Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood Lead the Nominees for the '2010 CMT Music Awards'

Online Voting Continues on CMT.com and Ends Tuesday, June 8

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 11 -- In a race too close to call, hot country newcomers and veteran superstars battle for top votes in the final round of the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS. Leading the way with three nominations each, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood are top contenders according to the list of full nominees which was revealed earlier today on CMT.com and People.com. Following closely behind are Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Steel Magnolia, Sugarland, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band with two nominations each.

"When you look at the talent and diversity amassed within these categories, it's easy to see why this has been CMT's biggest year ever," said CMT President Brian Philips. "Hosted by our Nashville-brother-by-way-of-Detroit, Kid Rock, this night promises to be an unforgettable party!"

Joining the Male Video of the Year category for the first time are Jason Aldean and Billy Currington, while Reba McEntire reappears in the Female category for the first time since 2005, despite multiple recent CMT Awards nominations in other categories, including Video of the Year. Other highlights include Gloriana's first entrance into the Group category, while Steel Magnolia joins Duo and Breakthrough for the first time.

Hosted by Kid Rock, the 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will air LIVE from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 9 on CMT and CMT.com. Country music's biggest stars are slated to perform, including Toby Keith, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban, with more to be announced.

Fans can vote online at vote.CMT.com through June 8 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 then vote at CMT.com and via text message throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the night's big winner.

The final nominees in each of the 2010 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.
* Jason Aldean � "The Truth"
* Kenny Chesney � "Out Last Night"
* Toby Keith � "American Ride"
* Lady Antebellum � "Need You Now"
* Miranda Lambert � "White Liar"
* Brad Paisley � "Welcome to the Future"
* Taylor Swift � "You Belong With Me"
* Carrie Underwood � "Cowboy Casanova"
* Keith Urban � "'Til Summer Comes Around"
* Zac Brown Band � "Toes"

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist
* Jason Aldean � "The Truth"
* Billy Currington � "People Are Crazy"
* Toby Keith � "American Ride"
* Tim McGraw � "Southern Voice"
* Keith Urban � "'Til Summer Comes Around"

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist
* Miranda Lambert � "White Liar"
* Reba McEntire � "Consider Me Gone"
* Taylor Swift � "You Belong With Me"
* Carrie Underwood � "Cowboy Casanova"

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a group; awarded to the artists
* Gloriana � "How Far Do You Wanna Go?"
* Lady Antebellum � "Need You Now"
* Rascal Flatts � "Here Comes Goodbye"
* Zac Brown Band � "Toes"

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists
* Brooks & Dunn � "Indian Summer"
* Steel Magnolia � "Keep On Lovin' You"
* Sugarland � "Keep You"
* Sugarland � "Nightswimming/Joey"

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)
* Luke Bryan � "Do I"
* Laura Bell Bundy � "Giddy On Up"
* Easton Corbin � "A Little More Country Than That"
* Steel Magnolia � "Keep On Lovin' You"

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)
* Jason Aldean and Bryan Adams � "Heaven" from CMT CROSSROADS: BRYAN ADAMS AND JASON ALDEAN
* Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews � "I'm Alive"
* Kellie Pickler featuring Taylor Swift � "Best Days of Your Life"
* Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins � "Hillbilly Bone"

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)
* Lady Antebellum � "Lookin' For A Good Time" from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
* Reba McEntire � "Consider Me Gone" from INVITATION ONLY: REBA
* Tim McGraw � "Southern Voice" from INVITATION ONLY: TIM McGRAW
* Brad Paisley � "Then" from the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
* Carrie Underwood � "Temporary Home" from INVITATION ONLY: CARRIE UNDERWOOD

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: Jason Aldean's "The Truth" and Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home")
* Chris Hicky (award eligible videos include: Miranda Lambert's "White Liar" and Justin Moore's "Small Town USA")
* Shaun Silva (award eligible videos include: Kenny Chesney's "Out Last Night" and Rascal Flatts' "Summer Nights")
* Roman White (award eligible videos include: Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" and Kellie Pickler's "Best Days of Your Life")

Fans can get more information as it becomes available on Twitter (@FollowCMT) or become a fan of the CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Facebook. Also, fans can join the discussion now at CMT.com's community and talk about who they want to see on the show, discuss travel plans and more. CMT also offers fans instant updates on their mobile phones via CMT Mobile by texting AWARDS to 32709 (standard rates apply). Tickets to the ninth annual awards show are sold out, but CMT will be offering opportunities to win tickets through artist fan clubs and partnerships, including the current sweepstakes promotion with the CMA Music Festival, for more information visit CMT.com.

The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is the start of CMT's "Summer of Music" celebration which kicks off this June in Nashville, coinciding with two of the summer's most anticipated events for country music fans. The 2010 CMT MUSIC AWARDS show is live on June 9, and the CMA Music Festival rocks downtown Nashville and LP Field June 10-13, with more than 100 hours of live music, 30 hours of autograph signings, hundreds of artists and celebrities, and thousands of ardent country music fans from around the globe.

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 90 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.

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