CMT's PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS FOR 1/21-1/27

Programming Highlights January 21�27, 2008

GONE COUNTRY (episode 1) - SERIES PREMIERE!

Known for pushing the limits of mainstream country music with the genre-bending MuzikMafia, John Rich, of the hit country duo Big & Rich, takes on his biggest challenge yet, taking seven established performers from every realm of the entertainment and music industries and immersing them in all things country for a chance to break out as the next big country superstar. The one who is most successful at crossing-over by the end of the series, will have a country single produced by Rich. GONE COUNTRY opens with a tour bus scouring Nashville to pick up the seven cast members at different "Music City" landmarks: Carnie Wilson, Dee Snider, Diana DeGarmo, Julio Iglesias Jr., Maureen McCormick, Sisqo � and lastly, the unlikely country hopeful, Bobby Brown. The cast arrives at the Nashville mansion that will be their home during these two weeks and gets to know each other. Rich Rich arrives in larger than life fashion, introduces himself to the group and joins them for a down-home southern dinner. During dinner, Rich announces that they will each have to compose an original country song with the help of Music Row's finest songwriters and perform this song in front of a live Nashville audience. Premieres Friday, January 25 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT