CMA Fest 3 || The Day I Decided To Text

Just a warning to all you "non country music fans"  - this is going to be a loooong post full of country music photos, contests, and 100% goodness.  You have been warned. :)

I don't text.  I don't have a texting plan, and I don't plan on getting one any time soon.  Anyone I need to keep in constant contact with has an iPhone with "iMessage" (apples' free texting service).  So anytime I *do* send a text to someone it costs me.... not much, but it can add up.  Needless to say I only text when it's uber important.

Satruday night at CMA Fest was UBER important to me!  I received a text from CMA asking if I wanted a chance to win a Photo Fast Pass to that nights show.  Did I want a chance at being able to cut in front of everyone who had waited over an hour for each artist?  Did I want to get AHHHMAZING photos 5 feet away from these singers???  YES.  YES.  YES.  So I replied back and decided to go ahead and text just this once.  I received the following....

I couldn't believe it!!  I had to re-read the text over and over and then ask my cousin to read it himself.  The night was soooooo amazing!

Now I'm going to sound like one of those infomercials - "But wait!  There's more!".  Wait, because there IS MORE  -  I won the photo passes Sunday night also!!!!  2 Nights in a row.  Cutting in front of the lines.  Running around and around LP Field.  Getting blisters.  Back aches from hauling camera gear.  Sweating like crazy.  Missing most of the concert due to said running back and forth.  But getting photos of a lifetime.  Truly.  Here are some highlights from both Saturday and Sunday...

 

 

 

I feel horrible about this... This guy is the first person I was able to get photos of, but I have NO CLUE who he is.  I listen to Country and Contemporary Christian music.  This dude didn't fit either genre.  Let me know if you know who it is... I got a photo anyway :)





 

Brad Paisley and Keith Urban are the best guitarists I've ever seen/heard.  I was able to be up front during one of Brad's solo sections.  As Mariah Carey says "#POW"



 

 

A thunderstorm shut down CMA Fest early on Sunday night and the artists were only able to sing a couple songs each.  The Band Perry opened their 2-song set with "DONE." and brought a ton of energy to the bummed out crowd!



 

Since the night was ending really fast, security moved everyone through the lines UBER fast.  Their main order was "get 1 photo then move on".  I was too close to the stage to get a full shot before I had to move, so I had to shoot back behind me to grab one of all 3 siblings together.  I'll take it. :)



 

 

I feel really bad for Jake Owen.  He only got 1 song.  Just 1.  He was barefoot and everything for his song "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" and didn't even get to sing it.  Poor guy :/



 

Carrie Underwood closed out the music festival on Sunday night.  Once again I was rushed through the line, but I was still able to hear her "See You Again" up close by the stage.  It was THE way to end CMA Fest for me.  <3

 



 

Kelly Clarkson was on Saturday night right before my all time favorite.  I was so worried about not being ready in the front of the line for my favorite, and I was only able to grab a few photos of Kelly.  But man, she sounded AWESOME that night!  I missed her duet with Jason Aldean, but it was worth it in the end....



 

 

 

...... because Keith Urban was THE ONE person that I REALLY wanted to see.  He came up to my row in 2011 and sang "Somebody like you" (I have his sweat on my left hand to prove it...oh... and photos and video if that counts ;-) ), and this year it was my turn to do all the walking and see him.  I think I took about 150 photos during his set.



 

 

**DIES**..... his guitar playing!!! .... NUFF SAID.

 

Keith was the last artist on Saturday night and ended his set by running through the crowd, straight into the parking garage, jumping into a truck, and driving off while fireworks were going - and the whole time being followed by the camera crew.  Ultimate Exit!



 

3 Hours worth of highlights from CMA Fest will be airing tonight on ABC - will you be watching?  If you look close enough you might even see me and my cousin in the front row.  ;-)

 

Happy Monday!

~~le