Exploring the CMAfest Exhibit Hall

Exhibit Hall Photos

The CMAfest Exhibit Hall is located in the Nashville Convention Center at the corner of Broadway & 4th to 5th Avenue. The Exhibit Hall is open daily during the CMA Country Music Festival from Thursday - Sunday. This is where you want to go to interact with all of your favorite artists and you can expect to see row & rows of artists booths filling up the entire convention center.

Within an hour and a half period of time on Thursday afternoon, it wasn't hard for fans to find some of their favorite country stars in the Convention Center for the CMA Music Festival. LeAnn Rimes was found signing in her own booth to droves of fans. Steve Wariner was found in the Grand Ole Opry booth even talking on a cell phone to a fan who was unable to attend.

2006 IBMA Entertainers of the Year, the Grascals, were only able to visit the Convention Center on the first day of the festival due to out-of-town performances and then returned Sunday for a performance on the Riverfront Stage and they made the most of it. They spent the morning signing in four different booths before getting to the fifth and final signing of the day for the folks at GAC.
A trip back by the Grand Ole Opry booth later in the day found Daryle Singletary and at the same time, the legendary Donna Fargo was on the opposite side in her own booth greeting fans.

Friday afternoon was no different and maybe even a busier day for the artists and fans, especially considering that a rain storm shut down the outdoor live performance stages. Fans lined the hallways for hours waiting to be able to go back to the music. Within two hours inside, Emerson Drive had converged on the Chevy booth very much to the delight of many a female within range. ABC has replaced NBC this year for the on-site soap star representation. Colin Egglesfield (Joshua Madden, All My Children) greeted fans in their booth even giving out coasters and t-shirts as you passed through.

You could get a double-dose if you went by the Sportsman's Channel booth. Daniel Lee Martin, who's show "Backstage & Backroads" premiered on the Sportman's Channel in 2007, was in the booth posing with fans and signing autographs alongside Trent Willmon.
Carolyn Dawn Johnson would soon take over signing duties in the Chevy booth. Chris Young could be found in front of his own booth which contained it's own photo booth, much like those found at theme parks, to have your own photo taken when Young wasn't there. Con Hunley had a long line waiting for just a moment with him.

Bucky Covington was found atop a stairs leading into the CMT booth and Eric Church had replaced Carolyn Dawn Johnson in the Chevy booth. Michael Peterson seemed to be trying to break Garth Brooks signing record as he was visible at his booth throughout the week. Keith Anderson was seen, in his trademark bandana, signing for fans in the Country Weekly booth. Casey Rivers and, unannounced, Tim LaRoche could be found together in the Nashville Star booth as finalist Justin David could be found in his own booth on the next aisle.
Fans swarmed around the Muzik Mafia booth to get even a glimpse and hopefully some one-on-two time with Big & Rich. At the end of the signing, the duo ascended upon the tabletop to make sure that everyone was able to get to see the two.