Owensboro’s Hayley Payne Takes the Stage at CMA Fest

Hayley Payne of Owensboro has been attending the CMA Music Fest every year since she was 11-years-old. It's funny. I actually remember running into Hayley and her family about ten years ago or so inside Fan Fair X. I was the covering the festival for work and she was there dreaming of the day she'd get to take the stage. Next month, that dream- one she has been working incredibly hard for- is coming true.

CMA Fest just announced its performers for the 2026 Tractor Supply Co. Spotlight Stage and Hayley is among the acts featured on it!

Fan Fair X is located on Level 3 of Nashville's Music City Center. It is considered one of the main hubs of CMA Fest activity. It features vendor booths, artist meet and greet opportunities, special events and exhibits, and two stages. Hayley has been chosen to showcase her talents on one of them.

She's set to perform on Friday, June 5th from 12:30pm to 12:55pm.  It's her very first time being featured in the official CMA Fest lineup. She says, "It truly is a dream come true!"

It's funny. As surreal as the opportunity to play seems, Hayley says she has always secretly believed her dream would become a reality. She says, "Fun fact: I had won free stadium tickets every year for about seven years. Everyone always said I was the luckiest person alive, but I always believed it was a little sign that I would get to play one day."

Well, now those signs are pointing to the Tractor Supply Co. Spotlight Stage and the spotlights are pointing to Hayley!

And, another fun fact! Hayley is the second Owensboro, Kentucky act announced as part of the lineup.

READ MORE: Owensboro's Sons of Habit to Play CMA Fest

The group Sons of Habit will be taking the Wrangler Remix Stage on Thursday, June 4th from 1:35pm to 2pm.