Special Guests to Join Lynyrd Skynyrd in the Live CMT Special 'Lynyrd Skynyrd's Super Bowl Saturday Night Special'

Special Guests to Join Lynyrd Skynyrd in the Live CMT Special 'Lynyrd Skynyrd's Super Bowl Saturday Night Special'

The Legendary Charlie Daniels, Multi-Platinum Band 3 Doors Down, Country Star Jo Dee Messina and 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant to Join Skynyrd on Stage

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The night before the AFC and NFC champions battle it out on the field for the coveted Super Bowl XXXIX championship, CMT is throwing its own brand of tailgate party with Lynyrd Skynyrd and special guests, in LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S SUPER BOWL SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL, part of the Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert Series, premiering live Saturday, Feb. 5 at 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT.* The legendary Charlie Daniels, the multi-platinum band 3 Doors Down, country star Jo Dee Messina and 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant will appear as special guests. Limited seating is available for this show and portions of ticket sales will go to tsunami relief.

Lynyrd Skynyrd released its first album, cleverly titled "pronounced leh- nerd skin-nerd," in 1973 to critical acclaim, excitement and mystery. With hits such as "Free Bird," "Sweet Home Alabama," "Gimme Three Steps," "That Smell" and "Call Me the Breeze," the band went on to become a staple in American rock arenas and a permanent fixture in rock and roll history. Celebrating the group's 30th anniversary in 2003, Lynyrd Skynyrd released a new studio album, "Vicious Cycle," which was augmented by a successful tour. From that show, a live DVD ("Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve: The Vicious Cycle Tour") was released, followed by a companion CD ("Lyve"). In 2004 a tribute record to the band came out ("Under the Influence"), with such luminaries as Gov't Mule, North Mississippi Allstars and Blues Traveler paying homage to the band by re- recording its songs. With more than 25 million albums sold, Lynyrd Skynyrd continues to pack arenas across the United States. They were recently featured on the hit series CMT CROSSROADS.

Country superstar and fiddling phenomenon Charlie Daniels has been a music icon for over 40 years and an integral part of pop culture. Daniels had early success as a session player and a songwriter, working with a high-profile roster that included Bob Dylan and Ringo Starr. With his signature "bullrider" hat and belt buckle, Daniels broke through as a record maker with 1973's hit hippie song "Uneasy Rider." His rebel anthems "Long Haired Country Boy" and "The South's Gonna Do It (Again)" propelled his 1975 collection "Fire on the Mountain" to platinum status. In the summer of 1979, Daniels delivered "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," which became a platinum single, topped both country and pop charts, won a Grammy Award, earned three CMA trophies, became a cornerstone of the "Urban Cowboy" movie soundtrack and propelled Daniel's "Million Mile Reflections" album to triple-platinum sales levels. By 1981, the Charlie Daniels Band had twice been voted the Academy of Country Music's touring band of the year.

Hailing from the small town of Escatawpa, Miss., near Biloxi, 3 Doors Down forged its way to a major-label contract with popular live shows and the reputation of a single song. The band's hit, "Kryptonite," generated unprecedented buzz at local radio in Biloxi, helping make it a hometown favorite and enabling the band to draw relatively large crowds to local live shows. Originally a trio, the group expanded to five and released its first major label debut, "The Better Life," in early 2000. A year later, the band released "Away From the Sun." Within a week of release, the album debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and went gold within a month. 3 Doors Down will release its new album, "Seventeen Days," on Feb. 8. The album is a follow up to the now multi-platinum sophomore effort, "Away From The Sun."

Since her debut in 1996, multi-platinum recording artist Jo Dee Messina has had eight No. 1 hits, sold more then five million albums and has received critical acclaim for her explosive singing style and electrifying performances. She has won countless awards including the Academy of Country Music's "Top Female Artist of the Year"(1999), was the winner of the CMA's prestigious "Horizon Award" that same year and has been nominated for several Grammys and AMA awards as well. Her current hit single "My Give A Damn's Busted," from her forthcoming as of yet untitled album is quickly racing up the Country Singles Chart and has become her 15th Top 40 only weeks following its release.

Donnie Van Zant is truly a rock-and-roll showman. Whether he's flying through a stadium like Superman, racing across a stage like a tornado, or inciting an audience into mass hysteria, Van Zant's high energy, on-stage antics make every show a heart pounding experience. Van Zant is also a compelling vocalist and experienced songwriter, having penned such songs as "Backdoor Stranger," "Rebel to Rebel" and "Homeless Guitar." Although 38 Special is his main priority, recording with his brother Johnny is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Having released two rock albums previously, the Van Zant duo is working on its first country album. Sony Nashville recently signed the brothers' duo, Van Zant, and will release the label debut later this year.

Tickets are available at the box office, at all area Ticketmaster locations or by calling Ticketmaster at 866-849-4635. Tickets for Saturday are $53. For more information log onto 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 76.9 million U.S. households.

*EDITORS: LYNYRD SKYNYRD'S SUPER BOWL SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL airs at 9:00 PM, Eastern; 8:00 PM, Central; 10:00 PM, Mountain; 9:00 PM, Pacific.


Source: CMT

CONTACT: Cindy McLean, +1-615-335-8404, or cindy.mclean@CMT.com , or
Jama Bowen, +1-615-335-8405, or jama.bowen@CMT.com , both of CMT

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


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