WELCOME TO
Dear Friends,
On behalf of the great State of Tennessee, the 47th annual I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to the fans, cma awards participants and guests of The 47th Annual CMA Awards. We are honored that the CMA Awards has again chosen to host “Country Music’s Biggest Night” in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Ryman Auditorium, and Grand Ole Opry. For more than fifty years Tennessee has been the proud home of the songwriters, publishing companies, music producers, session musicians, recording engineers, recording artists, and countless other contributors of the Country Music Industry. Crissy and I offer our thanks and best wishes to all of these artists and industry professionals as well as all those being honored by these awards tonight. We encourage you to continue sharing your musical talents and Southern Hospitality as you travel around the world serving as ambassadors of one our great state’s most valued resources – Country Music. I invite all Tennesseans to join me in thanking the Country Music Industry for all they have done to make Tennessee an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. Again, Crissy and I are glad to welcome all those involved with the CMA Awards and are proud that music’s greatest city is again hosting “Country Music’s Biggest Night.” Warmest regards,
Bill Haslam, Governor of Tennessee
Dear Country Music fans: As Mayor of Music City, it is a pleasure to welcome each of you to Nashville as you take part in the 47th Annual CMA Awards. We are honored, along with the Country Music Association, to celebrate the extraordinary art of Country music, its artists and fans. This is not only Country Music’s Biggest Night for artists and industry professionals but also for loyal fans present and watching from home. Whether you are visiting us for the first time or have been to Nashville before, I am certain that you will have the opportunity to experience the Southern hospitality and friendliness that our city is famous for. While in Music City, I encourage you to visit our city’s many landmarks, including the brand new Music City Center, which is steps away from Nashville’s world class hotels, gourmet restaurants and live music venues. Please also consider visiting our cultural sites, like the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and historical sites, such as the Hermitage (home of President Andrew Jackson) and Fort Negley. In addition, I encourage you to round out your visit with a stop by the Parthenon, one of our most beloved icons, located in beautiful Centennial Park. It is my sincere wish that your visit is a great success and you have the opportunity to experience firsthand why Rolling Stone Magazine selected Nashville the No. 1 live music scene in the country and Condé Nast Traveler named Nashville one of five cities to visit in 2013. Enjoy your stay, and we hope to see you back in years to come. Best regards,
Karl F. Dean, Mayor of Nashville
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