CMT's HIT SERIES, GONE COUNTRY, RETURNS FOR A SECOND SEASON

John Rich Returns as Host with a Cast that Includes Sebastian Bach, Irene Cara, Mikalah Gordon, Jermaine Jackson, Chris Kirkpatrick, Lorenzo Lamas and Sean Young Who Are All Vying for a Chance at Releasing Their Country Single

Production is Currently Underway in Nashville

NASHVILLE � May 6, 2008 � CMT's highest rated series ever, GONE COUNTRY, returns with Nashville hitmaker, John Rich, as host for a second season of antics with a brand new cast of characters who are each vying for a chance at country success. GONE COUNTRY 2 will take seven new celebrities from every realm of the entertainment industries and immerse them in all things country for a chance to break out as a country star. Production for GONE COUNTRY 2, which will premiere in August 2008, is currently underway in Nashville.

The cast for GONE COUNTRY 2 includes:

- Sebastian Bach � singer, songwriter, Broadway actor; former lead singer of Skid Row

- Irene Cara � GRAMMY� and Academy Award� winning singer, songwriter; actress, "Fame"

- Mikalah Gordon � singer, host, actress; 2005 "American Idol" finalist

- Jermaine Jackson � television personality, former lead singer of The Jackson 5

- Chris Kirkpatrick � television personality, music producer, member of *NSYNC

- Lorenzo Lamas � musical theater actor; actor "Renegade" and "Falcon Crest"

- Sean Young � actress, "Blade Runner" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"

This season, the competition is more intense as Rich enlists more help from his Nashville friends to put these seven country music-driven celebrities to the test during this two-week challenge. Each celebrity will again be paired two of Nashville's finest songwriters with whom they write a country single. In addition to meeting with songwriters, in each episode the cast will compete in challenges that test them musically and physically to adapt to a life in country music, both on and off the stage. At the end of the two weeks, the artist that is most prepared to impress a country audience, as determined by Rich, will record and release their single to country radio.

GONE COUNTRY is executive produced by David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe of Renegade 83 Productions. Marc Oswald serves as executive producer. Melanie Moreau and Bob Kusbit serve as executive producers for CMT.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and 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.