Country Music Fans' Votes Add Up to Superstar Winners For the "2005 CMT Music Awards"

Country Music Fans' Votes Add Up to Superstar Winners For the "2005 CMT Music Awards"

Keith Urban Wins Video of the Year

Loretta Lynn Accepts Johnny Cash Video Visionary Award

Trisha Yearwood Debuts New Music with Surprise Performance

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Winners of the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS were announced tonight on CMT's live telecast from Nashville. Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS not only revealed the winners in nine categories, but it also featured country icon Loretta Lynn accepting the Johnny Cash Visionary Award, a surprise appearance by Trisha Yearwood, her first live TV performance in nearly three years, and many other memorable moments and performances. A complete list of winners appears below.

In the biggest surprise of the evening, Trisha Yearwood thrilled fans that have been eagerly awaiting new music from the superstar. She surprised them with a heart wrenching performance of her latest single, "Georgia Rain." Yearwood's unannounced debut of her new power ballad brought the audience to its feet as fans welcomed the star to the CMT stage with overwhelming excitement. Her appearance on the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS marks Yearwood's first live television performance in nearly three years. Yearwood's single hits radio later this month and her latest album, "Jasper County," releases Sept. 13.

Musical icon Loretta Lynn faced an arena-wide standing ovation as she accepted the Johnny Cash Visionary Award from presenters and admirers Gretchen Wilson, Martina McBride and Reba McEntire. Lynn was also honored by friends and family in a moving pre-taped tribute, featuring Elvis Costello, Crystal Gayle, Faith Hill, Sissy Spacek, Keith Urban and Wynonna.

Other highlights of the two-and-a-half hour live telecast include Gretchen Wilson's duet with powerhouse rockers Heart, "Crazy On You." The three women rocked the house with the song originally made famous by Heart. Jeff Foxworthy expertly hosted the live event with his trademark banter and his hysterical show open with Shania Twain and Billy Currington, spoofing Twain's hit video, "Party For Two." The original cast of "Dukes of Hazzard," Catherine Bach, ("Daisy Duke"), John Schneider ("Bo Duke"), Tom Wopat ("Luke Duke"), James Best ("Rosco P. Coltrane"), Ben Jones ("Cooter") and Sonny Shroyer ("Enos") joined together for a television reunion. Big & Rich closed the show with a rousing musical number featuring the cast of their video "Save a Horse (Ride A Cowboy)" set to the dance re-mix of their hit song.

Host Jeff Foxworthy was joined by NASCAR star Kyle Busch, Deana Carter, Jeff Daniels ("Because of Winn Dixie," "Terms of Endearment"), Drea de Matteo ("Joey," "The Sopranos"), Bill Engvall ("Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie"), Gina Gershon ("Face/Off"), Dennis Hopper ("Apocalypse Now," "Easy Rider"), Shooter Jennings, Larry the Cable Guy ("Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie"), Andie MacDowell ("Beauty Shop"), Montgomery Gentry, Joe Nichols, Julie Roberts, Rick Schroder, ("NYPD Blue"), William Shatner ("Boston Legal"), Van Zant, NASCAR star Brian Vickers, Lee Ann Womack and the Warren Brothers, all of whom were presenters on the telecast.

Other show stopping performances included Dierks Bentley ("I've Gotta Lot Of Leavin' To Do"), Kenny Chesney ("Keg in the Closet"), Alan Jackson ("Talkin' Song Repair Blues"), Toby Keith ("Honky Tonk U"), Reba McEntire ("My Sister"), Brad Paisley ("Mud On The Tires") and Keith Urban ("Making Memories of Us").

Below is a complete list of winners:

CMT MUSIC AWARDS BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist's major label debut album; Awarded to the artist
(male, female or group/duo)
-- Gretchen Wilson - "Redneck Woman"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists;
Awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
-- Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss - "Whiskey Lullaby"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS GROUP/DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group or duo; Awarded to the artists
-- Rascal Flatts - "Feels Like Today"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; Awarded to the artist
-- Gretchen Wilson - "When I Think About Cheatin'"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS MOST INSPIRING VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Video that celebrates the human condition in a positive and optimistic
way; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration)
-- Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS HOTTEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Sexiest video; Awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or
collaboration)
-- Toby Keith - "Whiskey Girl"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; Awarded to the artist
-- Kenny Chesney - "I Go Back"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Video with the best direction (video that best captures the mood, tempo,
and intensity of the song); Awarded to the video director for work on a
specific video and accepted by the director and the artist
-- Rick Schroder - Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss - "Whiskey
Lullaby"

CMT MUSIC AWARDS VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; Awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or
collaboration). Final four nominees announced on live telecast; final
voting held online during the live telecast.
-- Keith Urban - "Days Go By"

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 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 Jama
Bowen, +1-615-335-8405, jama.bowen@cmt.com, both of CMT

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

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