'CMT INSIDER' to Broadcast CMA Awards Nominations Live From New York City on Wednesday, September 7 at 10:15 AM*

'CMT INSIDER' to Broadcast CMA Awards Nominations Live From New York City on Wednesday, September 7 at 10:15 AM*

Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack Announce the Final Nominees in New York

Sugarland to Join Host Katie Cook from CMT's Nashville Studio

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- CMT will preempt regularly scheduled programming to broadcast the announcement of the final nominees for the 2005 CMA Awards LIVE on Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 10:15-10:45 AM* in a special edition of CMT INSIDER. Hosted by CMT's Katie Cook and Lance Smith, CMT INSIDER will reveal the final nominees in all 12 CMA Award categories.

CMT host Lance Smith will cover the event live from New York City's Time Warner Center, where reigning CMA male vocalist of the year Keith Urban and three-time CMA Award winner Lee Ann Womack will announce the final nominees for "The 39th Annual CMA Awards." Back in CMT's Nashville studio, Katie Cook will be joined by the platinum country trio Sugarland and industry insiders for the entire announcements, which will be broadcast only on CMT.

"We are delighted that CMT is covering the announcement of the CMA final nominees for a second year," said CMA Executive Director Ed Benson. "It's an important news service for their viewers and the industry. Last year, artists told me they watched from their buses on the road and were able to hear the news right along with their fans as it was happening. It's great to have CMT's coverage of our industry's most-anticipated announcement."

CMT will rebroadcast the 30-minute special CMA edition of CMT INSIDER on Sept. 7 at 11:00 AM, and again at 10:30 PM.

The 39th Annual CMA Awards, "Country Music's Biggest Night(TM)," premieres live Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 8:00-11:00 PM from Madison Square Garden on the CBS Television Network.

CMT's weekly series CMT INSIDER, hosted by Katie Cook, gives viewers their fix of country music news plus broader topics from the entertainment world including the latest in movies, music, fashion and sports. Each week CMT INSIDER explores the week's hot topics in entertainment including the lifestyles of celebrities, legends and breaking country music events.

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 77.9 million households in the United States. Go to country music's biggest web site at www.CMT.com.

*All times ET.

Source: CMT

CONTACT: Amanda Murphy of CMT, +1-615-335-8408, or amanda.murphy@cmt.com

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

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