Celebrity Judges Announced for the 2006 Miss America Pageant

Celebrity Judges Announced for the 2006 Miss America Pageant

Jane Kaczmarek, Brenda Strong, Jerry Rice, Leeza Gibbons, Brian McKnight, Robert Verdi & Sharlene Wells Hawkes Will Serve As Miss America Judges

Pageant To Air Live on CMT Saturday, January 21, 2006 From The Aladdin Resort & Casino In Las Vegas

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- An NFL great, a multi-platinum recording artist, a "Desperate Housewives" star and a fashion guru are among the judges for the 2006 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT, it was announced today by the Miss America Organization.

Jane Kaczmarek ("Malcolm in the Middle"), Brenda Strong ("Desperate Housewives", Miss Arizona 1980), Jerry Rice (NFL receiver), Leeza Gibbons (TV/radio host), Brian McKnight (recording artist), Robert Verdi (fashion expert) and Sharlene Wells Hawkes (Miss America 1985) will all serve as judges for the final night of this year's pageant, which for the first time will be held in Las Vegas.

"We're delighted to announce such an eclectic and star-studded group of judges for the final night of this year's pageant," said Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America Organization. "These individuals will rate our contestants and vote for the new Miss America, and I know they're each up to the challenge."

Hosted by James Denton, the 2006 MISS AMERICA PAGEANT premieres live on CMT on Saturday, January 21 at 8 p.m. ET/PT (tape-delayed to the West Coast). CMT secured the rights to the MISS AMERICA PAGEANT through 2007, with options to renew through 2011.

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

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. For more information, go to www.missamerica.org.

The Aladdin Resort & Casino, the future home of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, is a joint venture partnership involving Robert Earl, founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc., Bay Harbour Management LC and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. The property will continue to operate as the Aladdin Resort & Casino during the renovation process which is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2006. Upon completion of renovations the property will be re-branded and renamed the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, a Sheraton hotel. For more information, go to www.aladdincasino.com.

Source: CMT

CONTACT: Tom McAlister, +1-310-854-4829, or tmcalister@bncpr.com, or
Jesse Schiller, +1-310-854-4866, or jschiller@bncpr.com, both for CMT

Web site: http://www.cmt.com/
http://www.missamerica.org/
http://www.aladdincasino.com/

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