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The 41st annual CMA Music Fest is in full swing and the crowd gathered Thursday night (June 7) at Nashville's LP Field, home of the Tennessee Titans, enjoyed a megastar lineup featuring Glen Campbell, Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band and Brad Paisley as well as brief acoustic performances from "American Idol" alumni Kellie Pickler and Lauren Alaina.
Before the music got underway, CMA CEO Steve Moore introduced Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, who jokingly urged the crowd, "If you have any money, please spend it. We're going through our budget process. Any help would be appreciated."
The first performance of the night was from the Nashville School of the Arts Chamber Singers and the talented high school ensemble delivered a version of the "Star Spangled Banner" that made Music City proud.
Throughout the evening, Storme Warren, host of GAC's Headline Country, was an amiable and energetic Music Fest host. The first standing ovation of the night belonged to Country Music Hall of Famer Glen Campbell. At times his battle with Alzheimer's disease crept into his set, but for the most part his performance was magical as young country music fans got a chance to see one of the legendary performers whose talent defined the genre and carried the music to a broader audience in the 60s and 70s.
Glen opened his set with the John Hartford-penned classic "Gentle on My Mind" and continued to wow the crowd with such hits as "Galveston," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Witchita Lineman," all written by the incomparable Jimmy Webb. Glen also delivered a rousing version of "Try a Little Kindness"
