Finalists Announced Today by Kellie Pickler and CMT's Lance Smith During the "2009 CMT Music Awards Nominee Special"

Final Round of Online Voting Begins Today on CMT.com and Ends June 15 NASHVILLE - May 19, 2009 - The results are in and over 2.5 million votes were cast to determine the final nominees for the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, putting country superstar duo Sugarland in the lead with five final nominations; Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift are next in line with four nominations each. Newcomers Lady Antebellum score their first nominations with three, along with Rascal Flatts. The announcements were made today by Kellie Pickler and CMT's Lance Smith during the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEE SPECIAL.

"This has been a watershed year for country music," said Brian Philips, president of CMT, "and the fans have spoken! We'll mix an influx of strong new talent with performances by our enduring stars. The 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will reflect what CMT fans want: stellar performances from top nominees like Sugarland, Brad Paisley and Taylor Swift, a fun party atmosphere and plenty of surprises."

Country music's only fan-voted awards show, the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, will premiere LIVE on Tuesday, June 16 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com, and includes performances by Trace Adkins, Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and British rockers Def Leppard. Fans can now vote online at CMT.com through Monday, June 15 to determine the night's 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 and via text on their Verizon Wireless phones throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night's big winner.

The final nominees in each of the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS categories include:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.
• Trace Adkins - "You're Gonna Miss This" (Director: Peter Zavadil)
• Kenny Chesney featuring The Wailers - "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" (Director: Shaun Silva)
• Toby Keith - "God Love Her" (Director: Michael Salomon)
• Kid Rock - "All Summer Long" (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
• Lady Antebellum - "Lookin' For A Good Time" (Director: Chris Hicky)
• Brad Paisley - "Waitin' On A Woman" (Directors: Jim Shea & Peter Tilden)
• Rascal Flatts - "Every Day" (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
• Sugarland - "All I Want To Do" (Director: Shaun Silva)
• Taylor Swift - "Love Story" (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
• Carrie Underwood - "Just A Dream" (Director: Roman White)

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
• Trace Adkins - "You're Gonna Miss This"
• Toby Keith - "God Love Her"
• Brad Paisley - "Waitin' On A Woman"
• Keith Urban - "Sweet Thing"

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
• Miranda Lambert - "More Like Her"
• Martina McBride - "Ride"
• Kellie Pickler - "Don't You Know You're Beautiful"
• Taylor Swift - "Love Story"

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists
• Lady Antebellum - "Lookin' For A Good Time"
• Rascal Flatts - "Bob That Head"
• Rascal Flatts - "Every Day"
• Zac Brown Band "Chicken Fried"

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists
• Brooks & Dunn - "Put A Girl In It"
• Montgomery Gentry - "Roll With Me"
• Sugarland - "All I Want To Do"
• Sugarland - "Already Gone"

USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist's major breakthrough album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo)
• Julianne Hough - "That Song In My Head"
• Jamey Johnson - "In Color"
• Lady Antebellum - "Lookin' For A Good Time"
• Zac Brown Band - "Chicken Fried"

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
• Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire - "Cowgirls Don't Cry"
• Kenny Chesney featuring The Wailers - "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven"
• Brad Paisley with Keith Urban - "Start A Band"
• Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen - "Life In A Northern Town"

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR*
Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on CMT; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)
• Alan Jackson featuring Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and George Strait - "Country Boy" from CMT GIANTS: ALAN JACKSON
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" from CMT CROSSROADS: ROBERT PLANT AND ALISON KRAUSS
• Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen - "Life In A Northern Town" from the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
• Def Leppard and Taylor Swift - "Photograph" from CMT CROSSROADS: DEF LEPPARD AND TAYLOR SWIFT

WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video from an artist outside the mainstream of country music; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration)
• Def Leppard and Taylor Swift - "Photograph"
• Kid Rock - "All Summer Long"
• Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - "Please Read The Letter"
• Rehab featuring Hank Williams, Jr. - "Bartender Song"

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Best video director of the year; awarded to the director for his or her body of work from the past year
• Deaton Flanigen (award eligible videos include: Kid Rock's "All Summer Long" and Rascal Flatts' "Every Day")
• Trey Fanjoy (award eligible videos include: Taylor Swift's "Love Story" and George Strait's "Troubador")
• Roman White (award eligible videos include: Carrie Underwood's "Just a Dream" and Reba McEntire's "Every Other Weekend")
• Peter Zavadil (award eligible videos include: Trace Adkins' "You're Gonna Miss This" and Joey + Rory's "Cheater Cheater")

*indicates new category for 2009