CMA Fest 2025 Artist Spotlight Series, Part 1: Rising Stars & Raw Firepower
As the countdown to CMA Fest 2025 heats up, Country Entertainment News is shining a spotlight on some of the most exciting acts hitting Nashville this June. These are the voices with the grit, soul, and swagger that define modern country music—and we’re giving you the inside track on every one of them.
Abbey Cone
Abbey Cone is one of country music’s most emotionally intuitive young talents. With honest storytelling, powerhouse vocals, and a vulnerability that resonates with Gen Z and classic country fans alike, Cone has been making waves in Nashville’s songwriter circles since her teens. Her breakout ballad “If You Were A Song” captures that raw, heart-on-your-sleeve spirit that defines her music.
CMA Fest Appearance: Sunday, June 8 – 12:50 PM @ Hard Rock Stage
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 If You Were A Song
Alana Springsteen
Virginia Beach native Alana Springsteen is the definition of modern country cool. With fierce songwriting skills and a vulnerable delivery, Alana is already proving herself a triple threat: singer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist. Her duet with Chris Stapleton, “ghost in my guitar,” feels like a haunted lullaby—pure emotion, wrapped in melody.
CMA Fest Appearance: Saturday, June 7 – 3:10 PM @ Chevy Riverfront Stage
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 ghost in my guitar (feat. Chris Stapleton)
Ashland Craft
Ashland Craft doesn’t just sing country music—she growls it with grit. Her Southern rock edge and unapologetic attitude have earned comparisons to Gretchen Wilson and Miranda Lambert, but Ashland’s voice is fully her own. From motorcycles to heartbreak, she lays it all bare, and her track “I Smoke Weed” is equal parts anthem and attitude.
CMA Fest Appearance: Sunday, June 8 – 5:20 PM @ Chevy Vibes Stage
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 I Smoke Weed
Ashley McBryde
Ashley McBryde is a Grammy-winning storyteller known for her fearless lyrics, working-class pride, and unmistakable rasp. Whether she’s telling tales of one-night mistakes or small-town resilience, Ashley brings raw truth and rock-and-roll fire to every stage. “One Night Standards” is the kind of song that lingers—real, wounded, and relatable as hell.
CMA Fest Appearance: Sunday, June 8 – 9:50 PM @ Nissan Stadium Main Stage
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 One Night Standards
Austin Snell
Blending post-grunge angst with country soul, Austin Snell has carved out his own lane—and it’s somewhere between Nirvana and Nashville. With his military background and unfiltered storytelling, he brings a rugged authenticity to everything he releases. “Pray All The Way Home” is his emotional gut punch wrapped in thunder.
CMA Fest Appearance: Thursday, June 5 – 1:30 PM @ Chevy Riverfront Stage
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 Pray All The Way Home
Boomtown Saints
Boomtown Saints are the duo you didn’t know you needed. Think: tight harmonies, upbeat swagger, and lyrics that hit you right in the chest. They’re quickly earning a name with their high-energy live shows and deeply rooted storytelling. “All Trucks Go To Heaven” is their sentimental banger—yes, that’s a thing—and it’ll stick with you.
CMA Fest Appearance: Friday, June 6 – 7:35 PM @ Hard Rock Stage
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 All Trucks Go To Heaven
Carter Faith
North Carolina’s Carter Faith is the perfect blend of vulnerability and Southern grace. Her voice carries the ache of old country, while her lyrics speak directly to a new generation. “If I Had Never Lost My Mind…” is poetry in motion—melancholy, melodic, and magnetic. She’s one to watch, closely.
CMA Fest Appearance: Friday, June 6 – 5:00 PM @ Good Molecules Reverb Stage and 7:00 PM @ Ascend Amphitheater (Jake Owen & Friends)
🔗 Instagram | Facebook | Spotify Artist Profile | 🎵 If I Had Never Lost My Mind…
📲 Don’t Forget the CMA Connect App!
Want to know when these artists hit the stage? Download the CMA Connect App now for live schedules, stage maps, surprise pop-ups, and artist meet-and-greets:
Up Next:
🔥 Part 2 of the Spotlight Series — featuring Gavin Adcock, George Birge, Ella Langley, and many more. Stay tuned!
