CMT Announces 'Summer Of Music' Lineup, Begins 6/9

CMT is heating up the summer with a variety of music-related programming, including new episodes of the hit series CMT CROSSROADS and all-new episodes of CMT's highest rated show SINGING BEE when CMT SUMMER OF MUSIC kicks-off Wednesday, June 9 with the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS broadcasting live from Nashville. In addition to new premieres, the summer lineup will feature country's hottest stars and include video premieres from nine different artists during CMT BIG NEW MUSIC WEEKEND.

The CMT SUMMER OF MUSIC lineup is as follows:

2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS (premieres live Wednesday, June 9 at 8:00 p.m. with re-airs throughout the summer) - Country music's biggest stars will rock Nashville's Bridgestone Arena when the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS premiere LIVE on CMT and CMT.com with performances by Jamey Johnson, Toby Keith, Kid Rock, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, John Mayer, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band. Hosted by Kid Rock, the awards are country music's only fan-voted awards show.

THE SINGING BEE (all-new episode Wednesday, June 9 at 10:30 p.m., returning to its normal timeslot on Fridays at 9:00 p.m. on June 18) - The buzz is back as CMT's hit series, THE SINGING BEE, returns with all-new episodes. Hosted by Melissa Peterman, new weekly, one-hour episodes of THE SINGING BEE promise more laughs and excitement than ever before with new music selections and fierce competitors. Blending a mix of country music with popular favorites from other genres, THE SINGING BEE tests contestants' knowledge of lyrics to well-known songs; they don't have to sing it well they just have to sing it right.

CMT BIG NEW MUSIC WEEKEND (premieres June 18 - 20) - For the second time in CMT history, CMT, CMT PURE and CMT.com will debut nine music videos from superstar artists in one exclusive, world premiere event entitled CMT BIG NEW MUSIC WEEKEND. Brand new videos from country's biggest artists including Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Reba, Trace Adkins, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan, Danny Gokey and James Otto will premiere during this event and will be featured throughout CMT and CMT PURE all weekend long. All of the world premiere videos will be available beginning same day, exclusively on CMT.com.

CMT CROSSROADS: John Mayer AND Keith Urban (premieres Friday, June 18 at 10:00 p.m.) - Grammy winning musicians John Mayer and Keith Urban are both award-winning singers and songwriters, and now they share the distinction of being the first artists to make a return to CMT CROSSROADS in the newest episode of the CMT hit series.

CMT CROSSROADS: THE STEVE MILLER BAND AND KENNY CHESNEY (premieres Friday, July 9 at 9:00 p.m.) - Superstar Kenny Chesney returns to CMT CROSSROADS to share the stage with one of his musical influences, rock icon Steve Miller, in the latest episode of the critically-acclaimed CMT series taped in Nashville earlier this year.

INVITATION ONLY (new episodes premiere this summer) - A departure from the typical concert special, INVITATION ONLY features country music's biggest stars performing before a small studio audience in Nashville, taking questions from fans and delivering revealing and candid answers. New episodes are slated to air this summer.

CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN (new episodes Saturdays at 11:00 a.m.) - Keep track of country's hottest videos throughout the summer with new episodes of the two and a half-hour weekly countdown show. Hosted by Evan Farmer, the show brings country music's top artists, rising stars and biggest names as they move up the CMT video chart right into your home with interviews and world video premieres. See all your old favorites - and discover new ones - every week on CMT TOP 20 COUNTDOWN.

CMT INSIDER (new episodes Saturdays at 1:30 p.m.) - Hosted by Katie Cook, CMT INSIDER is a weekly magazine show that explores all things in the world of entertainment that interest the country music audience: star interviews and news, behind-the-scenes reports, chart action, current album releases, new videos, and the latest in movies, fashion and fun.

CMT's SUMMER OF MUSIC will also include regularly scheduled programs such as SOUTHERN FRIED FLICKS, WORLD'S STRICTEST PARENTS and #1 MUSIC AND A MOVIE.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 90 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

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