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Over four days, from Thursday, June 5, through Sunday, June 8, CMA Fest transformed the heart of downtown Nashville into a lively showcase of country music talent. Amid stages, Spotify House at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red on Lower Broadway emerged as a destination.
Now in its sixth year, the venue maintains its hallmark free-entry, first-come-first-served policy, inviting festival-goers to experience intimate performances by chart-topping headliners and up-and-coming artists, footsteps away from the crowd.
What made Spotify House stand out?
It wasn’t just another stage tucked away from the main festival grounds. Spotify House hosted around 60 artists over three days (June 5–7), with morning-to-late-night programming (10 a.m.–2 a.m. CT), split into two sessions daily to invite as many fans inside as possible.
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Who performed
A mix of country heavyweights and fast-rising acts filled the line-up:
- Thursday, June 5: Keith Urban opened the day, followed by Bailey Zimmerman (who even dropped news of his second album), Noah Cyrus, Riley Green, Parker McCollum, Zac Brown Band, Dylan Gossett, Gavin Adcock and more
- Friday, June 6: The line-up included Brothers Osborne, Dasha, Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Josh Ross, Kameron Marlowe, Kelsea Ballerini, Lily Rose, Little Big Town, Midland and Warren Zeiders
- Saturday, June 7: Ashley Cooke, Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis, Kashus Culpepper, Lainey Wilson, Nate Smith, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, Ty Myers and more closed out the weekend.
On top of scheduled acts, surprise guests added dynamism: Marshmello spun a late-night DJ set with Dasha, Kane Brown and Ashley Cooke; Carín León dropped in with tequila in hand to sing “Tennessee Whiskey” and “Don’t Stop Believin’”; Ne‑Yo joined Ashley Cooke for a rendition of “So Sick”.
Standout moments from the Spotify House
Several moments stood out amid the energy of close-quarters sets:
- Keith Urban played from behind the bar at one point and delivering intimate renditions of hits.
- TJ Osborne smashing his guitar after a rowdy Brothers Osborne number.
- A moving rooftop trio—The Kentucky Gentlemen, Noeline Hofmann and Angie K, performing acoustic songs in the rain on Spotify House’s “Fresh Finds Rooftop” stage.
- Shaboozey receiving a Spotify Billions Club plaque mid-performance of “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”.
Spotify House continues to be a highlight of CMA Fest for intimate access to big names. The event’s first-ever early‑access program for top Spotify Hot Country listeners showed a new layer of fan integration. Surprise guests and spontaneous collaborations, like Ne-Yo with Cooke and Marshmello’s late-night jam, added memorable twists.
Spotify House fit into the bigger festival pattern. While the main stages at Nissan Stadium and Ascend Amphitheater hosted ticketed headliners, five downtown stages, such as Chevy Riverfront, Dr Pepper Amp and Hard Rock, offered free sets showcasing artists like Megan Moroney, Dasha, Gavin Adcock and Drake Milligan, reinforcing CMA Fest’s inclusive community spirit.
What’s next?
As Spotify concludes its tenth Hot Country celebrations alongside CMA Fest’s progression towards next year’s lineup, audiences can’t help but anticipate what 2026 might bring.
Whether it’s fresh artist collaborations, innovative fan activations, or surprise pop-up performances across downtown Nashville, expectations are high. Yet this year’s Spotify House will be remembered as a uniquely intimate, vibrant, and unfiltered showcase within Nashville’s festival week.
CMA Fest 2025’s Spotify House transcended the role of a music venue. It became the heartbeat of the festival, seamlessly fusing well-established country stars with up-and-coming talent. Fans navigated lines in downtown Nashville, arriving early not for tickets but for proximity.
With sets running from morning until hours past midnight, Spotify House delivered intimate performances and surprise collaborations. The result was an immersive, accessible experience that captured the spirit of country music without barriers.
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