2024 CMA Fest: A Star-Studded Event With Notable No-Shows

2024 CMA Fest was so loaded with A-List talent that you might have missed which superstars were no-shows. This year's festival in Nashville showcased a remarkable lineup, but amidst the excitement, several renowned artists were conspicuously absent. Their absence was felt by fans who have come to expect their performances at this annual event.

These 10 artists either didn’t or couldn’t make CMA Fest last weekend in Nashville. Nearly all had other touring commitments. Every one of them has been a main stage performer in years past to the point that you just expect to see him, her or them every year.

The highlights of this year's CMA Fest included Jelly Roll’s epic performance and speech, Post Malone’s surprise guest appearance with Blake Shelton, Lainey Wilson’s collaboration with ‘90s hitmaker Terri Clark, and the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd performing "Free Bird." Such moments make CMA Fest a must-watch, and fans can relive these highlights when the festival airs on ABC on June 25, hosted by Jelly Roll and Ashley McBryde.

An alphabetical lineup of every artist who participated in CMA Fest is seemingly endless. It even misses one or two, such as Eric Church, who played his new bar in downtown Nashville for three straight nights. Main stage concerts take place at Nissan Stadium, home to the NFL's Tennessee Titans, alongside many other stages across downtown that host performances, including the Riverfront Stage, Ascend Amphitheater, and Fan Fair X.

Billy Dukes is a Senior Editor and Executive Producer of Video Content at Taste of Country. He specializes in country music interviews, trend analysis, and the Secret History of Country Music. Additionally, Billy covers Yellowstone, 1923, and related television shows through the Dutton Rules podcast. To date, he's written more than 13,000 articles for Taste of Country and produced over 3,000 videos for the Taste of Country YouTube channel.