Visit the Free Chevy Sports Zone at 2008 CMA Music Festival for Celebrity Competitions, DockDogs, K9s in Flight, BBQ Championship and More

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 28, 2008 -- The 2008 CMA Music Festival carries on the tradition of unique interactions between fans and their favorite celebrities with the free Chevy(TM) Sports Zone. The area will feature a variety of friendly competitions between Country Music artists, celebrities, professional athletes and chefs. The area also features animal events, a state championship qualifying BBQ cookoff, and much more.

CMA Music Festival takes place Thursday-Sunday, June 5-8 in Downtown Nashville. The popular Chevy Sports Zone will reside at Fifth Avenue and Demonbreun Street, in the parking lot behind the Sommet Center and to the east of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The Chevy Sports Zone is open Thursday through Saturday, June 5-7 (11:00 AM-5:00 PM) and on Sunday, June 8 (11:00 AM-4:00 PM). The Chevy Sports Zone is free and open to the public.

"There are so many fun competitions and activities taking place in the Chevy Sports Zone during CMA Music Festival that someone could spend all day," said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. "The events showcase several of our artists in a different light, bringing out both their competitive side and sense of humor. We encourage everyone to check out all the fun in the Chevy Sports Zone."

Four Days of DockDogs

Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, will host the popular DockDogs(R) competitions all four days of CMA Music Festival. These events will take place in the DockDogs' 25,000 gallon mobile pool in the Chevy Sports Zone. These shows will air in the upcoming eight episode season as "DockDogs' Music City Championship."

Up to 30 dogs will compete each day in three different events: Big Air(R), where dogs compete for longest distance jumped from the end of the dock; Extreme Vertical(R), the high jumping equivalent where dogs attempt to grab a bumper at increasing heights; and Speed Retrieve(TM), a speed event where the dog is timed from a "go" signal until a bumper is retrieved at a point a specific distance from the edge of the dock. These events are open to local and regional competitors. Interested dog owners should register their dogs at www.DockDogs.com.

The preliminary competitions will be held on Thursday-Saturday, June 5-7. Thursday will host two Big Air events (at 1:00 and 3:00 PM). Friday will host three Big Air events (11:00 AM, 1:30 and 3:30 PM). Saturday will host an Extreme Vertical Qualifer (11:00 AM), Speed Retrieve Qualifier (1:00 PM), Big Air (3:00 PM), and the Extreme Vertical Finals (4:30 PM).

On Sunday, June 8, the Speed Retrieve Finals will be at 11:00 AM. Soon after, the winners from the Thursday-Saturday Big Air events will compete for the chance to move on to the World Championship to be held in Minnesota later this summer (1:00 PM for the Amateur Finals; 1:30 PM for the Semi-Pro Finals; 3:00 PM for the Pro Finals).

The Big Air Celebrity Challenge will begin at 2:00 PM. Country Music artists Marcel, Julie Roberts, Phil Stacey, Keni Thomas, and Mark Wills, CMT personality Katie Cook, and Outdoor Channel show hosts Lee and Tiffany LaKowsky, Mike Pawlawski, and Joe Thomas will be paired up with a champion dog from an earlier competition. The celebrity handler/dog team achieving the longest jump will be crowned the Big Air Celebrity Champion.

Thursday, June 5

"The Field & Stream Celebrity Total Outdoorsman Challenge presented by Mobil 1" will present a fun-filled afternoon of contests on Thursday, June 5, beginning at 12:30 PM. Field & Stream Magazine, the nation's largest and oldest outdoor magazine, is challenging Country Music artists to dethrone their two-time Total Outdoorsman Challenge Champion Paul Thompson in an outdoor skills competition, including archery, air rifle, bait casting and fly casting. Artists and celebrities participating in this event include Rhean Boyer of Carolina Rain, Greg Hanna, Daniel Lee Martin, Jeremy McComb, Rusty Tabor, Bryan White, and Mark Wills. The top-scoring artist will be featured in Field & Stream as Country Music's reigning Total Outdoorsman. They will also win a hunting trip with Keith Warren's Hunting and Outdoor Adventures, compliments of BowTech. This trip will be filmed for broadcast on Outdoor Channel and Versus networks.

Perennial CMA Music Festival favorite John Misita and his K9s in Flight "Ultimate K9s Sports Show presented by Waggin' Train Dog Treats" will return on Thursday, June 5 for three shows at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM in the Sports Zone Activity Area. K9s in Flight are the premiere Frisbee Dog entertainers in the world. With more than 15 years of professional experience, they have dazzled audiences in more than 200 cities and have been seen on The Discovery Channel, ESPN, The Disney Channel, Animal Planet, HBO, and more. The amazing K9s in Flight team has also toured with Animal Planet, The NFL Experience, and Ringling Brothers "Greatest Show on Earth."

