NASHVILLE – The initial lineup of performers for 2008 CMA Music Festival is a potent mix of Festival faithful, cross-genre first-timers and returning superstars.

“What’s amazing about this year’s lineup is that we have artists who are fan favorites, those who support the event year after year, coming to perform once again as well as an outstanding list of artists who are making their first appearance or retuning to our event after time away,” said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer.

The list of new and established Country headliners performing on the main stage during the nightly concerts at LP Field includes:

• Superstar Faith Hill, making her first Festival performance since 1998, when the event was known as Fan Fair.

• Sixteen time CMA Award winner and multi-Platinum selling Country star, Alan Jackson.

• Reigning CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Carrie Underwood, who has performed at the Festival every year since being crowned American Idol in 2005.  

• Actor and musical innovator Dwight Yoakam, who last performed at the Festival in 1988 alongside Buck Owens at the Nashville Fairgrounds.

• Reigning CMA Vocal Duo of the Year Sugarland.

• Reigning CMA Horizon Award winner Taylor Swift.

• Jewel, making her debut CMA Music Festival performance.

• Musical firebrand and four-time CMA Award nominee Miranda Lambert.

• New traditionalist and four-time CMA Award nominee Josh Turner.

• Festival favorite and CMA Horizon Award Nominee Rodney Atkins.

• American Idol alumni and CMA Horizon Award nominee Kellie Pickler.

• And, Lady Antebellum, making their first appearance in the Nightly Concerts at LP Field.

CMA Music Festival will be held Thursday through Sunday, June 5-8, in Downtown Nashville. In 2007, the CMA Music Festival featured more than 400 artists and celebrities, 100 hours of concerts, 35 hours of autograph signings for 191,000 fans from every state and 21 foreign countries. The 2008 CMA Music Festival promises to bring even more excitement, and best of all, the Festival will once again support music education in public schools.

CMA, in a partnership with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education, has donated more than $1 million to further music education programs for the 75,000 children in the Metro Nashville school system. The philanthropic program, aptly titled “Keep the Music Playing,” was founded in 2005 as a way for the CMA Music Festival and its participating artists to give back to the community.

“The generosity of our artist community is what makes it possible for us to support music education in our community,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Tammy Genovese.

Four-day ticket package categories correspond to different levels of seating at LP Field. Children 3 years and younger are admitted FREE. Four-day ticket packages include the Nightly Concerts at LP Field; Daily Concerts on the Greased Lightning® Daytime Stages; daily admittance to the Fan Fair (Exhibit Hall) featuring the Acoustic Corner; McDonald’s®-Dr Pepper® Family Zone; Fun Zone; Chevy Sports Zone; CMA Music Festival After Hours; free in-town shuttles; the CMA Music Festival Program Book; CMA Music Festival pin; and more.