Taylor Swift performs at the VAULT Concert Stage at LP Field in Downtown Nashville Saturday, June 13 during the 2009 CMA Music Festival. Photographer: John Russell / CMA.
June 19, 2009 — The 50,000-plus fans who attended last weekend’s CMA Music Festival are likely still in physical recovery. There was so much to do and to take in, from Taylor Swift’s autograph-signing session to Martina McBride’s surprise duet with Kid Rock. Host Nan Kelley will recap many of the highlights on this weekend’s edition of GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.
There was indeed plenty to see. Gretchen Wilson sang "Rock You Like A Hurricane" after rain delayed the opening morning’s shows, Brad Paisley sang ‘til 1:55 a.m. when rain forced another delay that night, Martina raked in $72,000 for charity with her annual auction, the Zac Brown Band tore the house up with a blistering cover of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia," Rodney Atkins was grand marshal of the kick-off parade, Darius Rucker covered Hank Williams Jr. at GAC’s kick-off breakfast and Reba McEntire signed autographs at the festival for the first time in more than a decade. Whew!
In addition to Taylor’s signing session, she played six songs from the set list of her sold-out Fearless Tour during the final night at Nashville’s LP Field, which wrapped up with Kenny Chesney’s eight-song performance, which didn’t start until midnight. There was that much music.
Taylor’s represented three times in this week’s Top 20 Country Countdown: "White Horse" is at No. 20, "You Belong With Me" is No. 2, and Kellie Pickler’s "Best Days Of Your Life" — which Taylor co-wrote — is No. 1 Taylor Swift: You Belong With Me debuts on GAC Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Top 20 Country Countdown counts down the week's top country videos from No. 20 to No. 1 as voted by viewers on each week on GACTV.com. A new countdown premieres every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on GAC and airs again Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET; Sundays at 1 p.m. ET; and Mondays at 10 a.m. ET. Viewers can vote for their favorite videos, as well as purchase Top 20 artists' albums and ringtones at GACTV.com.
THIS WEEK’S CHART:
1. Kellie Pickler "Best Days Of Your Life"
2. Taylor Swift "You Belong With Me"
3. Billy Currington "People Are Crazy"
4. Reba McEntire "Strange"
5. Lady Antebellum "I Run To You"
6. Keith Urban "Kiss A Girl"
7. Alan Jackson "Sissy’s Song"
8. Miley Cyrus "The Climb"
9. Gloriana "Wild At Heart"
10. Carrie Underwood "I Told You So"
11. Kenny Chesney "Out Last Night"
12. Dierks Bentley "Sideways"
13. Rascal Flatts "Here Comes Goodbye"
14. Jason Aldean "She’s Country"
15. Randy Houser "Boots On"
16. Rodney Atkins "It’s America"
17. Joey+Rory "Play The Song"
18. Zac Brown Band "Whatever It Is"
19. Trace Adkins "Marry For Money"
20. Taylor Swift "White Horse"