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Each June, CMA Fest transforms downtown Nashville into a high-energy celebration of country music, filling Nissan Stadium, Riverfront Park, Music City Center, and beyond with fans from around the world. This year’s festival, set for June 4–7, brings headliners including Tim McGraw, Carly Pearce, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan, and Shaboozey — but the real headline isn’t just who takes the stage. It’s what happens because they do.
For more than two decades, CMA Fest has funded music education through the CMA Foundation, with a portion of proceeds supporting programs that put instruments in students’ hands, strengthen classrooms, and expand access to music education across the country.
We spoke with Michelle Kirk, Senior Director of the CMA Foundation, about the impact behind the music — and how the festival’s most meaningful moments are still playing out.
Nashville Lifestyles: CMA Fest has supported the CMA Foundation for more than two decades. How much has the festival raised over the years, and what kind of impact has that funding made?
Michelle Kirk, Senior Director of the CMA Foundation: Since 2006, a portion of proceeds from CMA Fest has supported the CMA Foundation, allowing us to invest more than $33 million in music education programs across the country. That funding translates directly into real impact, like putting instruments in students’ hands, supporting and retaining great teachers, and building sustainable programs in schools and communities that need them most.
NL: CMA Fest is known for the performances, but at its core, it’s about giving back. How do you explain that connection between live music and music education?
MK: At its core, live music is the outcome of music education. Every artist on stage started somewhere — often in a classroom, a school band, or a choir. CMA Fest gives us a unique opportunity to close that loop. Students aren’t just learning about music — they’re experiencing it in real time. They’re performing on stages, seeing what’s possible, and getting behind-the-scenes exposure to the many careers that exist in this industry beyond the spotlight.
NL: The Foundation emphasizes access to music education. What does that look like in practice?
MK: Access means that every student — regardless of ZIP code — can participate in music education. In practice, that can look like funding instruments for a brand-new program, supporting and showing up for teachers, or partnering with organizations that provide in-school and after-school music opportunities.
NL: With hundreds of artists donating their time to perform, what does that level of industry support mean for your mission?
MK: It means everything. We truly believe the country music industry is unique in this way — an entire genre coming together to support a shared mission. That level of collective commitment is incredibly powerful. It’s not lost on our team that the impact we’re able to make is directly tied to the generosity of this community.
NL: Supporting music teachers is a major focus. What are teachers telling you they need most right now?
MK: What we hear consistently is that teachers want to feel seen, heard, and, above all, valued. That’s why I’m so proud of our Music Teachers of Excellence program, now in its 10th year. It’s unlike any other program in that its sole purpose is to celebrate and support the teachers who show up for students every single day.
NL: Can you share a recent example of a program, school, or student who has been directly impacted by CMA Foundation funding?
MK: We support a number of incredible programs each year, both inside and outside the classroom — but one story that really stands out is Republic High School here in Nashville. Just last year, they didn’t have a band program. Their director, Joshua Latham, saw that gap and stepped up. We helped bring that vision to life. Now, that same group of students is making its CMA Fest debut this year.
NL: What are the Foundation’s long-term goals, and how important is CMA Fest to achieving them?
MK: Our long-term goal is simple but ambitious: to ensure that every child in America has access to music education as an essential part of their learning experience. CMA Fest is a critical part of making that possible. It provides the funding that allows us to bring programs to life.