CMT Fans Vote Trace Adkins and Kellie Pickler as Big Winners at '2008 CMT Music Awards'

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 15 /PRNewswire/ -- In a night filled with surprises, Trace Adkins ("I've Got My Game On") and Kellie Pickler ("I Wonder") emerged as the evening's biggest winners at tonight's 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, broadcast live from the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville. Adkins took home top honors for MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("I've Got My Game On"); Taylor Swift won FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Our Song"); Rascal Flatts won GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Take Me There"); Sugarland won DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Stay"); and Taylor Swift won VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Our Song").

Pickler won the first awards of her professional career with three CMT buckles for USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH, PERFORMANCE and TEARJEARKER VIDEO OF THE YEAR for the video "I Wonder." She accepted the accolades via satellite from Scottsdale, Ariz., where she had a concert this evening.

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant won WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)"); Bon Jovi featuring LeAnn Rimes won COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore"); Brad Paisley won COMEDY VIDEO OF THE YEAR ("Online"); Michael Salomon won DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (Toby Keith's "High Maintenance Woman" and Trace Adkins' "I Got my Game On"); and Rodney Carrington won SUPPORTING CHARACTER OF THE YEAR ("I Got My Game On").

Hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus, the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS kicked off with an opening sketch featuring a wide variety of luminaries desperately seeking tickets to the show. Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain each called a wide variety of friends hoping to score tickets, while Ryan Seacrest, Gretchen Wilson, Donald Trump, Trace Adkins and Larry the Cable Guy also went to great lengths to get to the show.

Keith Urban, joined by Brooks & Dunn, ignited the live show with Urban's "Raise the Barn," followed by a fantastic musical number by LeAnn Rimes in which she re-created the video for her nominated song "Nothin' Better To Do." Rascal Flatts performed their latest single, "Bob That Head," which featured user-generated clips from fans who "sang along" during the chorus.

In addition, a number of powerful performances marked the evening, as Sugarland was joined by CMT ON TOUR mates Little Big Town and Jake Owen for their cover of "Life In A Northern Town"; Tim McGraw with wife Faith Hill sang their duet "I Need You"; Alan Jackson performed his newest single "Good Time"; hosts Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus performed the duet "Ready, Set, Don't Go"; special guest Hank Williams Jr. joined Brad Paisley on the Paisley's song "I'm Still A Guy"; Taylor Swift rocked her single "Picture to Burn"; Toby Keith performed his newest hit, "She's a Hottie"; Kenny Chesney sang "Never Wanted Nothing More"; and Carrie Underwood closed the show with her hit, "All- American Girl."

Joining Billy Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus onstage were celebrity presenters Jason Aldean with Snoop Dogg, Paula Abdul, Jewel, Tom Arnold with Josh Turner, Julianne Hough, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, comedian Rodney Carrington, Sara Evans, Taylor Swift, The Eagles' Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit and actor Tim Daly (ABC's "Private Practice"). Additional presenters include CMT hosts Katie Cook and Lance Smith, Bobby Brown, Diana DeGarmo, John Rich, Maureen McCormick and Sisqo of the hit series GONE COUNTRY and Tom Arnold, host of CMT's MY BIG REDNECK WEDDING, as well as judge Naomi Judd and host Rossi Morreale of the new CMT series CAN YOU DUET.

For the first time, the CMT MUSIC AWARDS featured a side stage sponsored by Nationwide that included such up-and-coming artists as Bucky Covington, James Otto, Luke Bryan, Lady Antebellum, Ashton Shepherd and Chuck Wicks.

CMT.com simulcast the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS live and featured live blogging for the first time in awards history. MHD: Music High Definition, MTV Networks' high-definition channel, also simulcast the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS live in HD. Exclusive content can be found on CMT.com and CMT Mobile and CMT will later bow the awards on its digital all-music channel, CMT Pure Country.

The evening's winners are as follows: VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video of the year; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration) and the video director. Final nominees announced during live telecast, with final voting held online at CMT.com during the show.

-- Taylor Swift - "Our Song" (Director: Trey Fanjoy) MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a male artist; awarded to the artist -- Trace Adkins - "I Got My Game On" FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a female artist; awarded to the artist -- Taylor Swift - "Our Song" GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a group; awarded to the artists -- Rascal Flatts - "Take Me There" DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR Best video by a duo; awarded to the artists -- Sugarland - "Stay" USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video from an artist's major debut album; awarded to the artist (male, female, or group/duo)

-- Kellie Pickler - "I Wonder" COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR*

Best video that featured a special collaborative appearance by artists; awarded to the artists (individual, group or duo)

-- Bon Jovi feat. LeAnn Rimes - "Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore" PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR*

Musical performance on a television show, series or variety special on a broadcast or major cable network; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

-- Kellie Pickler - "I Wonder" from the 41st Annual CMA Awards (ABC) SUPPORTING CHARACTER OF THE YEAR*

Best supporting character whose guest appearance enhances the video concept; awarded to the special guest

-- Rodney Carrington for Trace Adkins' "I Got My Game On" WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Best video from an artist outside the mainstream of country music; awarded to the artist (male, female, group/duo or collaboration)

-- Alison Krauss and Robert Plant - "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)" TEARJERKER VIDEO OF THE YEAR*

Best video most likely to stir emotion, whether tears of joy or sadness; awarded to the artist

-- Kellie Pickler - "I Wonder" COMEDY VIDEO OF THE YEAR*

Best video to convey a song's humor and wit; awarded to the artist (individual, group or duo)

-- Brad Paisley - "Online" VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Best video director of the year; awarded to the director for his or her body of work from the past year

-- Michael Salomon (award eligible videos include: Toby Keith's "High Maintenance Woman" and Trace Adkins' "I Got My Game On") *indicates new category for 2008

The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will encore Monday, April 14 at 11:30 p.m.; Tuesday, April 15 at 2:00 p.m. and 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. The 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS RED CARPET SPECIAL will re-air on Sunday, April 20 at 3:30 p.m. All times listed ET/PT.

Visit CMT's press-only web site http://www.cmtmusicawardspress.com/ for images and more information about the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS.

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks , is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 87 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.