ARTISTS’ CHARITIES WIN BIG AT THE “2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS”

ARTISTS’ CHARITIES WIN BIG AT THE “2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS”
Submitted By Natasha Powell
Apr 16, 2008

NASHVILLE – April 15, 2008 – The biggest winner of the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is charity as CMT ONE COUNTRY, CMT’s pro-social initiative, will gift $5,000 ($10,000 total in the coveted VIDEO OF THE YEAR category) to the winner(s) in each category’s charity of choice. The AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program emerges as the night’s big winner, garnering a $15,000 donation from three-time winner, Kellie Pickler. Taylor Swift helped secure a $10,000 donation for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital with her wins for VIDEO OF THE YEAR and FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR. In total, CMT ONE COUNTRY will award $70,000 on behalf of the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS winners. Visit CMTONECOUNTRY.com to learn more information about the winning artists’ charities.

A complete list of the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS winners and the charities who will receive their donation are below:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$10,000 donation split between St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on behalf of Taylor Swift and MusiCares on behalf of video director, Trey Fanjoy

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

· $5,000 donation to The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN) on behalf of Trace Adkins

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital on behalf of Taylor Swift

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt on behalf of Rascal Flatts

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the American Liver Foundation on behalf of Sugarland

USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program on behalf of Kellie Pickler

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation split between The Philadelphia Soul Foundation on behalf of Bon Jovi and Nashville Humane Association on behalf of LeAnn Rimes

PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program on behalf of Kellie Pickler

SUPPORTING CHARACTER OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation (PKD Foundation) on behalf of Rodney Carrington

WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation split between Thistle Farms on behalf of Alison Krauss and TurtleWill on behalf of Robert Plant

TEARJERKER VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the AARP Foundation Grandparenting Program of Kellie Pickler

COMEDY VIDEO OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the Target House at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on behalf of Brad Paisley

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

$5,000 donation to the American Cancer Society on behalf of Michael Salomon

Hosted by music’s hottest father and daughter, Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS aired live from Nashville’s Curb Event Center at Belmont University on Monday, April 14 and included performances by Carrie Underwood, Sugarland with Little Big Town and Jake Owen, Brad Paisley with special guest, Hank Williams, Jr., Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, LeAnn Rimes, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn as well as Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus. The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will encore Tuesday, April 15 at 9:00 p.m.; Thursday, April 17 at 3:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; Saturday April 19 at 9:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 20 at 4:30 p.m. All times listed are ET/PT.