Marty Stuart’s seventh annual Late Night Jam has been designated an official CMA Music Festival event for the first time this year, and the June 4, 2008 lineup has gotten just a little more impressive with the addition of Gretchen Wilson and Old Crow Medicine Show.

The show, held each year at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium, raises money for the Opry Trust Fund and inevitably has some nifty surprises with unexpected guests and collaborations. Last year is a good example: Marty backed John Rich in a performance of the old Johnny Horton chestnut "North To Alaska."

John returns this year to host his own half-hour segment during the Late Night Jam. Given his MuzikMafia connections, that could mean even more surprises than usual.

The Jam will mark the first of two CMA Music Festival appearances at the Ryman for Gretchen. She’ll return the next day for the CMA Closeup Series, in which she’ll field questions about her life and career from fans through moderator Lorianne Crook. The event, which also features Randy Travis and Taylor Swift, will be taped for a GAC special.

Old Crow Medicine Show has earned plenty of respect in Music City, enough that the band performed for a theater full of stars during a tribute to Ernest "Pop" Stoneman when the late pioneer was inducted last month into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Others who will appear at the Late Night Jam include Charlie Daniels, Mike Farris, the Steel Drivers, Sunny Sweeney and Kathy Mattea, whose current Coal album was produced by Marty.