weekly June 9, 2025, Issue 964
Fest In Show: Nissan Recaps
Stadium performance highlights from nights two, three and four of CMA Fest; see Thursday’s recap here. • Stick Season: Even with a crowd that was “collectively damp” – as Kelsea Ballerini joked – Friday night’s (6/6) gate delays and afternoon showers did nothing to dampen the energy at Nissan Stadium. Kelsea Ballerini Rita Wilson Rita Wilson opened, delivering a two-song set that began with “The Spark” and introduced a song she’d released that day, “W.O.W. (Wild Old Women).” Next up was Shaboozey , who played one song on the platform stage last year. For his main stage debut, he reprised “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” and Shaboozey and Jelly Roll added “Good News,” then brought out Jelly Roll for a duet of “Amen.” Between main acts, Kelly Sutton and Amber Anderson from Amazon Music’s Country Heat Weekly asked their most Kameron Brandon famous coworker, Alexa, Marlowe Lake to introduce Kameron Marlowe (“Seventeen,” “Tennessee Don’t Mind”) and Sam Barber (“Same Sad Shit,” “Straight and Narrow”) on the satellite stage. Mr. Roll returned for another Parker Ashley surprise performance, this McCollum McBryde time on the platform stage, joining Brandon Lake for a choir-backed performance of “Hard Fought Hallelujah.” He also referenced the stadium being built next door by asking, “Let a local boy open the new Nissan Stadium in 2027!” (continued on page 4)
Addcock: Warner’s Gavin Adcock celebrates RIAA gold (“Run Your Mouth,“ “Deep End,“ “Four Leaf Clover”) and platinum (“A Cigarette“) certifications during CMA Fest. Pictured (l-r) are the label’s Kristen Williams, Red Light’s Tom Lord, the label’s Justin Luffman, Adcock, the label’s Aaron Bay-Schuck, Red Light’s Saxon Curry and the label’s Cris Lacy.
Tour Launch: Rhett Your Appetite
Thomas Rhett’s Better In Boots Tour kicked off June 5 at Walmart Arkansas Music Pavillion in Rogers, AR. KSSN/Little Rock, KKIX/Fayetteville & KMAG/Ft. Smith, AR PD Jess Jennings was there to share it with Country Aircheck. Warner/WMN’s Castellows opened. “There’s not another female harmony sound like them in the format,” says Jennings. “The lead singer [Lily Balkcom] looked like she was having the time of her life – love her vibe.” EMI/Nashville’s Tucker Wetmore was direct support, and when he got to “Wind Up Missin’ You,” Jennings says he was visibly moved at how the whole crowd was singing along to his first No. 1. Wetmore closed out his set with Jess Jennings “Brunette,” which Jennings calls a “freight train of energy.” (continued on page 3)
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