Country music's biggest stars converged on Blake Shelton's Ole Red bar and restaurant to perform intimate sets for the genre's most dedicated fans. For the sixth year in a row, Spotify House and Hot Country took over the venue to deliver an experience truly unrivaled anywhere in its space: a wholly free, first-come, first-served opportunity to see the likes of Keith Urban, Kelsea Ballerini, Megan Moroney, and even Shelton himself, in a venue size that is a mere fraction of the average capacities of their shows today.

A World-Class Performance

Those who arrived at the venue early in the morning were treated to all performances until 4 p.m. local time, at which general admission individuals will be cycled out to allow those who had been lining up outside an opportunity to come in for the evening's performances. The setup, admittedly, requires a bit of forethought and planning for fans seeking out specific performances.

Spotify certainly knows how to throw a party, and that ethos was present in every aspect of their Spotify House activation at Ole Red. Massive blue banners printed with the company's logo, as well as the Hot Country one, adorned the facades outside of Ole Red and beckoned the thousands of CMA fans outside to wonder what (and who) was going on inside.

Rocking Performances

Thursday morning kicked off with an electrifying 11 a.m. performance from Urban, who was also set to perform at the festival's main stage just one day later. That very same day, the likes of Bailey Zimmerman, who used the performance to announce a new album, as well as Noah Cyrus and Tanner Adell, who mingled with VIP guests on the balcony, also energized the crowd.

Other listed performers spanning the three-day event included Dylan Gossett, Gavin Adcock, Hudson Westbrook, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, Sam Barber, Thelma & James, Vincent Mason, Zac Brown Band, Brothers Osborne, Cameron Whitcomb, Dasha, Dylan Scott, Hailey Whitters, Josh Ross, Kameron Marlowe, Lily Rose, Little Big Town, Midland, Warren Zeiders, Ashley Cooke, Carly Pearce, Carter Faith, Cole Swindell, Jordan Davis, Kashus Culpepper, Lainey Wilson, Max McNown, Nate Smith, Rascal Flatts, Shaboozey, and Ty Myers.

Memorable Moments

Memorable moments were abundant, with controlled chaos such as TJ Osborne smashing his Gibson Les Paul after a rowdy performance, and Zac Brown Band performing their perpetually covered elsewhere on Broadway hit "Chicken Fried" to an elated crowd.

Talent was abound not only in Spotify House's main room but also on its Fresh Finds Rooftop as well. Arguably one of the most standout moments of the weekend came by way of a moving three-way performance from The Kentucky Gentlemen, Noeline Hofmann, and Angie K, who sang soulful acoustic renditions of their biggest tracks to a core group of enthralled fans amid a torrential rainstorm.

Surprise Guests

However, it isn't Spotify House without special guests, and this year the company pulled out some serious heavy-hitters for fans. Thursday evening was highlighted by a surprise Marshmello DJ set, with the DJ tapping Cooke, Westbrook, Dasha, and Kane Brown for a star-studded collaborative performance that went into the wee hours of Friday morning.

Another star making major waves took the stage at the 11:30 p.m. slot that evening for a surprise performance ahead of Ballerini: Carín León. The artist, who specializes in Mexican regional music, brought his signature flair to the stage with a full glass of tequila in hand as he paid homage to Nashville's roots with a cover of Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey" and a soulful rendition of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."

A Weekend to Remember

The night didn't end there, however, as Ballerini, fresh off her performance at the festival's main stage, did a quick outfit change and took to the stage to close out the evening with boyfriend Chase Stokes in tow. At one sweet moment, while the former performed her hit track "Love Me Like You Mean It," she turned and locked eyes with her Outer Banks star boo and beckoned to him sidestage, shimmying back and forth with a beaming smile.

On Saturday, Spotify House's third and final day, the surprises started early with Cooke stunning fans alongside special guest Ne-Yo, who joined her for a rendition of his hit song "So Sick" during her 3 p.m. set, before gleefully taking selfies with overjoyed fans against the barricades.

Of course, Spotify went out on its final day with a bang, bringing out one special guest after another by way of Shelton and Moroney, who performed to a packed-out venue. Into the night, the party continued with guests including Bachelor and Bachelorette stars Austin Ott, Joey Graziadei, and Kelsey Anderson, as well as Love on the Spectrum star Tanner Smith in attendance throughout the weekend.

A Night to Remember

To close out the evening, Rascall Flatts and Pearce, who also performed together at Nissan Stadium, took to the Spotify stage for back-to-back sets, followed by Swindell and then Shaboozey, who was presented with his first Spotify Billions Club plaque during his performance. As the night once again crept into morning, country heavy-hitters Wilson and Davis rounded out a weekend filled with the best artists, and the best fans, in country music.

Only time will tell what's in store for Spotify House in 2026, but if the last six years are indicative of anything, it will continue to be a monumental task for anyone looking to top the most talked-about free ticket in town.

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