Seven years ago, my mother and I started our annual tradition of road tripping to Nashville, Tenn., for the CMA Music Festival held every June. While you’re there the number of concerts, autograph signings and exhibits you can attend are endless.

While we normally spend a full week in the city, the actual festival only lasts four days. Every night of the festival huge concerts are held at LP Field with the biggest names in country music.

By being a regular at the festival you learn little tips and tricks on how to seek out your favorite celebrities before the nightly shows. My friends and I have a special spot near the stadium where we know we are always going to have good luck before and after the show.

One thing about scouting celebrities is you never know what might happen. In the summer of 2012, my friends and I were standing outside the stadium one night when Jake Owen was playing. We flagged him down to come over to talk and take some pictures with us.

We all wanted to take a big group picture together and Jake was so excited about it he jumped over the fence we were standing behind to take the picture, but when he did he ended up kicking my brand new camera out of my hand and completely destroying it.

Of course, Jake was sweet as pie about the situation and apologized over and over again. He even offered to give me the money to replace it, but of course I said no.

The next year, in 2013, I ran into Jake Owen once again at LP Field and before I could even get out the question of whether or not he remembered me from the past year he said, “I know, I know! I remember, the girl with the camera last year! I’m so sorry again!”

Let’s just say he owes me one.

Column by Breanna Sill, Assistant Features Editor