Unknown Acts Became Overnight Sensations After Surprising CMA Fest Crowds with Unforgettable Free Performances

If the Country Music Association has nailed one thing, it’s creating a festival that truly welcomes everyone — whether you’ve got a ticket or not.

While big names lighting up Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater tend to steal the spotlight at CMA Fest in Nashville, there’s an equally powerful energy running through the free stages scattered across the city. Every year, major artists lend their time to these public performances — all in support of the CMA Foundation’s mission to bring high-quality music education to students and to uplift the teachers who make it possible.

For the 2025 edition, CMA struck an impressive balance: giving fresh talent a chance to shine on country music’s biggest stage, while also giving longtime fans front-row access to chart-topping names — all without charging a dime.

Where else can you toss down a picnic blanket and catch a Megan Moroney concert, then stick around for crowd-pleasing sets from Dasha, Gavin Adcock, and Ashley Cooke — all in a single afternoon? That’s exactly what happened at the Chevy Riverfront Stage, where a packed crowd gathered to hear Moroney perform her hit “Tennessee Orange.”

Country music fans have always shown up with heart, and 2025 was no exception. Each morning, thousands filled the Riverfront to catch free performances from stars like Alana Springsteen, Colbie Caillat, Kameron Marlowe, Tucker Wetmore, and Ella Langley — proving once again that the love for country music runs deep and wide.

Beyond Riverfront, non-ticket holders were free to roam among five other public stages: Chevy Vibes, Dr Pepper Amp, Good Molecules Reverb, Hard Rock, and more. While Riverfront may have been the largest, talent lit up every corner of the city.

Take Kashus Culpepper, for instance. He delivered a midday set at the Chevy Vibes stage to a devoted crowd outside the Country Music Hall of Fame, then later brought his standout track “After Me” to Nissan Stadium’s Platform stage — his biggest live audience to date.

Just after Culpepper’s set, Drake Milligan electrified the Vibes stage with an Elvis-inspired rendition of “Blue Suede Shoes” and his own high-energy hits.

It’s worth remembering: not long ago, Morgan Wallen was performing Linkin Park covers to a handful of fans on a free stage at CMA Fest. The festival has always championed rising artists — and 2025 was no different.

Newcomers like Willow Avalon wowed the crowd at the Reverb stage with her anthem “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke,” while The Jack Wharff Band tapped into country roots with a crowd-stirring version of “Messed Up Kid.”

At the Hard Rock Stage, Jason Scott & The High Heat brought intensity with their viral hit “High Country,” followed by Leah Turner, who captivated the crowd with her powerful voice and Mexican-American flair.

CMA Fest 2025 proved once again that Nashville doesn’t put limits on talent. Whether inside ticketed venues or out in the open air, the music, the energy, and the spirit of country were everywhere — and open to all.