Friday, June 6

On Friday, June 6, Field and Stream will hold their Total Outdoorsman Challenge local and regional qualifying events in the Chevy Sports Zone. Outdoors enthusiasts interested in testing their archery, air rifle and bait casting skills should log onto www.fieldandstream.com/totaloutdoorsman to pre-register. The local qualifier will begin at 12:00 PM. The local qualifier champion will receive an all-expense paid trip to the 2008 CMA Awards for two. The top three finishers in the local qualifier will advance to the regional at 2:30 PM for a chance to compete in the Field & Stream Total Outdoorsman Challenge Championship in Springfield, Mo., Sept. 5-7. Approximately 30 other top outdoorsmen from throughout the region will also join Friday's regional competition with the hope of moving onto the finals where they could win $25,000 in cash and prizes and a spread in Field & Stream.

Also on Friday, June 6, "The Celebrity Sports Challenge presented by Glaceau Vitaminwater(R)," hosted by Steve Azar will be held at 11:00 AM in the Activity Area. The Sports Challenge has been a fan favorite event featuring an array of celebrities and sports champions competing alongside artists in friendly team competitions of events including baseball pitch, football throw, hockey shoot-out, soccer kick, basketball free throw and golf chipping. Each member of the winning team will receive a trophy. In addition, their names will be added to the perpetual Sports Challenge Cup which is on display at CMA.

Artist and celebrity participants for the Sports Challenge include: Deborah Allen, ABC "One Life to Live" actor Bradford Anderson, Jessica Andrews, Steve Azar, Bomshel, Chad Brock, Carolina Rain, ABC "Young and the Restless" actor John Castellanos, Brad Cotter, actor Jim Fitzpatrick, Colt Ford, former MTV "The Real World" star M.J. Garrett, James House, Marcel, Brad Mates of Emerson Drive, Jason Meadows, John Adam Murph, Larry Stewart, Keni Thomas, ABC "All My Children" actor Aiden Turner, Two Foot Fred, "The King of Queens" actor Gary Valentine, Jimmie Van Zant, Bryan White, "AM Choppers Show" personality Wild Bill and The Wolf from "American Gladiators."

Athletes participating in the Sports Challenge include: U.S. Ski team member Terry Ahola; LPGA tour player Angela Jerman; wrestler Ray Lloyd; Olympic swimmer Steve Lundquist; 2004 RE/MAX World Long Drive Champion Dave Mobley; NFL Tennessee Titans team members: Rob Bironas, Jeremy Cain, Craig Hentrich, Josh Stamer; and former NFL players Rocky Calmus, Steve Cole, Jesse Mahelona, Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta and Kevin Turner.

Following The Celebrity Sports Challenge in the Activity Area, Outdoor Life Magazine, The Source for Hunting and Fishing Adventure, will host the ultimate game-calling contest to highlight the launch of a new conservation program: "Project Save-A-Stream." Chad Schearer from Shoot Straight TV will lead professional and celebrity callers, including singer Jason Brown, in a contest to determine the best turkey and big-game calls. The winner will be provided with an all-expense paid hunting trip and a $1,000 donation to the conservation charity of their choice. Information about how the public can get involved with "Project Save-A-Stream" will be announced and distributed.

Saturday, June 7

Teams competing in the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned CMA Music Festival BBQ Championship will begin their all-day cooking process in the Sports Zone Back Lot early on Saturday, June 7. Teams will compete in four categories: pork ribs, pork shoulder, beef brisket and chicken for a chance to win a share of more than $17,000 in cash and prizes to be distributed to category winners. Judging will be on Sunday, June 8 at 3:00 PM.

At 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 7, four-time World Champion and President of Championship Bull Riding (CBR), Tuff Hedeman, will host the CBR/RFD-TV Celebrity Bull-Riding Challenge in the Sports Zone Activity Area. Singers Jason Brown, Josh Newcom of Indian Rodeo, Danny Rivera, Keni Thomas and Trent Willmon will team up with champion bull riders Wesley Silcox, Ladden Ledbetter, Jake Littlefield, Travis Sellers, and Steve Woolsey from both CBR and the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in a contest to see which team can score highest in overall ride and style. The goal is to stay on the mechanical bull for at least 8 seconds, and the winner will be determined by the audience. Crowds are encouraged to come and cheer for their favorite competitors.

The Fiesta Celebrity Grilling Challenge will begin at 2:00 PM on Saturday, June 7, in the Sports Zone Activity Area, hosted by Lee McWright, Executive Chef for Fiesta Gas Grills. Artists and celebrities will be paired with professional chefs in a culinary competition. Television personality Lorianne Crook, Jamie O'Neal, Country Music Hall of Fame member Mel Tillis, and Mark Wills will be paired with such culinary experts as Chef Jason Brumm, owner of acclaimed Nashville restaurant radius10; Chef George Harvell from the legendary Loveless Cafe; Chef Karl Trohaska from Sheraton Hotels; and Executive Chef Brian Uhl from Sunset Grill, Midtown Grill, and Cabana (where he is also part owner), among others. Each participant will receive a new Fiesta Blue Ember Grill.

