  Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2KEvbghfvbgbh902fhRnR9], iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-country-music-rocks-293364923/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSV8h9d8q2mMOre8UujvRZhOBN0yyAtD] and more. Also follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/countrymusicrocks.net] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicrocks/], as well as our main Website [https://countrymusicrocks.net/]so you can stay up to date with all the country music news!

61st ACM Awards Preview: Our Top Picks & Predictions

A huge weekend is on deck with the 61st ACM Awards coming up on Sunday, May 17, and we’re diving into all of it on this week’s episode of the Country Music Rocks Podcast! We’re breaking down our top picks, who we think and who we hope will walk away with those coveted ACM trophies. The lineup, the surprises, the performances, we’re ready for all of it.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529269/fan_mail/new]  Be sure follow along as we'll have a new episode each week! Follow the Country Music Rocks Podcast [https://countrymusicrockspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529269/follow] on all streaming platforms:  Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-music-rocks/id1838615116],  Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2KEvbghfvbgbh902fhRnR9], iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-country-music-rocks-293364923/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSV8h9d8q2mMOre8UujvRZhOBN0yyAtD] and more. Also follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/countrymusicrocks.net] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicrocks/], as well as our main Website [https://countrymusicrocks.net/]so you can stay up to date with all the country music news!

Stagecoach Recap, Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan Stadium Show, and Russell Dickerson’s “Happen To Me” #1 Celebration

This week's episode on the Country Music Podcast recaps our FOMO from this past weekend as some epic events took place that we were not at. We did, however, live vicariously through social media to keep up with all the excitement. From Stagecoach highlights lighting up social feeds to the Jason Aldean / Luke Bryan co-headlining show at Sanford Stadium in Georgia, we were right there scrolling along with everyone else. Julia also recaps her recent trip to Nashville to celebrate Russell Dickerson’s #1 hit, “Happen To Me.” It was a reminder of just how much goes on behind the scenes of a chart-topper. Seeing it up close, she got a firsthand look at the team effort, long hours, and nonstop work it takes to get a song to the top. Russell has a strong crew behind him and made a point to recognize their hard work during his speech at the celebration. It was genuine and heartfelt, making the moment even more special. Got a topic or suggestion for us? We’d love to hear it! Email us anytime at cmr@countrymusicrocks.net. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529269/fan_mail/new]  Be sure follow along as we'll have a new episode each week! Follow the Country Music Rocks Podcast [https://countrymusicrockspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529269/follow] on all streaming platforms:  Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-music-rocks/id1838615116],  Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2KEvbghfvbgbh902fhRnR9], iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-country-music-rocks-293364923/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSV8h9d8q2mMOre8UujvRZhOBN0yyAtD] and more. Also follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/countrymusicrocks.net] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicrocks/], as well as our main Website [https://countrymusicrocks.net/]so you can stay up to date with all the country music news!

61st ACM Awards Breakdown: Biggest Snubs, Surprises & More

The nominations are in for the 61st ACM Awards, and we’re breaking it all down on this week’s episode of the Country Music Rocks Podcast. There’s a lot to unpack on this one, so we’re diving into all the categories, spotlighting the nominees, and sharing who we think got snubbed this year. Trust us, we’ve got thoughts.  Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529269/fan_mail/new]  Be sure follow along as we'll have a new episode each week! Follow the Country Music Rocks Podcast [https://countrymusicrockspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529269/follow] on all streaming platforms:  Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-music-rocks/id1838615116],  Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2KEvbghfvbgbh902fhRnR9], iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-country-music-rocks-293364923/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSV8h9d8q2mMOre8UujvRZhOBN0yyAtD] and more. Also follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/countrymusicrocks.net] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicrocks/], as well as our main Website [https://countrymusicrocks.net/]so you can stay up to date with all the country music news!

Country Music & Golf: Masters Talk & Country Golfers + Raising Cane’s 1,000th Opening

Sun’s out, clubs out on this week’s Country Music Rocks Podcast! We’re teeing up a fun crossover between country music and golf just in time for the Masters Tournament. The timing couldn’t be better with the release of Thomas Rhett’s take on “Georgia On My Mind.” [https://countrymusicrocks.net/2026/03/thomas-rhett-releases-georgia-on-my-mind-cover-for-espns-2026-masters-campaign.html/]  The classic song is already setting the tone for the tradition of the prestigious tournament and all the excitement that lies ahead. In this episode, we’re diving into country artists that can really hold their own on the course, who we’d pick for our dream golf partner, and Danny shares a great story about the time he hit the links with Vince Gill. We’re also sharing details from Julia’s recent trip to LA with Raising Cane’s to celebrate the opening of their 1,000th restaurant [https://countrymusicrocks.net/2026/03/raising-canes-1000th-restaurant-coming-soon-to-hollywood-blvd.html/]. It’s quite the story hearing about Raising Cane’s Owner Todd Graves’ journey on starting the popular restaurant chain and building an incredible brand. Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2529269/fan_mail/new]  Be sure follow along as we'll have a new episode each week! Follow the Country Music Rocks Podcast [https://countrymusicrockspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2529269/follow] on all streaming platforms:  Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/country-music-rocks/id1838615116],  Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2KEvbghfvbgbh902fhRnR9], iHeart Radio [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-country-music-rocks-293364923/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLSV8h9d8q2mMOre8UujvRZhOBN0yyAtD] and more. Also follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/countrymusicrocks.net] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/countrymusicrocks/], as well as our main Website [https://countrymusicrocks.net/]so you can stay up to date with all the country music news!