CMT ANNOUNCES TOP 10 CONTESTANTS COMPETING TO BECOME "CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR"

New Series Premieres April 8 on CMT

NASHVILLE - March 10, 2011 - The search is on for CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR as five men and five women fight for the title in CMT's latest competition series premiering Friday, April 8 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Hosted by Thea Andrews ("Top Chef Canada," ESPN, "Entertainment Tonight"), in each episode of the ten episode series, CMT will search to find America's next great country star and will open the door for undiscovered singer/songwriters who think they have what it takes to make it in the country music industry.

The show will allow the world to see every triumph and every set-back unfold weekly as each contestant will compete while living together in a house in Nashville, providing a rare and revealing inside look at the all ensuing drama that can take place when musical adversaries live and compete together.

Contestant auditions were held in Los Angeles, Nashville, Dallas and Austin, as well as through private showcases around the country, and an online competition through www.ourstage.com. Show talent scouts also sought contestants through industry agents, management, labels, talent schools, honky-tonks - anywhere they could find strong country singer/songwriters.

The Top 10 Finalists:

· Bri Bagwell, 23, Las Cruces, N.M.

· Adrienne Beasley, 22, Wickliffe, Ky.

· Courtney Cole, 24, Mandeville, La.

· Danielle Lauderdale, 23, Orange Park, Fla.

· Andrea Person, 29, Kelowna, British Columbia

· Steven Clawson, 29, Thomasville, Ga.

· Matt Dame, 37, Batesville, Ark.

· Matt Mason, 25, Fairland, Ind.

· Ben Smith, 29, Gainesville, Texas

· Wynn Varble, 50, Hampshire, Tenn.

*Full contestant bios available at cmtpress.com

Contestants on CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR will try to impress celebrity guests each week through a series of music business related 'challenges' and grueling performance rounds. Each week, one finalist will be eliminated and America will have the final vote to determine who will be crowned CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR.

CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR is executive produced by Legacy Productions' Co-President Simon Lythgoe and Nigel Lythgoe, co-founder and president of Big Red 2 Entertainment, a newly formed company with 19 Entertainment. Bob Kusbit executive produces, and Brad Johnson and Melanie Moreau serve as executive producers for CMT.

Like the show on Facebook for cast updates, exclusive extras and more: http://facebook.com/CMTNextSuperstar

About Legacy Productions

In 2010, Emmy-nominated producer, Simon Lythgoe launched Legacy Productions, a production company that specializes in reality competition shows and scripted comedy. Legacy has already cemented partnerships with a number of producers and executives in Hollywood, with a slate of shows in development for 2011. Among Legacy's charter group of partners are veteran producers from "America's Got Talent," "American Idol," and dick clark productions. Through the Los Angeles-based Legacy Productions banner, Lythgoe is partnering with his television mogul father, Nigel Lythgoe and his company, Big Red 2, to produce a new music competition series designed to find CMT'S next superstar.

About Simon Lythgoe

Simon came to the United States from the U.K. in 2001 to produce "American Idol" after successfully completing work on "Popstars," an Australian talent competition and ancestor of juggernaut, "American Idol." Prior to arriving in the U.S, Simon had already amassed an impressive list of television credits, including work on the Sydney Olympics and the Seven Network's long-running drama, "Home and Away," and "Late Night with David Letterman." Since his arrival in the U.S., Simon has produced six seasons of "American Idol," two seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance," and Mark Burnett's, "On the Lot," a series developed for Fox. In 2007, Simon was recruited by "American Idol" producer, Fremantle to co-executive produce CMT's "Can You Duet," and "Celebrity Family Feud." Simon consulted on "America's Got Talent," and "Let's Make a Deal." Simon has received 3 Emmy nominations for his work on "American Idol" and 1 Producers Guild of America nomination and in 2005 received a People's Choice Award for "American Idol."

About 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.