CMT ONE COUNTRY PRESENTS THE FIRST "2008 CMT AWARDS" ONLINE CELEBRITY AUCTION

Online Auction Benefits CMT ONE COUNTRY Partners and Features Items Donated By
Hosts Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus as well as Alan Jackson, Big & Rich, Bobby Brown,
Bucky Covington, Chuck Wicks, Diana DeGarmo, Faith Hill, Jake Owen, Jason Aldean,
Josh Turner, Julio Iglesias Jr., Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Little Big Town,
Luke Bryan, Maureen McCormick, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts,
Sara Evans, Toby Keith and Tom Arnold

NASHVILLE – April 11, 2008 – CMT brings the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS to the fans, one item at a time, as CMT ONE COUNTRY presents an online auction of items donated by awards show participants beginning Tuesday, April 15. All proceeds benefit CMT ONE COUNTRY partners, which include America’s Second Harvest, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Habitat for Humanity, Hands On Network and the USO (United Service Organizations).

The online auction, via cmtauctions.com, will feature:
· a specially designed t-shirt by Manuel Couture worn by Miley Cyrus during a CMT host photo shoot
· a guitar signed by Miley Cyrus
· a pair of autographed jeans worn by Keith Urban
· a t-shirt worn by Jay DeMarcus in the Rascal Flatts video “Everyday”
· a shirt worn by Faith Hill during 2006’s Soul2Soul tour
· the shirt worn by LeAnn Rimes in the video for “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine”
· an autographed cowboy hat worn by Bobby Brown in GONE COUNTRY
· cowboy boots worn by Maureen McCormick in GONE COUNTRY
· items worn by Little Big Town and GONE COUNTRY’s Diana DeGarmo to the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
· a jacket worn by Bucky Covington during “American Idol”
· a MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING-inspired blender signed by Tom Arnold
· a script signed by the cast of Toby Keith’s new film, BEER FOR MY HORSES, the latest film produced jointly by CMT Films and Keith
· As well as other items donated by Alan Jackson, Big & Rich, Billy Ray Cyrus, Chuck Wicks, Jake Owen, Jason Aldean, Josh Turner, Julio Iglesias Jr., Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and Sara EvansHosted by music’s hottest father and daughter, Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus,
The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS aired live from Nashville’s Curb Event Center at Belmont University on Monday, April 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT* on CMT and CMT.com. Including performances by Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift and a special performance by Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS continues to be the genre’s only fan-voted awards.

CMT Award Winners

Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift were the big winners at last night's CMT Awards. Pickler, a 21-year-old former American Idol contestant, received three awards for her single "I Wonder." Swift took home two tropies, including the top award, video of the year, for "Our Song."

"I wrote that song for a talent show," the 18-year-old confessed onstage in Nashville.

Other trophy recipients included Trace Adkins, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, LeAnn Rimes and Brad Paisley.

Read below for a full list of winners.

Video of the Year - Taylor Swift - "Our Song"
Duo Video of the Year - Sugarland - "Stay"
Male Video of the Year - Trace Adkins - "I Got My Game On"
Wide Open Country Video of the Year - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant -
Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)"
Collaborative Video of the Year - Bon Jovi feat. LeAnn Rimes - "Nothin' Better to Do"
Female Video of the Year - Taylor Swift - "Out Song"
Performance of the Year - Kellie Pickler - "I Wonder" - 41st Annual CMA Awards
Comedy Video of the Year - Brad Paisley - "Online"
Tearjerker Video of the Year - Kellie Pickler - "I Wonder"
Supporting Character of the Year - Rodney Carrington - "I Got My Game On"
Video Director of the Year - Michael Salomon
Breakthrough Video of the Year - Kellie Pickler - "I Wonder"
Group Video of the Year - Rascal Flatts - "Take Me There"

The CMT Awards are selected based on fan voting. This years performers included Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Toby Keith, Alan Jackson and Taylor Swift. Hosts Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus also did a special performance.

2008 CMT Awards

A star-studded line-up of presenters has been added to the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS including Jason Aldean, Jewel, Josh Turner, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Reba McEntire, comedian Rodney Carrington, Sara Evans, Taylor Swift, The Eagle' Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmidt and actor Tim Daly (ABC’s "Private Practice"). CMT favorites including hosts Katie Cook and Lance Smith, Bobby Brown, John Rich and Maureen McCormick of the hit series GONE COUNTRY and Tom Arnold, host of CMT’s MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING, as well as judge Naomi Judd and host Rossi Morreale of the new CMT series CAN YOU DUET will also serve as presenters.

Hosted by music’s hottest father and daughter, Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will include performances by Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn with a special performance by Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus. The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS continues to be the genre’s only fan-voted awards.

Artists aren’t the only ones winning at the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, as CMT ONE COUNTRY will be gifting $2500 to winners in each category of the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS for the charity of their choice, it was announced today by CMT’s Director of Public Affairs, Lucia Folk. CMT ONE COUNTRY, CMT’s pro-social initiative, was launched in the fall of 2005 to inspire CMT viewers to take action and bring about important change in their communities. Visit CMTONECOUNTRY.com to learn more information about the nominated artists’ charities.

