NASHVILLE, TN. (CMT) - The biggest bash of the year gets a jumpstart with performances by some of country music's hottest new acts. Sugarland,
Miranda Lambert, and Cowboy Troy, with special guest Big & Rich, will all perform live on the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS PRE-PARTY. Hosted by Katie Cook, Lance Smith and Jonathan Torrens (host of CMT's new series "Popularity Contest"), the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS PRE-PARTY telecast will kick off on Monday, April 11 at 6:30-8:00 PM, ET*, leading in to the live telecast of the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS.
The 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS PRE-PARTY will take place in the heart of downtown Nashville on Broadway. For fans who want to experience the excitement first-hand, the show is open to the public.
Sugarland is an Atlanta-based trio made up of singer/songwriters Jennifer Nettles, Kristen Hall and Kristian Bush. Each member of the trio has had individual success and they have all had the role of lead singer. So when these three get together on stage, the confidence that comes only from experience is completely evident. The first time the trio sat down to write together they wrote "Baby Girl," which became the highest ranking debut single by a country group in 14 years.
Miranda Lambert's Texas roots run almost as deep as her musical roots, and like most Texans, she likes her country music straight up and strong. The 21- year old Lindale, Texas native wrote or co-wrote 11 out of the 12 songs on her No. 1 debut album, "Kerosene." Early musical influences include Merle Haggard and Guy Clark.
Cowboy Troy burst onto the country music scene with the multi-lingual breakdown in the middle of "Rollin' (The Ballad of Big & Rich)," the opening track to platinum-selling label mates Big & Rich's 2004 release "Horse of A Different Color." But the University of Texas grad is certainly no novice when it comes to electrifying a crowd. "I Play Chicken With The Train," Cowboy Troy's first single and highly rotated video on CMT, and the first track from the May 17 release "Loco Motive," is positioning him smack dab in the middle of molding his own defining statement teaming with his friends Big Kenny, John Rich and Paul Worley.
Immediately following the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS PRE-PARTY, the 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS promises a night of star-studded entertainment with performances by Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Heart, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Big & Rich, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson, and more. Comedy Kingpin Jeff Foxworthy will host the show. In addition, CMT presents country icon Loretta Lynn with the Johnny Cash Visionary Award.
The 2005 CMT MUSIC AWARDS PRE-PARTY will be telecast LIVE at 6:30 PM, Eastern; 5:30 PM, Central; 4:30 PM, Mountain; and 3:30 PM, Pacific.
