ABC ANNOUNCES ANNUAL BLOCK PARTY AT THE CMA MUSIC FESTIVAL IN NASHVILLE

Hosted by Daytime Emmy-Nominated Bradford Anderson ("General Hospital"), ABC Summer Block Party in Nashville Will Be Filled With Special Appearances by Stars From the Highly Anticipated New ABC Series "Nashville," Including Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio, with Performances from Port Chuck and a Visit from Nashville's Own Grilled Cheeserie Food Truck Themed to ABC's "The Chew"

Get ready for some great performances, your favorite stars, delicious food, show giveaways and lots of down home fun! ABC returns for the 2012 CMA Musical Festival and will be rolling out the welcome mat at The ABC Summer Block Party, which gets started on Friday, June 8, continuing through Saturday, June 9 (10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., CT).

Country's hottest acts return for the "CMA Music Festival: Country's Night to Rock," airing MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 (8:00-11:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

This year's block party, hosted by Bradford Anderson ("General Hospital"), is packed with entertainment for the entire family. Located on the historic Broadway strip in downtown Nashville, the party will include daily activities, fun games and exclusive screenings of some of ABC's new fall pilots. Take a bite out of the Festival when Nashville's own Grilled Cheeserie Truck is on site with sandwiches provided and inspired by ABC's "The Chew." You never know who might turn up from the show to tempt your appetite.

In addition, Q&A sessions and autograph signings will be held with stars from the highly anticipated fall series "Nashville," including Hayden Panettiere, Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio, as well as "General Hospital's" Steve Burton (Jason Morgan), Scott Reeves (Dr. Steven Webber), Brandon Barash (Johnny Zacchara) and Bradford Anderson (Damian 'The Jackal' Spinelli), who are doctors by day, rock stars by night, and make up the band Port Chuck. There will be plenty of music to tap your toes to, lots of stars to gaze at, and plenty of food to satisfy your appetite when ABC arrives in Nashville.

The three-hour ABC special is a primetime postcard of all the best Festival concert performances and behind-the-scenes stories with Country Music superstars. This is the eighth time ABC will broadcast this special, which invites the whole country to America's biggest Country Music bash, since the original Fan Fair(R) was launched in 1972.