Before eager country music fans packed the Riverfront Stage and the big stage at Nissan Stadium lit up for the opening night of the CMA Fest, a local high school marching band turned heads in downtown Nashville.

Kashus Culpepper reflects with Audrey Gibbs on his CMA Fest rise, sharing emotional new single. Nathan Keowen and Audrey Gibbs

We spoke with a couple fans to ask them what makes CMA Fest so special for them. SO much so that they made their way from North Dakota to join the party!