LEBANON, Tenn., May 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cracker Barrel Old
Country Store® today announced it will power the CMA Music
Festival's Country Roads Stage at Nashville's Ascend Amphitheater beginning
June 8 through June 10, 2017. This is
the start of a three-year partnership with the Country Music
Association (CMA), enabling Cracker Barrel to bring a world filled
with hospitality and charm to the annual festival.
Located in downtown Nashville
and free to the public, the Cracker Barrel Country Roads Stage will
feature performances by Big & Rich, Dan + Shay, Kellie Pickler, Deana
Carter, Billy Ray Cyrus,
Sara Evans, Hunter Hayes, RaeLynn, High Valley, Danielle Bradbery, Aubrie Sellers, Kelleigh
Bannen, Ruthie Collins,
Natalie Stovall, Country Music Hall
of Famers The Oak Ridge Boys and more. In addition to the
performances, Cracker Barrel and each evening's host will present a
special on-stage moment meant to surprise and delight festival
goers.
"We are pleased to be a part of CMA Fest and look forward to
welcoming music fans to our hometown," said Cracker Barrel Old
Country Store Senior Vice President of Marketing Don Hoffman. "Cracker Barrel is a highly
experiential brand, and we represent more than a meal or shopping
occasion. Our brand celebrates a lifestyle centered on relaxing and
connecting with the people you care about. We think music and
entertainment are great marketing platforms for our brand and
represent a terrific way to connect with our broad and varied guest
base."
Throughout the festival grounds, Cracker Barrel will encourage
festival goers to rock for a good cause. The "Rock-A-Thon"
encourages attendees to take a break on Cracker Barrel's iconic
rockers while benefitting the CMA Foundation, a national nonprofit
that supports quality, sustainable music education initiatives
across the country. Beginning Thursday through Saturday evening,
Cracker Barrel will bring a little piece of home to downtown
Nashville by displaying 644
rocking chairs, a symbol of its nationwide store count. If festival
goers collectively rock at least 150,000 times in the rockers,
Cracker Barrel will donate $15,000 to
the CMA Foundation. Fans can follow along online and on smartphones
to track the progress at www.CBRockathon.com.
To help CMA Fest fans enjoy a little piece of home, Cracker
Barrel is partnering with Lyft, the San-Francisco-based ride-sharing company, who
will provide free rides from the festival grounds to two nearby
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® locations. Riders might just get
an unexpected delight, too. Festival goers are encouraged to find
the Cracker Barrel and Lyft tent at Ascend Park to learn more and
to interact with nearby Cracker Barrel murals and a life-size logo
for fun, shareable moments on social media.
"Adding the free Ascend nightly programming to the CMA Music
Fest lineup this year is intended to serve those who are looking
for music beyond the stadium performances," said CMA Chief
Executive Officer Sarah Trahern.
"We're thrilled to partner with Cracker Barrel and this extensive
variety of artists to offer the non-four-day ticket holders more
evening options."
Fans can follow along on social media by using the hashtag
#CBMusic as well as tune in to watch daily recap videos on Cracker
Barrel's YouTube page.
About CMA
Founded in 1958, the Country Music
Association was the first trade organization formed to promote a
type of music. In 1961, CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame
to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country
Music's highest honor. More than 7,600 music industry professionals
and companies from around the globe are members of CMA. The
organization's objectives are to serve as an educational and
professional resource for the industry and advance the growth of
Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA's
core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize
outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Music Festival, which
benefits music education and is taped for a three-hour special; and
"CMA Country Christmas," featuring Country artists performing
original music and Christmas classics for broadcast during the
holiday season. All of CMA's television properties will air on the
ABC Television network through 2021.
About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) provides a
friendly home-away-from-home in its old country stores and
restaurants. Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and
enjoying real home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly
unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent of America's country
heritage…all at a fair price. Established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn., Cracker Barrel Old Country
Store, Inc. and its affiliates operate 644 Cracker Barrel Old
Country Store® company-owned locations in 44 states and own the
fast casual restaurants Holler & Dash™. Nation's Restaurant
News' 2016 Consumer Picks survey named Cracker Barrel Old Country
Store® the Best Family-Dining Restaurant in America. For more
information about the company, visit crackerbarrel.com.
Media Contact:
Breeanna Straessle
media.relations@crackerbarrel.com
615-443-9589
SOURCE Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.