CMA Fest 2023: Six show-stopping moments from surprise-studded night two at Nissan Stadium

CMA Fest's second day of events highlighted the re-emergence of the genre's legends alongside the genre's post-COVID era stars finally making their mark in real-time.

Both ends of that spectrum came together early in the evening, when rising star Lainey Wilson was joined on stage by soon-to-be Country Hall of Famer Tanya Tucker, a breakout star from five decades prior (to sing the latter's 1978 hit "Texas ('Til I Die)."

The duo's appearance — like others that followed Friday night — set the stage for an evening filled with virtuoso performances, surprise artists and unlikely collaborations inside a packed Nissan Stadium.

Priscilla Block's digital stardom achieves live crowd excellence

Day Two of CMA Fest kicked off on the banks of the Cumberland River at the Riverside Stage with Priscilla Block's star-making evolution.

The small-town idealism that drives big-city Nashville takes shape in Block's songs.

Songs like "My Bar," "Off The Deep End" and "You Me and The Whiskey" prove that the genre's most authentic fanbase may use words unprintable in The Tennessean to describe their devil-may-care attitude while being loud and proud about their favorite local watering hole or their love of a pair of size a-hair too small jean shorts.

In a genre that celebrates the whine of steel guitars under intelligent odes to the darker side of wild, alcohol-induced behavior, there's something lighter about Block's material that offers the notion that there's always another, possibly better, night to be had.

Reba McEntire joins Cody Johnson, shocking the crowd

Cody Johnson, the rodeo outlaw-turned-CMA-award-winning superstar, likely surprised many of the tens of thousands in attendance at Nissan Stadium.

However, those well cognizant of (and also having lived) the Western-to-country tradition -- like his special guest Reba McEntire -- were in no way surprised that emerging star Johnson didn't make his CMA Fest debut on Lower Broadway, but rather a boat ride across the Cumberland River away.

CMA Fest 2023: Five must-catch performers on Saturday's lineup

Yes, Reba McEntire sang her 1986 classic "Whoever's In New England" with Johnson at Nissan Stadium. Her unannounced appearance on the CMA Fest stage drew a collective, piercing shriek from a genuinely shocked crowd. As one would expect, the crescendo build from Johnson's mournful drawl to McEntire's soulful shot made it a dynamic performance worthy of a jet-engine roar of a standing ovation.

The appearance capped off a busy day for McEntire, who made a late-afternoon appearance at Spotify House where she sang hits "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia," "I'm a Survivor" and "Fancy" in a half-hour set. She also appeared at a standing-room-only event at Music City Center where she shared stories from her forthcoming lifestyle book, "Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots."

Miranda Lambert's 'Something Bad' gets a surprise 'Sk8er Boi' update

Instead of Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert had other ideas for a collaborative partner rendition of her 2014 single "Kerosene" at Nissan Stadium: Canadian pop superstar Avril Lavigne.

The "Sk8er Boi" singer at a country festival?

It's not that far-fetched. During 2022's ACM Honors, Shania Twain was celebrated by Lavigne and Kelsea Ballerini making guest appearances.

As far as "Sk8er Boi" Lambert and Lavigne sang a 90-second snippet of her two-decade-old mega-hit.

And that that wasn't the only guest Lambert brought out during a high-octane set. She also shared the stage with Elle King for the duo's hit "Drunk (and I don't want to go home)" and Texas soul singer Leon Bridges who performed his new Lambert collaboration "If You Were Mine."

Jelly Roll, now an unlikely country superstar, arrives on Nissan Stadium's 50-yard-line

Jelly Roll's redemptive journey from Nashville's social fringes and incarceration to the city's pinnacle stages reached CMA Fest, with announced appearance inside the NFL stadium where, for years, he was relegated to the cheap seats.

The rapper-turned-country star made his CMA Fest debut, performing his 2023 No. 1 hit "Son of A Sinner" and new radio single "I Need A Favor" on an elevated spot-lit stage on Nissan Stadium's 50-yard-line.

Thirty-four years after attending his first Fan Fair and 14 years after being released from prison, Jason DeFord sang country songs he wrote in front of over 50,000 people.

"It actually means a lot to me that the kids in the juvenile jail in Parking Lot A are gonna hear this," he told The Tennessean before his surprise appearance.

Of the 40-plus times he's been in jail over 38 years of life, many have been in the corrections facility located next to the juvenile court located adjacent to Nissan Stadium.

"[My success] just keeps on going. I wake up every day with a dream, and before I'm out of bed, it's happening," he said of his impressive surge in national renown.

Keith Urban delivers, as usual, with his legendary, rock-tinged country stylings

Keith Urban is 55 years old.

Simultaneously, he's the type of timeless country artist whose rock-honed guitar skills give his music catalog perpetually irresistible appeal. During Night Two of CMA Fest, he opened his brief set with two songs separated by 20 years -- 2022 single "Wild Hearts" and 2002 hit "Somebody Like You."

Eventually, Urban became the first artist to take a walking tour offstage through half of Nissan Stadium, interacting with the thousands seated on the stadium's floor.

It's not unfamiliar territory for Urban. It's a frequent feature of his arena and stadium sets.

Slinking into a version of his 2016 single "Blue Ain't Your Color" while on an elevated stage located on the stadium's floor inspired throngs in the crowd to sing along to his lovelorn ballad.

As was the case throughout Urban's performance, his stellar guitar work and charisma related to his maestro-like control over the instrument's emotive capabilities brightly shone like Nissan Stadium's floodlights.

Urban's a crossover superstar whose stalwart position as a country standout always draws an appreciative crowd.

Did he also briefly break into the University of Tennessee Volunteers' "Rocky Top" fight song? Of course. Urban also clearly understands how to read a crowd.

HARDY delivers heavy rock to country's biggest party

"Hybrid Theory"-era Linkin Park atmospherics hearkened the arrival of Big Loud-signed rocker HARDY on the CMA Fest stage as the Night Two headliner.

He announced his name and his expletive-laden desires to drive the crowd to madness during "SOLD OUT," the song that kicked off his set.

Somewhere in country music's history, there's a poster of Johnny Cash with a middle finger aggressively flashed in the air at the camera that shares the same virtues as HARDY's statement.

Thus, the Philadelphia, Mississippi native's heavy, hard stylings aren't that far out of country music's numerous, varied traditions.

HARDY's progression of country music involves taking a beat-driven, alt-rock-leaning song about hungover antics ("TRUCK BED") to the genre's vaunted radio dial.

Any questions as to whether the move is too bold could easily be answered by the tens of thousands singing every word of the track out loud.

Noting that his trip to CMA Fest a decade ago was highlighted by watching Blake Shelton perform "Ol' Red," he launched into another lovestruck murder ballad, his recent No. 1 single "wait in the truck," for which he was joined by Lainey Wilson, who performs with HARDY on the song as a duet.

Moments later, Lauren Alaina and Devin Dawson joined him for 2019's "One Beer." His three-year-old live set favorite "GIVE HEAVEN SOME HELL" was well received as usual.

For those on the fence about HARDY's rough-edged appeal, they were likely not swayed, but they may have ended up more inebriated by the experience.

CMA Fest, in every way, as a celebratory experience, will not be denied.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: CMA 2023: Six show-stopping moments from Nissan Stadium Friday night