Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini Return as ‘CMA Fest’ Hosts

Bobby Bones will join the team for the August 4th broadcast on ABC.

Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini Return as ‘CMA Fest’ Hosts
Kelsea Ballerini and Thomas Rhett; Photo credit: CMA/ABC

For the third year in a row, country stars Thomas Rhett and Kelsea Ballerini will team up to host ABC’s CMA Fest television broadcast this summer, with radio and TV personality Bobby Bones joining in for the first time.

Billed as “The Music Event of the Summer” and set to air August 4th at 8 p.m. ET, the primetime concert special will capture all the excitement of the 2019 CMA Music Festival’s nightly stadium showcases – which include four nights of epic performances in the heart of Music City.

“This year’s CMA Fest offers something for every music fan,” says Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “From surprise collaborations to some of Country Music’s most exciting emerging and legendary talent, we’re excited to bring the festival to millions of fans around the world later this summer.”

Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett and Bobby Bones; Photo credit: CMA/ABC
Kelsea Ballerini, Thomas Rhett and Bobby Bones; Photo credit: CMA/ABC

The three-hour TV special will find TR and Ballerini leading fans through a review of the Fest’s biggest live-music draw, packing in more than 30 performances from Nashville’s Nissan Stadium.

The 2019 CMA Music Festival runs from June 6th – 9th and the stadium shows will welcome around 70,000 fans for electrifying appearances by TR and Ballerini, along with an all star cast including Florida Georgia Line, Brothers Osborne, Carrie Underwood, Eric Church, Dan + Shay, Tim McGraw, Dierks Bentley, Luke Combs, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Maren Morris and more.

2019 marks the 16th consecutive year of the ABC broadcast.