Backstage Country

Justin Moore: CMA Musicfest Is The Best

There’s no doubt about it: No other music event in the world compares to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Just ask Justin Moore. Like most artists who attend (and in…

Jeff Schear / Getty Images

Jeff Schear / Getty Images

There's no doubt about it: No other music event in the world compares to the CMA Music Festival in Nashville. Just ask Justin Moore.

Like most artists who attend (and in country music, that's almost all of them), Justin considers the proximity to fans the most important part of the event. "I think it's important to country music as a whole," he says in a new interview provided by his record label. "It's important to us because we have the opportunity to look these folks in the eye and we have very limited time throughout the year to do so. You know you get a hundred people in your meet and greet a night but you play 90 shows a year. That's not a whole lot of people. And so to get to look them in the eye and shake their hand and let them know how much we appreciate what they do for us and allowing us to not only pursue, but achieve our dreams and realize them, it's pretty special."

The "Somebody Else Will" singer has a pretty good understanding of the fan experience, too. "For them I think it's just another opportunity to get a little bit more familiar with us as people," he continues. "I've always said throughout my career that, you know, they want to know what we sound like on the radio and look like on TV. Generally with me that's a disappointment. But they want to know before they spend their hard earned money on tickets or albums that they can buy into us as individuals. And I think that's why I have a career, personally, and this is just another opportunity for us to make that known."

The 2017 CMA Music Festival happens this week (6/8-11) in Nashville. The event began as Fan Fair at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in 1972. Learn more and buy tickets here.

Teddy McDonald is a fun-lovin' country music fan man living in Nashville, Tennessee.