CMT Gets the Best of Both Worlds as Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus Host the '2008 CMT Music Awards'

CMT Gets the Best of Both Worlds as Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus Host the '2008 CMT Music Awards'

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 on Monday, April 14 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 Miley Cyrus has captivated kids and families on Disney Channel's smash hit comedy series "Hannah Montana," the No. 1 cable TV series for kids age 6-14. 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.

On Thursday, March 6, CMT will announce the four finalists in each of the thirteen 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS categories, except VIDEO OF THE YEAR. Fans can then vote online at CMT.com through Friday, April 11 to determine the winners. The final nominees for VIDEO OF THE YEAR will be announced at the beginning of the live show, and fans can vote at CMT.com throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night's big winner.

Visit CMT's press-only web site www.cmtmusicawardspress.com for more information about the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS and media credentialing.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and Heartland entertainment, reaching more than 87 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 unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with more than 150 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 300 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: CMT

CONTACT: Cindy McLean, +1-615-335-8404, cindy.mclean@cmt.com, or Natasha
Powell, +1-615-335-8412, natasha.powell@cmt.com, both of CMT

Web site:

http://www.cmt.com/
http://www.cmtmusicawardspress.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS premiere LIVE on Monday, April 14 at 8:00 PM, Eastern and 7:00 PM, Central; and at 9:00 PM, Mountain and 8:00 PM, Pacific (tape delayed).

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