WME wrapped a monumental week in Nashville as a leading force behind CMA Fest 2026, with clients dominating the lineup from intimate stages to the stadium spotlight. Country music’s biggest week was packed with unforgettable performances, milestone moments and signature WME events that showcased the agency’s broad roster of country superstars, rising talent and genre-shaping legends. Leading the way again this year with the most acts booked over the week, WME represented more than 80 artists throughout the festival.
Now in its 53rd year, CMA Fest continues to unite the Country music community, drawing nearly 100,000 attendees daily for four days of nonstop music, connection and celebration. What began in 1972 as Fan Fair® has become the longest-running Country Music festival in the world – anchored by once-in-a-lifetime collaborations, surprise performances and the undeniable energy of Music City.
WME kicked off the week with its annual Losers Live concert series at Losers Bar & Grill in Midtown on June 1 and 2. Spanning two nights, the event featured a dynamic mix of artists including Braxton Keith, Jon Pardi, Rhett Akins, Colby Lee Swift, Myles Morgan, Spencer Hatcher, The Kruse Brothers, Timmy McKeever, Trey Pendley, Tyler Booth and more. Drawing packed crowds each night, the showcase reinforced WME’s deep influence across all tiers of country music.
On June 2, Becky Gardenhire, WME Nashville Co-Head and Senior Partner, received the CMA Touring Awards' Talent Agent of the Year Award. WME Nashville Co-Heads Gardenhire, Jay Williams and Joey Lee and Senior Partner of Country Music Aaron Tannenbaum, were recognized at Billboard’s 2026 Country Power Players event on June 3, honoring the executives leading the genre forward alongside WME clients Miranda Lambert (Icon of the Year), Tucker Wetmore (Rising Star Award) and The Red Clay Strays (Groundbreaker Award).
On Thursday, June 4, viral artist Vincent Mason took the Chevy Riverfront Stage and Nissan Platform Stage while ACM New Male Artist of the Year winner and Billboard Hot 100 star Tucker Wetmore performed hits at the Nissan Stadium Main Stage.
Friday featured breakout newcomers Mack Geiger and Myles Morgan, in addition to fan favorites Laci Kaye Booth and Dasha, before Nissan Stadium evening performances by WME’s Maggie Antone and The Red Clay Strays.
Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts, Maddox Batson, Waka Flocka Flame and more energized daytime stages on Saturday before the Nissan Stadium crowd was treated to high-energy performances from Butts, Jordan Davis, Lainey Wilson and Zach Top.
Sunday’s lineup brought a powerful close, with Maggie Antone returning for a daytime stage performance and Laci Kaye Booth and Luke Bryan closing the weekend at Nissan Stadium.
Back by popular demand, the WME VIP Hospitality Lounge at Chief’s on Broadway served as a central gathering place for clients, their teams and industry leaders throughout CMA Fest. Open June 4–6, the hospitality suite provided a dedicated space for networking, collaboration and connection while welcoming artists, industry partners and friends throughout the week.
From debut performances to stadium anthems, WME and its clients once again left a lasting mark on CMA Fest – underscoring the agency’s continued leadership in shaping the future of the genre.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Plarr