"CMT ONE COUNTRY recognizes that our 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS nominees have causes which they hold near and dear to their heart, and we would like to showcase these important causes to the millions of fans who vote for their favorite artists," said Folk. "Much like the goal of CMT ONE COUNTRY to inspire others to take action and bring about change, we are proud to facilitate artists giving back to the community that has supported them in their successes."

A complete list of the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS nominated artists and the charities who would receive their donation are below (in alphabetical order):
- Alison Krauss: Thistle Farms
- Big & Rich: My Sister's Keeper and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Billy Ray Cyrus: City of Hope
- Blake Shelton: RAINDANCE
- Bon Jovi: The Philadelphia Soul Foundation
- Brad Paisley: Target House at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Brooks & Dunn: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Bucky Covington: USO
- Carrie Underwood: Humane Society of the United States
- Christian Kane: The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp
- Chuck Wicks: American Cancer Society
- David McClister (Director): TBD
- Dierks Bentley: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
- The Eagles: The Walden Woods Project
- Faith Hill: Neighbor's Keeper Foundation
- Garth Brooks: Susan G. Komen for the Cure
- Huey Lewis: Carousel Fund
- Jack Ingram: Habitat for Humanity
- Jason Alexander: Oakwood School
- Keith Urban: Nashville Alliance for Public Education
- Kellie Pickler: AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program
- Kelly Clarkson: March of Dimes
- Kenny Chesney: PLAN!T NOW
- LeAnn Rimes: Nashville Humane Association
- Little Big Town: Blood:Water Mission
- Luke Bryan: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Middle Tennessee
- Martina McBride: Childhelp
- Michael Salomon (Director): American Cancer Society
- Miranda Lambert: Humane Society of East Texas
- Montgomery Gentry: T.J. Martell Foundation
- Rascal Flatts: Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Reba McEntire: Habitat for Humanity
- Robert Plant: TurtleWill
- Rodney Carrington: Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation (PKD Foundation)
- Roman White (Director): St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
- Shaun Silva (Director): Special Spaces
- Sugarland: American Liver Foundation
- Taylor Swift: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Tim McGraw: Neighbor's Keeper Foundation
- Toby Keith: Ally’s House
- Trace Adkins: The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN)
- Trey Fanjoy (Director): MusiCares
- Tyler Hilton: T.H. Books for Kids
- Willie Nelson: Farm Aid

Miley and Billy Ray to host the CMT's

Music’s hottest father and daughter are set to rock Nashville as Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus host the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS live from Nashville’s Curb Event Center at Belmont University at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT* on CMT and CMT.com. Not only will they host the musical party, but Billy Ray and Miley will take the stage for an unforgettable performance.

"Miley and I are so excited to be hosting the CMT Music Awards. We know it will be a fun-filled night with a lot of great music performances," says Billy Ray Cyrus and daughter Miley.In 1992, Cyrus took the country world by storm with the breakout single, “Achy, Breaky Heart,” which drove his debut album Some Gave All to sell more than nine million copies. The multi-platinum superstar has released 10 albums and held multiple chart toppers, including “Could’ve Been Me” and “Busy Man.” His TV work includes starring roles on the Disney Channel hit series “Hannah Montana” with his daughter Miley, the Pax series “Doc,” plus last year he was featured in ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” and most recently on the CMT reality series Home At Last. Cyrus’ latest Top 5 single from his Walt Disney Records album Home At Last, “Ready, Set, Don’t Go,” is a duet with his daughter, Miley. Cyrus is currently writing material for his next studio album due later this summer.

Cyrus will soon begin production on "The Hannah Montana Movie" and in addition to co-starring alongside daughter Miley, he will also serve as co-producer on the feature film. Two films scheduled for release later this year are "Flying By" co-starring Heather Locklear and "Bait Shop" co-starring Bill Engvall.Multi-talented. Last year, her triple platinum Hannah Montana soundtrack became the first ever TV soundtrack to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 and Miley became the youngest artist to have two No. 1 hits in less than a year. In 2007, the 15-year old followed that record with a two-disc set, Hannah Montana2 / Meet Miley Cyrus, which reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top 200 and has since earned triple-platinum status.

In late-January Miley completed a 70-date sold out concert tour and by mid-February had the No. 1 film in the country with the Walt Disney Pictures 3D release, Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert. Miley is currently writing material for her forthcoming studio album due later this year on Hollywood Records. Both Miley and father Billy Ray Cyrus are slated to begin production in Nashville this spring on "The Hannah Montana Movie" to be followed by the taping of the third season of the "Hannah Montana" TV series.

CMT’s seventh annual awards show honors country music’s elite for the year’s most outstanding music videos and performances and continues to be the genre’s only fan-voted awards. Previously announced performers include Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Toby Keith, with other performances soon to be announced.