Hosted by Daytime Emmy-Nominated Bradford Anderson (“General Hospital”), The 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 throughSaturday, June 9 (10:00 AM—6:00 PM/CT).

Country’s hottest acts return for the “CMA Music Festival: Country’s Night to Rock,” airing Monday, Sept. 17 (8:00-11:00 PM/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 will be 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 the new highly anticipated fall series stars from “Nashville” including Hayden Panettiere,Clare Bowen, and Sam Palladio. They are doctors by day and rock stars by night, “General Hospital” stars Steve Burton (“Jason Morgan”), Scott Reeves(“Dr. Steven Webber”), Brandon Barash (“Johnny Zacchara”), and Bradford Anderson (“Damian ‘The Jackal’ Spinelli”) makeup 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® was launched in 1972.