CARRIE UNDERWOOD IS FIRST ARTIST ANNOUNCED TO PERFORM AT 2012 CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL

NASHVILLE – The iconic CMA Music Festival will once again take over the Downtown Nashville campus for four days this summer, Thursday-Sunday, June 7-10, 2012. The event that USA Today calls “the crown jewel of Country Music festivals” started in 1972 as Fan Fair®. More than 40 years later, the legendary festival has become Nashville’s signature music event, which annually attracts thousands of fans from all 50 states and around the globe and has raised millions of dollars for music education in Metro Nashville Public Schools. The event will once again be filmed for an ABC Television special airing later in the summer, shining a national spotlight on both the Country Music format and Music City USA.

Five-time CMA Award winner Carrie Underwood is the first artist announced as performing on the Nightly Concerts at LP Field during CMA Music Festival. Underwood has sold more than 13 million albums; has placed 14 No. 1 singles at the top of the charts; won three CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Awards (2006-2008); and has co-hosted the CMA Awards for the last four consecutive years. After winning “American Idol” in 2005, she made one of her first public appearances at CMA Music Festival, and has been a strong supporter of the event ever since. Underwood last performed at CMA Music Festival in 2010.

Additional artists will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Normally we do not announce talent until February, but we wanted to be sure everyone knew that Carrie has already committed to perform at 2012 CMA Music Festival,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “She continues to be one of our most requested artists, and we knew the fans would want to be aware so they could go ahead and make plans to attend our event.”

Just in time for holiday gift giving, fans can purchase their tickets through Ticketmaster at Ticketmaster.com or 1-(800)-745-3000. They can also purchase them by calling 1-(800)-CMA-FEST (262-3378). Ticket prices are based on the level of seating at LP Field for the Nightly Concerts, and range from $115 to $325 plus handling fees.