Better days: Country duo Sugarland performs at CMA Fest 2008 (photo: Xcalibr)
CMA Fest organizers have officially canceled their 2020 event due to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns.
The four-day festival had previously been scheduled to take place in Nashville, Tennessee, between June 4th and June 7th. The statement released by CMA Fest planners indicated that their decision resulted from “careful deliberation” based upon “the latest guidance from national, state, and local authorities.” Tennessee Governor Bill Lee issued a statewide Safer at Home order yesterday, following multiple weeks of clear-cut recommendations that Tennesseans remain in their houses whenever possible.
Next, the Country Music Association recognized that “many will be disappointed” by the decision to nix the event, but emphasized that their members “cannot in good conscience” risk the health of attendees, staff, and performers by proceeding with the festival.
2020 passes will carry over to 2021’s event, which is set to begin on June 10th and end on June 13th. Alternatively, fans who purchased through Ticketmaster or the CMA Fest Box Office are eligible to request and receive full refunds; additional details will be emailed in the near future. Those who obtained their tickets via “non-official channels,” including third-party sellers and ticket-resale platforms like StubHub, “should contact the seller directly,” the statement said.
Lastly, the Country Music Association’s message encouraged fans to stay safe during the pandemic and mentioned an intention to soon “bring country fans and artists together,” provide information about CMA Fest 2021, and specify ways that the country music community can support the many who are suffering because of the novel coronavirus.
The decision to cancel CMA Fest 2020 isn’t surprising—countless concerts and music festivals, including Ultra Miami, Coachella, and Bonnaroo, have been postponed or canceled due to COVID-19 fears—but fans were predictably disappointed. On Twitter, would-be attendees had generally positive things to say about the safety-minded precaution.
“So sad to hear this news,” one user wrote, “but it was the right choice.” Another struck an optimistic tone by tweeting: “Bummer but sadly not surprising. At least it’s already something to look forward to in 2021.”
Finally, another Twitter user yet published a message reading: “Such a bummer but thanks for keeping fans and artists safe.”
To date, medical professionals have diagnosed more than 850,000 COVID-19 infections, nearly 200,000 of which are attributable to Americans.