A Star-Studded Night: Highlights from the 2025 iHeart Country Music Festival

by Christopher De LaRosa

Saturday night at the Moody Center was nothing short of electrifying as the 2025 iHeartCountry Music Festival, presented by Capital One, rolled into town. The evening was a celebration of some of the biggest names in country music, creating a memorable experience for fans.

The night kicked off with a brief introduction from iHeart personality Bobby Bones, who shared a light-hearted story about the evening’s first performer, Thomas Rhett. A few weeks earlier, Rhett had injured his ankle after a fall—but now fully recovered, he took the stage with energy, opening with his 2014 hit “Make Me Wanna.” He followed with “Look What God Gave Her” and “Beautiful As You,” the latter briefly interrupted by a mic malfunction. Showing quick thinking, Rhett borrowed the guitarist’s microphone and carried on. His set continued with “Something ’Bout a Woman,” from his seventh studio album, including a remix featuring Teddy Swims, before wrapping up with fan favorites “After All the Bars Are Closed” and the singalong anthem “Die a Happy Man.”

Next up, iHeart personality Amy Brown introduced Rascal Flatts, who made their entrance to Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” before launching into “Here’s to You.” Their high-energy set included hits like “Yours If You Want It,” “Fast Cars and Freedom,” and the upcoming release “I Dare You” featuring the Jonas Brothers. The ballad “What Hurts the Most” slowed the pace before they closed out with the crowd-pleasing Tom Cochrane cover “Life is a Highway.”

Following a quick set change, iHeart personalities Eddie and Lunchbox brought out Nate Smith. The Nashville-based artist, who rose to fame on TikTok, started his set with “Bulletproof” from his album California Gold, which features a duet version with Avril Lavigne. He followed with his breakout hit “Whiskey on You” and closed with “World on Fire.”

In one of the night’s most touching moments, Bobby Bones returned to the stage with a young boy named Gabe, a former St. Jude patient who recently found out he was cancer-free—and celebrating his birthday. Gabe received a warm welcome and had the honor of introducing the next performer: Megan Moroney.

Wearing a red mini skirt and top adorned with silver hearts, Moroney playfully checked her pulse before launching into her heartfelt single “Am I Okay?” from her second studio album. She was then handed a shiny silver studded acoustic guitar for “No Caller ID” and finished strong with her breakout hit “Tennessee Orange.”

Austin radio and television personality Anne Hudson and singer-songwriter Granger Smith introduced Dasha, who didn’t let a brief technical hiccup slow her down. She jumped into the crowd while performing her viral hit “Austin (Boots Stop Working),” sending the audience into a frenzy.

Actor James Van Der Beek then joined Bobby Bones to introduce Bailey Zimmerman. Fireworks accompanied Zimmerman’s entrance as he took the stage in a white T-shirt with a red heart and jeans dotted with hearts. He kicked things off with “Religiously,” followed by “Back Up Plan”—a track featuring Luke Combs. Since Combs couldn’t attend, Zimmerman brought Nate Smith back out to join him. He kept the momentum going with “Where It Ends” and closed with “Rock and a Hard Place,” a powerful ballad about relationship struggles. Zimmerman reflected on how he played the outdoor stage two years prior and expressed gratitude for now headlining inside the Moody Center. His cartwheels at the end of the set drew roaring applause.

Earlier that day, the Daytime Village at the iHeartCountry Festival featured additional performances by Nate Smith, Megan Moroney, Matt Stell, Tucker Wetmore, and Dasha, giving fans even more chances to catch their favorite rising stars.

Something Out West musicians Chet Hanks and Drew Arthur introduced Cole Swindell, who opened with “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” as whiskey barrels lit up the background screen. Dressed in a tan jacket and white ball cap, Swindell followed with “Chillin’ It.” He shared a personal update—he recently got married and is expecting his first child. The heartfelt “Forever to Me,” his 13th number one on country radio, resonated with the audience. He then performed “You Should Be Here,” a touching tribute to his late father. Swindell announced his upcoming album Spanish Moss, releasing June 27 via Warner Music Nashville, and debuted the lead single “We Can Always Move On.” He closed his set with “She Had Me at Heads Carolina,” which peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Swindell gave thanks to Jo Dee Messina for the original inspiration.

Before the final acts, Amy Brown returned to present a touching Mother’s Day video sponsored by Country Crock. Then came Grammy-nominated country star Sam Hunt, who kicked off his set with “House Party,” diving into the crowd to high-five fans. His set included “Kinfolks,” “Outskirts,” and the reflective “Country House.” Hunt shared how he took time off to be with family and expressed how good it felt to be back. He wrapped up his performance with “Take Your Time,” “Break Up in a Small Town,” and the ever-popular “Body Like a Back Road.”

In a surprise moment during the show, Tim McGraw appeared via video to announce that he will be performing at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Festival this September, prompting loud cheers from the audience.

Finally, Bobby Bones introduced the night’s headliners—Brooks & Dunn. Making a pit stop from their 2025 New Moon Tour, the legendary duo lit up the stage with their iconic steer skull backdrop. They wasted no time rolling through hits like “Brand New Man,” “Red Dirt Road,” and “Ain’t Nothing ’Bout You.” Pressed for time, they kept chatter to a minimum and delivered hit after hit: “Rock My World (Little Country Girl),” “Play Something Country,” and “Neon Moon”—where Ronnie Dunn got the crowd to hold a long note before finishing the chorus himself. They performed their chart-topping hit “My Maria” (a B.W. Stevenson cover), and closed the night with “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” and the patriotic anthem “Only in America.” As Marines and sailors marched onstage and saluted the crowd, it was a powerful finale that left fans cheering.

Hulu served as the Official streaming destination of the festival, and the event was broadcast across iHeartCountry stations nationwide, making it accessible to fans around the country.

From heartfelt tributes to viral sensations and country legends, the 2025 iHeartCountry music festival was an unforgettable celebration that will be talked about for weeks to come.

Check out all the highlights from the fest and all our past coverage. See you next year in Austin!