“CMA Music Fest: Country’s Night To Rock” airs tonight on ABC starting at 8 PM Eastern, 7 PM Central with a long list of featured performers including our own Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, and many 2010 CMA Award nominees.
Spoiler alert! According to the Cincinnati Enquirer preview, the special will feature a very special opening performance by Keith Urban and 3 performances by Carrie Underwood.
This post is for discussion of the performances and will be updated later with videos from our fearless and awesome leader MJ. Updates and videos after the jump!
Update 1: Keith Urban opened the show with a special performance of With A Little Help From My Friends featuring Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Roads Schlapman of Little Big Town and Sarah Buxton. The performance was a tribute to the resilience and neighborly spirit of the people of Middle Tennessee after the devastating floods of May.
Keith’s performance was followed by Carrie Underwood performing Cowboy Casanova. Also in the 1st hour of the show, Kellie Pickler introduced her friend Tim McGraw before his performance.
Keith Urban featuring Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Roads Schlapman of Little Big Town and Sarah Buxton:
Carrie Underwood, Cowboy Casanova:
Update 2: The 2nd hour of the special kicked off with Brad Paisley asking Carrie such important questions as her favorite color. When she said her favorite color is blue, he informed her that she was wrong because Wikipedia says her favorite color is red. Carrie seemed willing to work with that. Carrie also commented that hockey is just figure skating with sticks. The interview was followed by Carrie’s performances of Undo It and Last Name.
Brad Paisley interviews Carrie Underwood:
Carrie Underwood, Undo It:
Carrie Underwood, Last Name:
Update 3: About 75 minutes into the special, Tim McGraw introduced Kellie Pickler by calling her “a modern day Dolly Parton”. She is singing her single Makin Me Fall In Love Again.
Update 4: Kellie Pickler introduces Uncle Kracker and Kid Rock. She’s a special guest host tonight!
Update 5: Funny Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood ad for the CMAs at about an hour and 40 minutes into the special.
Update 6: Kellie Pickler introduces Brad Paisley at around the 1 hour 50 minutes mark.
Update 7: Kellie Pickler introduces another Keith Urban performance at around the 2 hour 20 minute mark.
Update 8: Kellie Pickler introduces a Josh Turner performance at around the 2 hour 30 minute mark.
Update 9: Kellie Pickler introduces a performance by Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson at around the 2 hour 45 minute mark.