The Voices of America Country Music Festival kicks off Thursday night with its first performances and continues throughout the weekend. Carrie Underwood, HARDY, and Darius Rucker are the headliners.

West Chester Township

The VOA Country Music Festival has started at Voice of America Park in West Chester Township, attracting tens of thousands of country music fans. The festival features 35 artists performing across three stages, with headliners including Darius Rucker, Carrie Underwood, Hardy, and Bailey Zimmerman. A new third stage has been added this year to showcase local artists such as Max Gears, Trey Bryant, Corey Hooker, and Drew Freeland. 

Organizers have implemented measures to manage the large crowds, including a clear bag policy, designated parking with required passes, and encouragement to carpool. Free water stations are available due to expected hot weather, and local businesses are experiencing increased activity as fans arrive from 37 different states. Local law enforcement is present to ensure safety throughout the event.

VOA Country Music Festival begins with headliners

and tens of thousands of country music fans are flooding into Westchester for the weekend. Tonight kicks off the V. A. Way Country Music Fest. We're gonna check back in with W. C. P. M. Nine News reporter Ali Kramer, who is live on the main stage there at Voice of America Park in Westchester Alley. Someone pretty awesome just arrived. Yes, and I'm all in the case. I am trying to figure out a tour bus just arrived, and it has to be one of the artists. Of course, it's going to be headlining tonight. I'm thinking it's either Darius Rucker, who, of course, is the main stage tonight, or Taylor Mill. Our hometown girl, Carly Pierce, always so going to be performing. And, you know, I know that maybe her name isn't quite as big, but Tana Matz is from Reading, and she's going to be here as well. So I'm thinking it's one of them. Anybody that's got a tour bus and I'm kind of on the case trying to figure exactly everything out. But the stage is set. This is exactly what you're going to see if you are coming to the V. A. Way Country Music Fest this weekend with 100,000 of your closest friends is going to be packed. If you're not familiar with the festival, 35 different country artists on three different stages. As I mentioned tonight's Darius Rucker tomorrow, the headliner for the entire festival, Carrie Underwood. And then Saturday, you've got Hardy Sunday, Bailey Zimmerman. Look, massive, massive event right in the heart of Westchester parking. Always an issue in years past, organizers say they've got the lots opening just an hour before the gates to the festival open. That would be four o'clock today. You have to buy a parking pass. They encourage you to carpool as much as possible. But think about that. The traffic, the influx at four and five o'clock today in Westchester makes for a very busy evening commute. Keep that in mind both today and tomorrow. Remember, for attendees, it is a clear bag policy, much like pretty much every other venue in town. The weather expected to be host the weather this weekend, rather expected to be really hot so you can bring one of those reusable water bottles. It's kind of got to be soft sided. We're not talking about your big heavy Stanley. They have free water stations to fill up and also new this year, you're going to see a third stage that's going to feature some really cool local artists. Also, this year we've added a third stage and that is highlighting all of the local artists that we have around here is like Max gears, Trey Bryant, Corey Hooker, Drew Freeland. That is going to be the Pepsi tent and that will be live friday through sunday. So that's something that's cool and new this year. And everybody is kind of talking about like the number of people that come to Westchester. So hotels, restaurants, businesses just packed 37 different states. That's where fans are coming from for the festival this weekend. And Kristen, not only is it like this crazy atmosphere here, but it just does so much for Westchester Township and they prepare accordingly. I can already see kind of like the sheriff's office and the police deputy kind of up in the sky so that they can watch all of their vehicles and their crews are here. So a lot of preparation goes into what's going to be hopefully a really fun, safe weekend. Absolutely. And I really like what you're talking about the local stage. That's really cool and fun. And so yeah, who is in the trailer though? You're on the case like Nancy. I'm on it. All right. Thanks so much Allie. We appreciate it.

U.S. President Donald Trump said that there is a good chance he'll meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin soon over Russia's war with Ukraine.

Washington

Ukraine Invasion

Trump says 'good chance' he'll meet with Putin soon

U.S. President Donal Trump officially began levying higher import taxes on dozens of countries on Thursday (August 7), just as the economic fallout of his months-long tariff threats was beginning to create visible damage to the U.S. economy.

Global Tariffs

Higher U.S. tariffs officially take effect

The man accused of killing two Israeli Embassy staffers in Washington, D.C., earlier this year has been charged with federal hate crime charges. CBS News Justice reporter Jake Rosen has more.

Hate crime charges filed in killings of Israeli Embassy staffers

As Sean "Diddy" Combs awaits his sentencing, his lead attorney Marc Agnifilo says he has not talked to anyone at the White House about a possible pardon.

New York

Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorney says he hasn't had talks about a pardon

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, blamed Hamas when asked about starvation in Gaza, saying, "Hamas has not allowed the food to get to the people who are hungry." Huckabee also addressed questions over the controversial aid sites.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

U.S. Ambassador to Israel faces questions over starvation in Gaza

On "T-Day," the US began enforcing Trump's new tariffs, raising average rates from 2% to 15% after a 90-day pause allowed some countries to negotiate reduced deals while others, like India and Brazil, faced hikes. These tariffs have generated over $150 billion in revenue by July, impacting various sectors and aiming to address trade imbalances.

