IN ANTICIPATION OF HISTORIC TELEVISION EVENT DEBUTING FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 ON CMT: COUNTRY MUSIC TELEVISION

Three-Hour CMT Special Illustrates the Depth and Breadth of Country Music

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - August 29, 2002 - CMT: Country Music Television reveals the elite list of the "40 Greatest Women Of Country Music" in anticipatio of the network's upcoming historic television event. The CMT 40 GREATEST WOMEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC were selected by hundreds of artists, music
historians, music journalists, and music industry professionals - looking at every aspect of what a great artist is - from her musically groundbreaking body of work to her overall contributions to the ever-changing world of
country music. Viewers will have to tune in to this three-hour documentary special to find out where their favorite artist ranks on the list. The special, hosted by actor Billy Campbell ("Once & Again" and "Enough") will air Labor Day weekend, debuting on Friday, Aug. 30 at 9:00 PM-12:00
Midnight, ET/PT (repeats Saturday, Aug. 31 at 4:00-7:00 PM, ET/PT; Sunday, Sept. 1 at 12:00 Noon-3:00 PM, ET/PT and 11:00 PM-2:00 AM, ET/PT; and Monday, Sept. 2 at 8:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

The 40 "greatest women of country music" come from every corner of country music including the very roots of the genre. The list illustrates the enormous depth and variety that country music embodies. These 40 women have blazed trails on Broadway, in comedy, rock & roll, bluegrass, alternative country, film, and television - all while making indelible marks on the face and sound of country music.

The 40 Greatest Women of Country Music, according to singers, songwriters, music critics and music industry professionals all over America, are (in alphabetical order):

Lynn Anderson Reba McEntire
Mary Chapin Carpenter Patsy Montana
Maybelle Carter Lorrie Morgan
June Carter Cash Anne Murray
Roseanne Cash K.T. Oslin
Patsy Cline Dolly Parton
Dixie Chicks Minnie Pearl
Dale Evans LeAnn Rimes
Crystal Gayle Linda Ronstadt
Emmylou Harris Connie Smith
Faith Hill Pam Tillis
Wanda Jackson Tanya Tucker
The Judds Shania Twain
Alison Krauss Cindy Walker
kd lang Kitty Wells
Brenda Lee Dottie West
Patty Loveless Lucinda Williams
Loretta Lynn Lee Ann Womack
Barbara Mandrell Tammy Wynette
Martina McBride Trisha Yearwood

CMT 40 GREATEST WOMEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC will include interviews with celebrities talking about the impact these women have made on country music, how they feel when they hear one of these women sing and the emotions that
are evoked when they think of the contributions these specific women have made to country music. The special will also include video footage, historic photos, and the timeless music these women have made over the years that
will create the exciting three-hour countdown from No. 40 to No.1. Each hour will draw CMT viewers closer to knowing which artist will be honored as the Greatest Woman of Country Music.

The three-hour tribute includes interviews with Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Melissa Etheridge, George Jones, Reba McEntire, June Carter Cash, Don Henley, Chris Isaak, Toby Keith, Rosanne Cash, Lynn Anderson, Randy Travis, Shania Twain, and many other celebrities from country music and other entertainment genres.

CMT, a 24-hour country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concert and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, the network, owned and
operated by MTV Networks, reaches 63.1 million households in the United States.

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), owns and operates the following television programming services - MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, NICKELODEON/NICK at NITE, TV LAND, TNN, CMT and the THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks.