Fans who have had the opportunity to attend CMA Fest know that they can anticipate a few unexpected collaborations from their favorite country artists, and the 51st annual CMA Fest definitely didn’t disappoint.
A few of this year’s surprise appearances were Post Malone, Blake Shelton, Gretchen Wilson, and more!
On night four of the festival, a powerhouse of talent performed. Energetic fans packed Nissan Stadium to witness the headlining artists, including Carly Pearce and HARDY.
During her set at the stadium, Carly Pearce delivered powerful renditions of her hits, such as “Next Girl” and “What He Didn’t Do,” in addition to solo performances of her duets with Chris Stapleton, “We Don’t Fight Anymore,” and Lee Brice, “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
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HARDY later took the stage to close down CMA Fest on Sunday night (June 9) with an absolute show-stopping performance. He first sang his single “ROCKSTAR,” kicking off his closing set in the way fans know HARDY can.
After delivering a few more of his chart-topping hits, he invited a very special guest on stage to celebrate 20 years since the release of a timeless country song we all know and love — “Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy.”
None other than Big & Rich joined HARDY on stage, getting a huge roar from the audience.
HARDY then surprised the audience with another special guest.
Carly Pearce took the stage to fill in for Lainey Wilson (who was already back on tour) on her duet with HARDY, “wait in the truck.”
Released on August 29, 2022, as the lead single from HARDY’s second studio album, The Mockingbird & the Crow, “wait in the truck” gained quick popularity for its powerful and impactful meaning.
The song has resonated with many listeners, sparking conversations about important social issues and providing support for survivors of domestic violence.
“The topic isn’t talked about a lot. These are things that [often] happen behind closed doors…It is our job as artists to sing about things that people are [sometimes] scared to talk about,” Lainey Wilson expressed to The Tennessean in 2022.
Because of the compelling and gripping emotion behind the song, Carly Pearce and HARDY’s performance at CMA Fest was undoubtedly a special moment for fans to be able to experience.
Watch their performance in the video below!
@musicmayhemmagazine.com @Carly Pearce filled in for @Lainey Wilson to sing #waitinthetruck with @HARDY during #CMAFest #CarlyPearce #LaineyWilson #HARDY
See the official music video for “wait in the truck” below, which won Collaborative Music Video of the Year at the 2023 CMT Music Awards.