CMTInvitation Only is a television program that airs on CMT. It gives fans a chance to get up close and personal with their favorite country artists in a smaller, more intimate setting. It gives the artists a chance to promote new music as well as an opportunity to get face to face feedback on their music.
Early Performances
Up to this point in time, there have been eight episodes of CMT Invitation Only. In 2007, Keith Urban became the first to join forces with CMT. The show aired on November 9, 2007 to help promote his new CD, , which was released on November 20, 2007. The following year, Alan Jackson decided to participate in the next installment of the series. The show was filmed on January 31, 2008 at the Factory in Franklin, TN. Jackson sang 13 songs, spoke to the audience and took questions from fans. Songs performed included "Gone Country" and "Chattahoochee," as well as new tunes such as "Small Town Southern Man" and "I Still Like Bologna". Just as with Urban, this show helped to promote the release of his new album, Good Time, which was released on March 4, 2008. The show aired on March 9, 2008 at 9:00 p.m., only 5 days later.
In the first week of May 2009, CMT embarked on one of their busiest production weeks in their history as part of the CMT Summer of Music. After filming a CMT Crossroads episode with Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams on Monday, May 4 in Franklin, TN, they were scheduled to enter four consecutive nights of filming four episodes of Invitation Only. However, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland was put on vocal rest by her doctor, and the duo had to cancel their Tuesday May 5 show. The rest of the scheduled tapings were filmed as scheduled the next three nights. On May 6, 2009, Brad Paisley taped an episode that aired August 3, 2009. He performed four new songs, including "Then" and "American Saturday Night," from his then upcoming album, American Saturday Night. He also performed some of the more popular hits such as "Alcohol" and "Mud on the Tires" from his recent albums. Several songs including "Ticks," "Letter to Me" and "Anything Like Me" did not make the final cut for television. On May 7, 2009, Darius Rucker taped an episode as he and his backup band performed several of his favorites from his debut country album Learn to Live. Rucker also performed a few of the hits that he had as the frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish, including "Let Her Cry" and "Hold My Hand." The show premiered on July 3, 2009 at 11:00 p.m. The final episode of the three was taped on Friday, May 8, 2009. Reba McEntire performed some of her classics as well as several songs from her new album Keep on Loving You. The episode aired on August 21, 2009, three days after the new album was released.
Autumn 2009
On August 12, 2009, just two days after announcing that they were splitting up as a duo, Brooks & Dunn taped an episode of Invitation Only that aired October 30, 2009. On September 12, 2009, Carrie Underwood taped an episode of the show to promote her upcoming album Play On which was released on November 3. Underwood performed the first single from the album, "Cowboy Casanova" and three other new songs, "Temporary Home," "Mama's Song" and "Undo It". The episode aired on Dish NetworkNovember 3rd, 2009 and on CMT December 1, 2009. On September 14, 2009, Tim McGraw taped an episode of the show to generate interest in his new album Southern Voice, which was released on October 20. The episode aired on Dish Network on October 1, 2009 and on CMT on November 13, 2009.
Late Summer/Autumn 2010
The first of several episodes in 2010 was the Miranda Lambert episode, which debuted on August 23, 2010. The episode aired just 8 days before Lambert set a new record for most CMA nominations by a female country artist. The second of these episodes was Kenny Chesney's, which aired on September 27, 2010. The following day, Chesney's album Hemingway's Whiskey went on sale worldwide. The episode featured new material from Hemingway's Whiskey, including a performance of "Coastal," which was made into a music video for rotation on CMT. Toby Keith's episode aired on October 8, 2010, just 3 days after the release of his most recent album, Bullets in the Gun. The episode featured a debut performance of the most recent single, which also happens to be the album's title track, as well as the previous single, "Trailerhood." Rascal Flatts promoted their album Nothing Like This by airing an episode on November 16, 2010.
2011
Jason Aldean's show aired on July 29, 2011. Martina McBride promoted her album Eleven by airing an episode on October 17, 2011. All past episodes are available for viewing in their entirety at CMT.com.
The invitation of fans to the event is very secretive. Fans are selected ahead of time through the artist's fan club. Not everyone who enters for a chance to attend is granted the opportunity. Fans are encouraged to take a vow of silence leading up to the private show, so as to avoid word of mouth. Once the lucky fans are selected, they are officially extended invitations with instructions on the location of the concert, directions for transportation, proper attire, and what can be expected at the concert.
In late 2009, it was announced that CMT and the Valory Music Group had teamed up to release a DVD of Reba McEntire's episode of Invitation Only. The DVD, which was released on February 9, 2010, features ten performances from the show, as well as extended interviews with Reba, and music videos for Strange and Consider Me Gone. The DVD was simply titled, as expected, .