Emma Feigenbaum (Everyday Food Associate Food Editor and co-host of PBS television series "Everyday Food") and Kay West (food critic, freelance journalist and People correspondent) will be among the judges.

Sunday, June 8

"The Third Annual New Holland/Michael Peterson Celebrity Tractor Race" will begin at 11:30 AM on Sunday, June 8, in the Sports Zone Activity Area. A blend of Country Music artists, athletes and celebrities will join Peterson in a race against the clock through an obstacle course on a New Holland compact Boomer(TM) compact tractor. Additional participants include: GAC personality Suzanne Alexander; Alvarado Road Show; "Western Beat" host Billy Block; Mark Collie; Ira Dean; CMT "Can You Duet" participants Joey Feek & Rory Martin Feek; new Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Jimmy Fortune; Greg Hanna; CEO of the National Biodiesel Board Joe Jobe; Rolling Stones' keyboardist Chuck Leavell; Darby Ledbetter; Zane Lewis; Country Music historian/journalist Robert K. Oermann; Danny Rivera; Ray Scott; Keni Thomas; Jimmie Van Zandt; GAC "Country Music Across America" host Storme Warren; Trent Willmon; Billy Yates; and NFL Tennessee Titans players Rob Bironas, Kerry Collins, Daniel Loper, and Michael Roos. Following the race, participants will autograph a tractor which will later be auctioned off with part of the proceeds going to the National FFA and to the winner's charity of choice.

Judging for the CMA Music Festival BBQ Championship will begin at 12:00 PM on Sunday, June 8, in the Sports Zone Backlot, followed by the Awards Ceremony at 3:00 PM in the Activity Area. The Grand Champion of the CMA Music Festival BBQ Championship will receive $2,500, a CMA Awards trip package for two including accommodations, an invitation to take part in the prestigious KCBS-sanctioned American Royale competition, and eligibility to participate in the Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitational Barbecue (better known as "The Jack") in late October in Lynchburg, Tenn. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean and Executive Producer of the CMA Music Festival Tony Conway are among the judges for the BBQ Championship.

One of the competing barbecue teams will be selling BBQ in the Chevy Sports Zone all four days. In addition, new for 2008 is the Sports Zone Cafe where hungry fans can enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, soft drinks and cold beer.

The Chevy Sports Zone hosts numerous additional activities and exhibits as well. Visitors can check out the NASCAR vehicle display including the E85 Corvette Indy Pace Car, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s specialty Silverado, the Dale Jr. Foundation Tahoe, and the FLW wrapped Silverado 10x20. In addition, anglers of all ages can meet and get tips from FLW fishermen Luke Clausen and Larry Nixon, experience the FLW Fishing Simulator and catch a fish in the Chevy trout pond. A-Rod wannabes can swing for the fences by playing the new MLB 2K8 XBOX game out of the MLB Silverado, practice in the Cal Ripken, Jr. Baseball Clinics, or test their arms at the MLB Fast Pitch Challenge. Fans can also experience the XM Satellite Radio Ultimate Listening Tour and register for a chance to win an XM handheld radio. The U.S. Air Force will have a real life F-16 Fighter Falcon on display.

Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, will give attendees the chance of a lifetime to become a television personality as part of "Cast and Call." This exciting new promotion will offer the opportunity to be a guest star on an Outdoor Channel hunting or fishing show. To audition, fans should stop by Outdoor Channel's Motor Moose.

Fans can recycle rechargeable batteries and cell phones at the Call2Recycle(TM) Center. truTV(TM) will preview their newest real life, high stakes series which follows oil-drillers in west Texas, "Black Gold" (premiering on the network on Wednesday, June 18 at 10:00 PM). Waggin' Train will hand out free 100% natural dog treats. Cutter(R) and Repel(R) Insect Repellent will also hand out free samples.

Other Chevy Sports Zone partners include: BullFrog(R), Armour(R) Vienna Sausages, Chill Cooling Towels, Bluegreen Corporation, BowTech Archery, Kansas Kansas City BBQ Society, Shire Pharmaceuticals, U.S. Border Patrol, and U.S. Smokeless Tobacco.

Tickets to the individual Nightly Concerts on the VAULT (TM) stages at LP Field are on sale for $40 for reserved seats on the Lower and Club levels, and $30 for general admission in the upper deck of LP Field (plus applicable handling fees). To order tickets call 1-800-CMA-FEST (262-3378); visit www.ticketmaster.com to buy online or charge-by-phone at (615) 255-9600. The Nightly Concerts are also included in the Festival's four-day ticket packages and can be purchased through the same means.