- Glen Powell plays a country singer in a new movie called ‘The Comeback King.’
- To really get into the part, he showed up onstage at CMA Fest on June 7.
- Glen chugged a beer from a boot in a scene that should appear in the comedy film, which comes out in 2027.
CMA Fest is going to the big screen, at least for a few minutes. Twisters star Glen Powell is playing a country music star in an upcoming role, so it was only fitting that he show up at country music’s biggest fan-centered festival in Nashville.
Glen will star in a new Judd Apatow comedy called The Comeback King, slated for release in February 2027. His CMA Fest appearance was filmed for a scene in the flick, during which he takes a “shoey” — chugs a beer out of a boot — as the crowd cheers him on. The moment was taped during the the final night of CMA Fest, during Riley Green’s set.
“We are going to set a record tonight for the best group chug in all of Nashville history. I forgot a cup, so I’ve got to take a boot,” Glen mused as he made a theatric pour into a brown boot.
Looking like a young Alan Jackson in a black cowboy hat and a full mustache, the actor drank it down like he’s done it a time or two, then tossed the boot into the crowd as a souvenir for a lucky fan. Before leaving the stage, he thanked concert-goers for “being a part of our movie.”
Leanne Morgan, Kumail Nanjiani, Madelyn Cline, Mike Birbiglia and several others have been cast in The Comeback King, which is in production currently. Details are scarce, but the synopsis describes the plot as: “A country western star experiences a dramatic downfall and must navigate their career in free fall,” the “country western star” being Glen.
A television special capturing the best of the 2026 CMA Fest performances from Nissan Stadium will air at the end of the month on ABC. Headliners from the event included real country music stars Blake Shelton, Ella Langley, Tim McGraw Riley Green, Luke Bryan, Zach Top and more. There was even the unprecedented reunion of beloved country duo Florida Georgia Line, though it’s not clear if that will make the television airing.
There were other surprises, too, like Jelly Roll’s unannounced performance and Lainey Wilson joining Tim McGraw for a duet of his smash ‘90s hit “I Like It, I Love It.”
CMA Fest Presented by SoFi, the three-hour television special, will air on June 25 on ABC at 8 p.m. ET, then stream the next day on Hulu. Riley Green and Good Morning America co-host Lara Spencer will host the three-hour show together. CMA Fest is an annual event that is said to be the longest-running of its kind. “The Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience” was introduced as Fan Fair in 1972 and has become somewhat of a mecca for country music fans, many of whom travel from all over the world to take part in the fun.
Amanda Hensel Jermstad is a skilled writer based in Austin, Texas. She spent 14 years as Editor-in-Chief of Taste of Country, where she led coverage of the artists, stories and trends shaping country music. With a career deeply rooted in the genre, Amanda has built a reputation for sharp editorial insight and authentic storytelling. Outside of work, she’s a proud mom of three.
