The CMA has just announced that the 8th ANNUAL CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL KICK-OFF PARADE will begin at 11a (CT) on WEDNESDAY JUNE 6th, followed by the CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL BLOCK PARTY in NASHVILLE. Country icon GLEN CAMPBELL is set to serve as Grand Marshal for the parade.

“Last year more than 16,000 fans lined BROADWAY for the Parade and with our beloved GLEN CAMPBELL as Grand Marshal this year we are expecting even more people to come out and show their support and love for this iconic Country music figure,” said CMA SVP/Communications and Marketing SHERI WARNKE.

Spend any amount of time with country newcomer Chase Rice, and you will no doubt be inspired by his infectious drive and confidence. And, he's got a lot of reasons to feel that way. The singer is opening for some heavy hitters this spring, including Jake Owen and Joe Nichols (this weekend), and his latest album, "Dirt Road Communion," is doing well. In April, it debuted at No. 48 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 15 on Heatseekers.
 

Chase Rice is a country music artist who you may have heard of, before you even knew he had such an amazing voice. If you have not heard of him yet Ohio, let me introduce you. Chase was runner-up on the CBS reality show Survivor, during the Survivor, Nicaragua finale Chase Rice finally let fans know he was also a musician when he sang a song he had written called Buzz Back.  March, 21, 2012, Chase released his debut full-length albumDirt Road Communion. Within 14 hours this indie artist who writes and sings country music, flew past the major stars and landed in the #6 spot on iTunes Top Country Album Charts, which is a huge deal for anyone, but especially a new indie artist.  I spoke with Chase about his debut album and more.