Gretchen Wilson To Kick Off 2009 CMA Music Festival With Performance on the Daytime...

Gretchen Wilson To Kick Off 2009 CMA Music Festival With Performance on the
Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park

Love and Theft, John Michael Montgomery, and Craig Morgan Added to Daytime
Lineup

NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Two-time CMA Award winner Gretchen
Wilson will kick off 2009 CMA Music Festival on the Daytime Stage at
Riverfront Park on Thursday, June 11 (10:00 AM/CT). Known for her energetic
performance, Wilson will rev up the non-stop four-day party, taking place in
Downtown Nashville through Sunday, June 14.

Sony Nashville recording artist Wilson will release her fourth studio album
later this year. The 2005 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award winner has
racked up numerous hits, including "Here for the Party," "When I Think About
Cheatin'," "Homewrecker," "All Jacked Up," "California Girls," "Come to Bed,"
and her signature hit "Redneck Woman." After becoming an inspiration to
millions for returning to high school and receiving her General Education
Development (G.E.D.) diploma, Wilson recently testified in front of Congress
about the importance of funding adult education.

Love and Theft, John Michael Montgomery, and Craig Morgan have also been added
to the Riverfront lineup. In addition, One Flew South will sing the National
Anthem on Thursday, June 11, and Telstra winner Peter McWhirter from Australia
will perform on Friday, June 12 as part of his grand prize. Montgomery will
close the daytime party as the last performer at Riverfront Park on Sunday,
June 14.

Admittance to the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park is free, but four-day
ticket holders have exclusive early entrance privileges. On Thursday-Saturday,
June 11-13, four-day ticket holders can enter Riverfront Park at 9:00 AM;
while on Sunday, June 14, they can enter at 10:00 AM. Riverfront Park will
open 45 minutes later to the general public. The Riverfront concerts are a
popular destination for families who want to enjoy great musical performances
while relaxing on the sloping bank of the Cumberland River. The concerts are
fun in the sun within easy walking distance of all the Festival event sites,
with food vendors, activities, and more.

The opening festivities are just the start of four days of outstanding
performances on the Daytime Stage at Riverfront Park. The current schedule is
as follows:

Thursday, June 11
Hosted by CMT Radio Live's Cody Alan (morning) and Cledus T. Judd
(afternoon)

National Anthem performed by One Flew South
10:00 - 10:45 AM Gretchen Wilson
11:00 - 11:45 AM Phil Vassar
12:00 - 12:30 PM Chuck Wicks
12:45 - 1:15 PM Randy Rogers Band
1:30 - 2:00 PM Ashton Shepherd
2:15 - 2:45 PM James Otto
3:00 - 3:30 PM Bellamy Brothers
3:45 - 4:15 PM Heidi Newfield
4:30 - 5:00 PM Diamond Rio
5:15 - 5:45 PM Neal McCoy

Friday, June 12
Hosted by TBD (morning) and WSIX/Nashville's Slam Duncan (afternoon)

10:00 - 10:45 AM Oak Ridge Boys
11:00 - 11:30 AM Bucky Covington
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Aaron Tippin
12:30 - 1:00 PM John Anderson
1:15 - 1:45 PM Love and Theft
2:00 - 2:30 PM Honky Tonk Tailgate Party (Trent Willmon, Jeff Bates,
Mark Wills)
2:45 - 3:00 PM Peter McWhirter (Telstra Winner from Australia)
3:15 - 3:45 PM Eric Church
4:00 - 4:30 PM Craig Morgan
4:45 - 5:15 PM Randy Houser
5:30 - 6:00 PM Clay Walker

Saturday, June 13
Hosted by Billy Dean (morning) and WKDF/Nashville's Becca (afternoon)

10:00 - 10:45 AM Tracy Byrd
11:00 - 11:30 AM Jason Michael Carroll
11:45 AM - 12:15 PM Jo Dee Messina
12:30 - 1:00 PM Jamie O'Neal
1:15 - 1:45 PM Bill Anderson
2:00 - 2:30 PM Emerson Drive
2:45 - 3:15 PM Lorrie Morgan
3:30 - 4:00 PM Keith Anderson
4:15 - 4:45 PM The Lost Trailers
5:00 - 5:30 PM Chris Young
5:45 - 6:05 PM WKDF Battle of the Bands Winner

Sunday, June 14
Hosted by T. Graham Brown (morning) and WSM/Nashville's Bill Cody
(afternoon)

10:30 - 11:15 AM Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM Gloriana
12:15 - 12:45 PM Josh Gracin
1:00 - 1:30 PM Joe Nichols
1:45 - 2:15 PM Jessica Harp
2:30 - 3:00 PM Eli Young Band
3:15 - 3:45 PM Darryl Worley
4:00 - 4:30 PM Joey + Rory
4:45 - 5:25 PM Collin Raye / Restless Heart
5:40 - 6:10 PM John Michael Montgomery

For up-to-the-minute information about four-day ticket packages, single night
tickets to the Nightly Concerts on the VAULT(TM) Concert Stage at LP Field,
travel information, schedules, artist appearances and more, visit
www.CMAfest.com and sign up for e-news. Artists and schedules subject to
change.

CMA Music Festival is organized and produced by the Country Music Association.
CMA Board member Tony Conway is the Executive Producer of CMA Music Festival.
Premiere Radio Networks is the official radio broadcaster. Partners include:
Chevy: The Official Ride of Country Music; CMT; Dr Pepper(R); Durango(R);
Greased Lighting(R); Great American Country (GAC); McDonald's(R); VAULT Citrus
Soda; and Wrangler(R): The Exclusive Jean of the CMA Music Festival. CMA Music
Festival(R) and Fan Fair(R) are registered trademarks of CMA.

SOURCE Country Music Association

Wendy Pearl, +1-615-244-2840, or Scott Stem, +1-615- 244-2840, both of Country
Music Association