Country fans are flooding into Nashville, TN with Thursday’s kickoff of the 2014 CMA Music Festival.
According to News Channel 5, the opening night concert at LP Field sold out. This came as no surprise, as the concert featured performances by many of country music’s biggest stars, including country music hall of fame members Alabama in their first CMA appearance since 1995, reported CMT.
Besides Alabama, the star-studded performers included Luke Bryan, Tim McGraw, Brantley Gilbert, Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley, representing three generations of country music all in one night. Only at the CMAs can you find so much country talent sharing one stage.
Huge stars in the 1980s, Alabama first performed at the CMAs when it was known as Fan Fair and located at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds. Now, the event sprawls across multiple Nashville venues.
But even at an event as big as the CMAs, things don’t always go according to plan. Perhaps one of the funniest events of the night occurred during Bentley’s set when he pulled a girl from the crowd onstage and offered her a shot.
Despite alcohol being one of the most common themes in country music, this girl shocked Bentley by turning him down.
“What do you mean you don’t drink? This is country music!” said Bentley.
The fun and surprises continue tonight with performances at LP Field by Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, The Band Perry and Travis Tritt.
Image via Facebook from CMA Country Music Association