✨ Five Years in Nashville & My First CMA Fest: A Queen’s Perspective ✨

Can you believe that after I packed up my life and moved to Nashville five years ago somehow, this was my very first CMA Fest. Let me tell you… I had no idea what I was walking into. It was loud, long, magical, exhausting, emotional, and absolutely unforgettable. And at the center of it all?

The Queen of all Queens herself — Ms. Priscilla Block — and her incredible team.

I even hosted a fellow Queen this weekend, and sharing this experience with her (and with my neighbor Lyndsay, who joined us Friday and Sunday) made it all the more special.

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🎤 Friday: Category 10, Billboard Country, and 8+ Hours on My Feet

We kicked things off Friday afternoon at Category 10 for the Billboard Country showcase — a free event with a stacked lineup. We got there around 2pm and didn’t leave until after 10:30pm. My feet may never forgive me, but my heart absolutely will.

We saw:

• Kaitlin Butts
• Something Out West
• Alana Springsteen, fresh off her sophomore album
• Stella Lefty, who is on fire right now
• Dan + Shay surprising the crowd during “When I Taste Tequila”
• Braxton Keith
• Ashley Cooke, joined by Matt Rife for “Baby Blues”
• Alexandra Kay
• And of course… Priscilla Block, the whole reason we went

Priscilla walked out dressed to kill — pure fire, pure Queen energy. She sang a cover of “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls that was so raw and honest it gave me chills. I swear she could release an entire album of her cover songs and it would be an instant classic.

The night wrapped with Tucker Wetmore, and honestly? I’d do this whole event again in a heartbeat… but next time with more comfortable shoes.

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👑 Saturday: The Queens Club Party Bus & A Night to Remember

Saturday was a day I’ll never forget — our private Queens Club event.

Priscilla had a group of Queens on a party bus with her name on the side. We had Surfside, Busch Light, or water — and let me just say, Surfside has my heart now. Priscilla and team along with Surfside spoiled us with gifts, and the whole experience felt intimate, personal, and full of love.

We even got to be part of something on that bus — something exciting, something unreleased, something I can’t wait to see the final version of… whatever it turns out to be.

I can’t say enough about Priscilla and her team. They are warm, genuine, attentive, and truly care about the people who support her. Being part of the Queens Club has brought so much joy into my life, and I’ve met some truly lovely people.

And here’s where I’ll be honest without naming names:

Being a Queen means lifting other Queens up.

There is no room for mean‑girl behavior. Not in this community. Not in this sisterhood. Not in a space built on love, music, and empowerment.

I’ve always believed that if you’re able to help someone, you should — and I try to pay it forward whenever I can, simply because someone once did that for me. That’s the kind of energy I want to bring into this sisterhood.

I’d love to see a Queens Club Code of Honor someday. Something like:

Wear your crown proudly, but never let it turn you into something un‑Queenlike.

After the bus, we headed to the Wild Beaver Saloon for a karaoke takeover. We were given Queens Club shirts, so of course we put them on. And then… I did something I haven’t done in years.

I got up and sang.

“Don’t Stop Believin’.”

Maybe it was the Surfside courage, maybe it was the moment — but it felt good.

And right after I finished, Priscilla, her team, and some of her family walked in. She is so accessible, so human, so genuine. It’s rare to see an artist stay that grounded.

I almost forgot to mention I met Logan Crosby and mentioned I had seen him on that tv show (Claim to Fame) I won’t tell you what he said but it made me laugh!

We ended the night with the sketchiest Uber driver imaginable, but thankfully made it home in one piece.

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⛪ Sunday: Cowboy Church, Riverfront Stage, and One Last Queen Moment

We were up early for Cowboy Church with Brandon Lake, Lainey Wilson, CeCe Winans, and Dan + Shay. They hit capacity (7,500 people!) right before we reached the gate, but we managed to get in for the last ten minutes.

Then we made our way to the Riverfront Stage to see:

• Lauren Alaina
• Tigirlily Gold
• And the main reason we were there: Priscilla Block with her full band

Her outfit? Fire.

Her performance? Electric.

Her presence? Queen status, always.

After the show, we headed to the Busch Light booth for her meet & greet. It rained, we poncho’d up, we sweated like crazy… and the photo still turned out great. Her team was once again top‑notch.

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💜 What Being a Queen Means to Me

I may be one of the older Queens, but I’m proud of that. I’m grounded, real, and always willing to lend a hand. This community has helped me find my joy again — and I hope I represent it well.

Being a Queen isn’t about status or access.

It’s about:

• Respect
• Kindness
• Paying it forward
• Celebrating others
• Leaving the mean‑girl energy at the door

A crown should never make you cruel.

A true Queen fixes another Queen’s crown without announcing it.

“Be a Queen — but don’t let your crown turn you into something that isn’t.”

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✨ Closing Thoughts ✨

CMA Fest ended up being so much more than a weekend of music for me — it was a reminder of why I fell in love with Nashville in the first place. After five years of calling this city home, finally experiencing CMA Fest felt like stepping into a chapter I didn’t even know I’d been waiting for. I laughed, I sang, I stood for way too many hours, I met new Queens, I reconnected with familiar ones, and I even got to be part of something on that party bus — something exciting, something unreleased, something I can’t wait to see the final version of… whatever it turns out to be.

This weekend filled my cup in ways I didn’t expect. It reminded me that joy can sneak up on you, that community matters, and that music — especially live music — has a way of stitching people together. CMA Fest was a really good experience for me, one I’ll carry with me long after the stages go dark and the crowds go home. And if this is what my first CMA Fest felt like, I can only imagine what the next ones will bring.