ACADEMY AWARD WINNER KEVIN COSTNER TO HOST CMT'S "ARTISTS OF THE YEAR"

NASHVILLE - October 26, 2010 - Academy Award winner, actor and musician Kevin Costner will serve as host for the inaugural event, CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR, premiering Friday, December 3 from 8:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com. Taping in Nashville, the 90-minute special will honor this year's top country artists.

"From the moment this show was envisioned, Kevin Costner was at the top of our wish list to host," said John Hamlin, senior vice president, music events and talent for CMT. "His reverence for country music is profound and he understands exactly the kind of passion and commitment it takes to be at the top of one's game, as these artists are. He is the perfect complement to our five honorees."

In the first ever special celebrating the year's most successful country acts, CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR will celebrate Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Zac Brown Band by bringing them together with their peers, for a glamorous evening of star-studded performances from the country world and beyond.

Over the past three decades, actor, writer and Academy Award winning director Kevin Costner has become a true American film icon. From his breakthrough role in Silverado through career defining performances in The Untouchables, Bull Durham and Field of Dreams, Kevin has proven to be one of the most versatile and bankable leading men in Hollywood's history. He made his memorable directorial debut with the critically acclaimed classic Dances with Wolves, which he also produced and starred in. The film went on to win seven Academy Awards in 1991, including the coveted Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

Kevin's love of film is no secret. Less known but equally as passionate is his love of country music. And for the past three years, he and his band, Modern West, have introduced their sound to the world. In 2008, the band made the Billboard Country charts with its debut album, Untold Truths. Their follow up, Turn It On, was released in Europe last year.

CMT ARTISTS OF THE YEAR is produced by Audrey Morrissey and Chad Hines. John Hamlin and Margaret Comeaux 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 91 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.