Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers Create Music Together For The First Time in Two Decades on 'CMT Crossroads' Premiering This Fall

Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers Create Music Together For The First Time in Two Decades on 'CMT Crossroads' Premiering This Fall

Performance Marks 25th Anniversary of the Hit Song 'Lady'

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- They have been friends for more than two decades, collaborated on numerous projects, sold over 200 million albums combined, and now Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers are reuniting musically for the first time in nearly 20 years for CMT's critically acclaimed series CMT CROSSROADS premiering Fall 2005.

The personal and professional relationship between these two megastars was spawned when they collaborated on one of Rogers' biggest career hits, "Lady," written and produced by Richie, especially for Rogers. In the years that followed their initial pairing, Richie and Rogers collaborated on numerous album projects with Richie producing such Rogers classics as "I Don't Need You," "Share Your Love" and "Through the Years." In 1985 Richie and Rogers became part of history with "We Are The World" and the two last worked together nearly 20 years ago, in 1986, on "Hands Across America." Now, on the 25th anniversary of the recording of "Lady," Richie and Rogers will reunite for CMT CROSSROADS.

Enjoying a level of artistry and longevity matched only by a select few, Lionel Richie has assembled an amazing list of accomplishments, including five Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and sales in excess of 100 million albums worldwide. He has notched 22 Top 10 hits and had nine consecutive years of No.1 songs on the charts. "Three Times A Lady" "Still," "Endless Love," "Truly," "Lady," "Hello," "All Night Long (All Night)," "Say You, Say Me" and "Easy" are standards that have been woven into the fabric of pop culture. Richie completed a sold-out World Arena Tour in support of his 2004 release "Just For You" and recently helped celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the USA FOR AFRICA single "We Are The World" which he co-wrote to benefit African famine relief.

An American icon, there are few artists of Kenny Rogers' stature. His phenomenal success as a global entertainer is unique. In the span of nearly five decades, Rogers has recorded 61 albums, which have sold more than 105 million units worldwide. Rogers' numerous accolades include three Grammy Awards, 11 People's Choice Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music Awards and five Country Music Association Awards. In addition, he was named "Favorite Singer of All Time" in a PM Magazine/USA Today poll in 1986, and in 1989 readers of People magazine voted Rogers "Favorite Male Vocalist." Rogers, who continues to tour and record, is an avid photographer who has released three books showcasing his photographs. Rogers and his wife recently celebrated the birth of twins.

Other CMT CROSSROADS episodes have featured Elvis Costello and Lucinda Williams; Kid Rock and Hank Williams Jr.; ZZ Top and Brooks & Dunn; Elton John and Ryan Adams; Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson; James Taylor and the Dixie Chicks; Ray Charles and Travis Tritt; John Mellencamp and Kenny Chesney; Melissa Etheridge and Dolly Parton; Pat Benatar and Martina McBride; Dave Matthews and Emmylou Harris; a live NFL Super Bowl CROSSROADS special featuring Toby Keith performing with Willie Nelson, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Sammy Hagar, Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith, Ted Nugent and jazz musician Wayman Tisdale; John Mayer and Brad Paisley; Heart and Wynonna; Lynyrd Skynyrd and Montgomery Gentry; John Fogerty and Keith Urban; and Los Lonely Boys and Ronnie Milsap.

For more information on CMT CROSSROADS log on to CMT.com http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/cmt_crossroads/series.jhtml

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

Web site: http://www.cmt.com/ http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/cmt_crossroads/series.jhtml

------- Profile: Ent