Shaboozey Shuts Down the Good Molecules Reverb Stage During CMA Fest 2024 Debut

If you talk to anyone at CMA Fest, they will all tell you that there's nothing like seeing an artist take the festival stage for the very first time.

While there are artists all up and down the four-day bill who are making their highly-anticipated debuts across the smorgasbord of stages, you'd be hard pressed to find an artist that made a bigger splash than Shaboozey.

Sauntering out on Friday afternoon (June 7), the crowds had started forming long before the long-haired hitmaker made it to the stage. In fact, halfway through Karley Scott Collins' set before him, festival organizers were forced to close the gates due to reaching maximum capacity. That didn't stop the legion of eager onlookers from finding a way to see the buzzy artist, though, as they filled up the side streets and the infamous Broadway.

With a shiny new album at his disposal, Shaboozey treated fans to a plethora of new and old tunes alike, starting with the first track from Where I've Been, Isn't Where I'm Going, 'Horses & Hellcats.'

As the 808s hummed and the bass line reverberated all across Music City, the viral sensation reiterated between each song that it felt like he was "in a movie," underpinning the unreal energy and turnout from the CMA audience.

From the heartbreak anthem of 'Annabelle' and the party banger of 'Drink Don't Need No Mix,' it was clear that Shaboozey could do no wrong as he ran from one side of the stage to the other, sharing some of his best dance moves along the way. Digging back a little further into his catalogue, he also gave fans a one-two punch of 'Tall Boy' and 'Beverly Hills' before emotions took him over.

During his vulnerable, autobiographical 'Vegas,' the artist was visually overwhelmed with emotions as he broke out into tears. "I don't mean to cry up here, it's just crazy to see [this]. I use to sleep on the floor, just trying to make my dreams come true," Shaboozey shared, fighting off sobs. "Man, this shit is crazy!"

Everything culminated as the excitement reached a fever pitch for his final song. The tune that introduced Shaboozey to country fans far and wide, 'A Bar Song (Tipsy),' couldn't have received a bigger reaction from the ravenous fans. Not wanting to leave the stage or for the moment to end, Shaboozey gifted the CMA Fest stage with a second run through of the hit single, which he humorously referred to as the 'Jack Daniels Version.'

Although the artist lovingly known as Shaboozey isn't really a new face or voice in the genre – his first single, 'Jeff Gordon,' being released over a decade ago – no one can deny that he's certainly found his stride, as well as a loving home in the country genre.

The ultimate musical chameleon – and with enough talent and charisma to drown us all – Shaboozey oozes star power, and he's a name that you ought to get familiar with sooner rather than later.

Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde will host the CMA Fest TV Special, which will air on Tuesday, June 25 at 8/7c on ABC, and streaming on Hulu the next day. For more information on how to watch the CMA Fest TV Special, head here.

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