NASHVILLE, Tenn. โ If there was ever a moment that captured the spirit of country music โ where legacy meets reinvention, and raw tradition dances with modern grit โ it happened on the opening night of CMA Fest 2025 at Nissan Stadium. As tens of thousands of fans roared to life beneath the Nashville skyline, the night ignited with a familiar twang and a surprise no one saw coming.
Taking the stage as the sun dipped below the city, country icons Brooks & Dunn wasted no time electrifying the crowd with their 2005 anthem โPlay Something Country.โ It was fast, it was loud, it was exactly what fans expected from one of the most successful duos in country history. But just when the audience thought theyโd seen the high point โ the night took a sharp, unforgettable turn.
As the final chorus of โPlay Something Countryโ rang out, the stage lights shifted. A shadow appeared, spotlight flickering. And then, with a confident stride and that signature hat tilt, Lainey Wilson emerged โ and the stadium exploded.
๐ฅ A Cross-Generational Collaboration for the Ages
Dressed in vintage Western glam โ fringed bell-bottoms, sparkling top, and swagger to match โ Lainey didnโt just join Brooks & Dunn. She owned the moment. The chemistry between the three artists was immediate and electric, as if the past, present, and future of country music had just collided in one magical instant.
What followed was a blistering medley of Brooks & Dunnโs greatest hits โ only now, reimagined with Laineyโs unmistakable Southern-fried soul layered into the mix.
โRed Dirt Roadโ came first. The nostalgic tale of youth, mistakes, and lessons learned took on new life with Wilson trading verses alongside Ronnie Dunn. Her earthy vocals, weathered with just the right touch of grit, lent a new dimension to a song fans have known for two decades. When they harmonized on the chorus โ โI learned that the hard way / On the Red Dirt Roadโ โ the crowd swayed in perfect unison.
ย 
Then came โNeon Moon,โ and the mood shifted. The lights dimmed, the steel guitar rang lonely through the stadium, and Lainey stepped to the mic solo. Her haunting delivery of the opening lines was met with silence โ the kind reserved for reverence. Ronnie Dunn eventually joined her, and their voices intertwined in a way that felt both fresh and deeply familiar, like new paint on an old barn.
To close the set, the trio launched into a thunderous rendition of โMy Maria,โ transforming the arena into a honky-tonk revival. Kix Brooks worked the stage like a man half his age, while Ronnieโs falsetto soared. Lainey brought sass, swing, and vocal firepower, turning the finale into a full-on explosion of joy.
๐ Why This Moment Mattered
This performance wasnโt just a crowd-pleaser. It was symbolic.
Brooks & Dunn represent an era of country music that balanced commercial power with deep storytelling โ where every guitar solo came with a tear, and every cowboy hat came with a code. Lainey Wilson, with her hard-earned rise and unapologetic country-funk style, is the natural heir to that legacy. Sheโs not just standing on their shoulders โ sheโs moving the sound forward without letting go of its roots.
By choosing to share their opening night spotlight with her, Brooks & Dunn didnโt just give fans a memorable show โ they gave their stamp of approval to a new generation. In return, Wilson honored their history while injecting her own flare into every note. It was a moment that affirmed what country music has always stood for: authenticity, community, and continuity.
๐ถ The Sound of CMA Fest 2025 Begins Here
The CMA Fest 2025 is already being called one of the most exciting in years, and this opening performance set a towering bar for everything that will follow. With stadiums full, boots tapping, and a new generation of fans discovering the timeless magic of country legends, this summer promises more than just music โ it promises meaning.
Fans took to social media in droves after the show. Hashtags like #NeonMoon, #LaineyAtCMA, and #PlaySomethingCountry trended nationally. One fan wrote:
โBrooks & Dunn gave us their legacy. Lainey Wilson lit it on fire. This is what country music should always feel like.โ
CMA Fest 2025 has officially begun โ and it started with fire.
#CMAFest2025 #LaineyWilson #BrooksAndDunn #NeonMoon #RedDirtRoad #MyMaria #CountryIcons #FutureOfCountry #NissanStadium