Jason Aldean kicked off the number by himself, singing the first verse, then the chorus, and then he brought out Travis Tritt on stage. When Tritt stepped on stage, the audience erupted in applause, as it was a moment of nostalgia and celebration. This night was a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the song, and it had been 25 years since Tritt had released the original version in 1998.
Trent, 62, has not been part of national television performances as frequently in recent years, so it was an exciting surprise for many long-time fans to see him on stage to perform with Aldean. The duet was a way to celebrate two generations of country music from the '90s and country music today, Aldean has been a major figure in country music over the past nearly 20 years and Tritt was one of the integral voices of the '90s country movement.
In a behind-the-scenes interview, Aldean called Tritt one of his "musical heroes" and pointed out that he grew up listening to Tritt's music. Tritt said Aldean was a "great guy" and a friend he has known for years.
Their duet became memorable as it is one of the only truly surprising collaborations during the CMA Fest broadcast. Even though guest appearances are the norm at this annual event, the combination of newcomers to the format and established artists created a unique and meaningful moment both for the performers on stage and the audiences at home or in attendance.
“It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” first hit the airwaves in 2000 and instantly became a fan favorite with its upbeat message and singable chorus. Over the years, it has continued to be played at Tritt’s live shows and handed out frequently on country radio.
By having Tritt join in front of a live audience for a special performance of the song together with Aldean, the song’s legacy is honored while demonstrating how older country songs are still influencing today’s artists. The shared Georgia upbringing helped the moment as well, as both artists have helped solidify Georgia's role in country music.
The duet received a plethora of praise online with fans saying that it was one of the best moments from CMA Fest 2025. Social media was flooded with clips of the performance, and a lot of standbyers remarked on the chemistry and energy the two artists brought to the stage.
The CMA Fest 2025 special — titled "CMA Fest presented by SoFi" — featured songs from some of the biggest names in country music. But while they were able to feature many great performances, this duet embodied the spirit of the festival — nostalgia for the past coupled with celebration of the present.
The full special is available to stream now on Hulu, where fans can experience this special moment, even re-live it if they had missed it the first time around.
Image Source:Yahoo
