'CMT Outlaws' Returns to Celebrate Country Music's Greatest Rebels and Their Music in a Two-Hour Concert Special Premiering November 5 on CMT

'CMT Outlaws' Returns to Celebrate Country Music's Greatest Rebels and Their Music in a Two-Hour Concert Special Premiering November 5 on CMT

Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Billy Joe Shaver, Shelby Lynne, David Allan Coe and More Turn Up the Heat In Concert Before Invitation-Only Audience

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 29 /PRNewswire/ -- CMT's 2004 landmark television event, CMT OUTLAWS, returns by popular demand and pays homage to revolutionaries past and present, with performances by country music giant Toby Keith, Merle Haggard, Billy Joe Shaver, Shelby Lynne and David Allan Coe all sharing the same stage. CMT OUTLAWS 2005 premieres Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 PM, ET/PT on CMT.

Before an invitation-only audience, CMT OUTLAWS 2005 celebrates the true rebels of country music with country greats who make their music and live their lives according to their own rules. Superstar Toby Keith, who has made headlines for his own "outlaw spirit," will be joined on-stage by Country Music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard, who has written and recorded many undeniable country classics, including "Mama Tried," "Okie from Muskogee" and "The Fightin' Side of Me." Haggard, who spent nearly three years in San Quentin prison for burglary, later to be pardoned by then Governor Ronald Reagan, is truly an original "Outlaw." Keith, who has 10 platinum albums to his credit, amassed 21 chart-topping singles in his career and sold over 25 million albums, adds his own brand of rabble rousing to CMT OUTLAWS.

Also taking the stage are singer/songwriter extraordinaire Billy Joe Shaver, who wrote most of the songs on Waylon Jennings' "Honky Tonk Heroes" album; Grammy winning powerhouse Shelby Lynne; and David Allan Coe, another original "Outlaw," who wrote Johnny Paycheck's No. 1 country hit "Take This Job And Shove It."

Last year's CMT OUTLAWS concert included performances by Hank Williams Jr., Kid Rock, Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, Big & Rich, Tanya Tucker, Jessi Colter, Shooter Jennings, Metallica's James Hetfield and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

For more information on CMT OUTLAWS log on to CMT.com.

CMT, America's No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 77.1 million households in the United States. Go to country music's biggest web site at http://www.cmt.com/.

Source: CMT

CONTACT: Cindy McLean, +1-615-335-8404, or cindy.mclean@cmt.com , or Lisa Chader, +1-615-335-8405, or lisa.chader@cmt.com , both of CMT

Web site: http://www.cmt.com/

------- Profile: Ent