U.S. begins collecting Trump's new global tariffs

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva says he plans to call the leaders of China and India, to discuss a joint response to new US tariffs. The announcement came as Brazil and India were hit with 50 percent levies - the highest imposed by President Donald Trump.

State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil halts U.S. trade talks as Lula condemns new tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil in a move that sharply escalated tensions between the two nations after trade talks reached a deadlock.

Trump imposes extra 25% tariff on India over Russian oil imports

President Trump has been briefed about the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia, the White House press secretary says. At least five soldiers were shot before a suspect was apprehended, officials say.

Fort Stewart

Five soldiers shot at Fort Stewart in Georgia; suspect apprehended

A Russian official said President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had a "useful and constructive" conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.

Moscow

Witkoff, Putin had 'useful and constructive conversation'

The U.S. aims to deploy nuclear power reactors on the Moon and Mars, targeting the first launch by decade’s end. A new NASA directive, revealed by Politico and AFP, calls for appointing a nuclear power czar to choose two commercial proposals within six months, aiming to outpace a Chinese-Russian collaboration.

NASA races to put nuclear reactors on Moon and Mars

Japan held a memorial service and ceremony for victims and the remaining survivors of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, marking its 80th anniversary and renewing pledges of working towards a world without nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima marks 80th anniversary since U.S. atomic bombing

The U.S. is warning travelers as cases of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, spreads in China. Health officials in China have ordered mass disinfection measures. The region near Hong Kong reported more than 7,000 cases in recent weeks.

Beijing

U.S. warns travelers as cases of chikungunya increase in China

Japan has commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing during World War II. Ceremonies at Peace Memorial Park honoured the victims of the 1945 nuclear attack by US forces.

Japan’s Hiroshima marks 80 years since U.S. atomic bombing

Multiple media outlets in Israel have reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a complete military takeover of Gaza, while almost 600 former Israeli military and security officials are petitioning Washington to stop the fighting.

Netanyahu reportedly wants complete Gaza takeover

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he had a productive talk with President Trump focused on ending the war with Russia. CBS News national security contributor Samantha Vinograd has more.

Kyiv

Zelenskyy holds 'productive talks' with Trump about war

Family members of two of the victims from the 2023 implosion are demanding tougher regulations following the damning report released on Tuesday. Five people died when the submersible imploded off the coast of Newfoundland.

Deadly Titan submersible disaster was preventable, Coast Guard says

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed multiple people over the Jeffrey Epstein files, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CBS News' Jake Rosen has more details.

House committee subpoenas Clintons, others over Epstein files

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have been directed through a federal court order to stop deportations under President Trump's asylum ban, sources say. CBS News' Camilo Montoya-Galvez has more details.

Court blocks deportations under Trump's asylum ban, sources say

A man suspected of murdering four family members in Tennessee has been captured after a four-day manhunt, authorities said. CBS News' Nicole Valdes has more.

Jackson

Suspect arrested in murders of 4 Tennessee family members

The ruling comes a month after Brazil’s top court ordered the former president to wear an ankle monitor, submit to a curfew and abide by limitations on his activity as legal proceedings investigating an alleged coup plot continue.

Brazil's Supreme Court orders house arrest of Bolsonaro

The US and Lebanon have been holding talks on a roadmap to fully disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon's new leadership has pledged to extend its authority across all its territory but has so far avoided acting against Hezbollah.

Beirut

Lebanon faces renewed pressure to disarm Hezbollah

CBC News had exclusive access to a Canadian Armed Forces plane that dropped about 10,000 kilograms of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the first time Canada joined the airdrop operations. Several countries airdropped food on Monday, but aid organizations agree they are more symbolic than effective.

Ottawa

Canadian military makes aid drop into Gaza

The Prime Minister's Office said to the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir that, "If this does not suit him, you should resign."

Israel's Netanyahu says decision made for full occupation of Gaza

Delegates are gathering this week at the United Nations in Geneva, attempting to negotiate a global treaty to curb plastic pollution. But diplomats and climate advocates warn that efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production are threatened by opposition.

Geneva

Strong UN treaty on plastic pollution in doubt as talks resume

President Trump announced Friday on social media that he ordered two nuclear submarines to move into more strategic positions near Russia. On Monday, Russian officials downplayed the comments and warned about the risk of nuclear rhetoric.

Russia downplays Trump's announcement about nuclear submarines

U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer told "Face the Nation" that tariff rates are "pretty much set" ahead of President Trump's Aug. 7 deadline. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has the latest.

White House holds firm on tariff rates ahead on Aug. 7 deadline

Donald Trump confirmed his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, ahead of a deadline the U.S. president has set for Russia to agree to end the Ukraine war or face new sanctions. Witkoff is expected in Moscow in the middle of this week.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expected to visit Russia

New images of emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the nearly 22-month war.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Videos of hostages increase pressure on Netanyahu for ceasefire

Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a weekend jubilee for more than 1 million young Catholics at a Rome suburb. As a new generation from around the globe celebrated, the pope drew attention to their peers in Ukraine and Gaza who cannot.

Breakdown