CMA Fest Documentary Set to Premiere This Summer

To celebrate CMA Fest's 50th anniversary this year, a special documentary is coming to Hulu covering the much-loved festival's evolution over the past five decades.

Entitled CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair and executive produced by Sarah Trahern and Kelly Striewski, the feature film charts the country music extravaganza's progression from its ‘Fan Fair’ origins to the blockbuster, internationally recognised event it is today.

The documentary will include an array of interviews with a sprawling list of big-name acts, including Kelsea Ballerini, Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Carly Pearce, Blake Shelton, Thomas Rhett, Carrie Underwood and more.

Lasting 75 minutes, the documentary will undoubtedly serve as the perfect way to keep the party going following the conclusion of CMA Fest 2023 on June 11. The hotly anticipated Nashville event featured performances from the likes of Luke Combs, Eric Church, Lainey Wilson, HARDY, Jon Pardi and Megan Moroney.

Speaking about the upcoming CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair documentary, Sarah Trahern, Chief Executive of the CMA, underlined how the purpose of the project is to showcase both what has changed about CMA Fest over the years, as well as the CMA's dedication to keeping fans at the core of the event despite its expansion.

Sarah Trahern explained, “CMA Fest has taken several shapes throughout its storied history. As we step into our 50th year, our hope with this film is to underscore the one thing that has remained with the festival - its heart. We are thrilled to share the evolution and magic of this incredible event with the Hulu audience”.

Trahern's fellow executive producer and CMA Senior Vice President, Marketing, Content & Communications Strategy, Kelly Striewski, echoed these sentiments, emphasising her excitement ahead of the documentary's release, “What better way to tell the story of CMA Fest than through the eyes of the artists, our industry and the fans. This film highlights the truly unique connection that exists within CMA Fest and how this festival has continued to grow the Country community throughout its 50 years. We couldn’t be happier to have this story debut on Hulu”.

In addition to CMA Fest: 50 Years of Fan Fair, CMA Fest will also broadcast its annual TV special on ABC towards the end of the summer, featuring highlights of the Nashville event's performances.

For more on CMA Fest 2023, see below: