CHRIS YOUNG Hosts Opening Ceremonies at Skyview Stage at Ascend Amphitheater on Wednesday, June 8

NASHVILLE – Country star Chris Young will kick off the 2016 CMA Music Festival Wednesday, June 8 (11:00 AM/CT) at the Festival’s new, state-of-the-art venue – Skyview Stage at Ascend Amphitheater.

“We are always looking at ways to grow the Festival and enhance the experience for our fans,” said CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Trahern. “Adding this fantastic venue to our numerous free stages downtown is a great addition and having Chris Young on hand to make it ‘official’ is icing on the cake.”

Special guests for the CMA Music Festival Opening Ceremonies include the Honorable Mayor of Nashville Megan Barry, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and students from Metro Nashville Public Schools, a beneficiary of the Festival and the CMA Foundation’s support of quality, sustainable music education programs.

“As a Middle Tennessee native and someone who grew up going to Fan Fair, it’s pretty cool to get to kick off CMA Music Festival and shine a spotlight on the CMA Foundation and the music education students the Festival benefits,” said Young, who is a member of the CMA Board of Directors.

2016 CMA Music Festival Opening Ceremonies are free and open to the public at the Skyview Stage at Ascend Amphitheater at the foot of Korean Veterans Boulevard and First Avenue (south of Riverfront Park). Gates open at 10:00 AM/CT.

With five albums to his credit, Young has amassed eight No. 1 singles, 14 Gold/Platinum certifications and performed for audiences ranging from “Good Morning America” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” to shows in Australia and Japan. The RCA Records artist is a dynamic live performer who plays sold-out shows packed with hits, including chart toppers “Gettin' You Home” “Voices” “Tomorrow,” and “I'm Comin' Over” “Think of You ,” a duet with Cassadee Pope, is Young’s latest No. 1 and fastest rising single of his career. He’s an international ambassador for the genre, a talented songwriter, and a southern gentleman who is frequently declared one of Country Music’s sexiest men by PEOPLE Magazine and Nash Country Weekly magazine. Young is just as well known for his classic baritone as he is for melt-your-heart ballads and is winning audiences across the globe. Released in November of 2015 and debuting at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart, Young’s first co-produced album, I'm Comin' Over also features the three-week No. 1 smash title track. This fall he’ll embark on the second leg of his headlining “I'm Comin' OverTour,” with 25 shows from coast-to-coast. Special guests include Pope, Dan + Shay, and Dustin Lynch. For information, visit chrisyoungcountry.com and follow @ChrisYoungMusic on Twitter and Instagram.