Fans Predict Taylor Swift as Big Winner at 'CMA Awards' in Annual CMT Poll

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- If fans have their way, Taylor Swift could walk away with as many as three wins in the categories of Entertainer, Female Vocalist, and Album of the Year at the "The 43rd Annual CMA Awards", according to CMT's fourth annual poll. Swift would become the youngest artist ever to win Entertainer and join an elite group of only six other women -- the Dixie Chicks, Loretta Lynn, Barbara Mandrell, Dolly Parton, Reba and Shania Twain -- who have received the CMA's highest honor. A win in this category would also mark the first win for a female since the Dixie Chicks took the top prize in 2000.

The soon-to-be "retired" duo of Brooks & Dunn narrowly beat out Sugarland as fan favorites to win Vocal Duo of the Year, after ceding the title to Sugarland for the past two years. A win in this category would mark the duo's 20th CMA Awards trophy, 15 of which are for Vocal Duo of the Year.

"Taylor won our poll across every age demo and genre, and the results are a direct reflection of the unprecedented year she's had with CMT viewers," said Jay Frank, SVP of music strategy, CMT. "Her hard work and amazing music definitely have fans rooting for her to sweep the CMA Awards next Wednesday."

She's up for Female Vocalist of the Year, but fans think Carrie Underwood is a winner on the red carpet too. She was declared as the female artist with the best red carpet style when fans were polled by CMT. Underwood holds five previous CMA Awards including two consecutive wins in the Female Vocalist category. For a full look at past red carpet styles, visit www.cmaawards.cmt.com.

CMT commissioned its annual poll using a random sample of 1,000 country music fans ages 18 and older, and asked who they personally thought would win CMA's Entertainer, Album, Song, Female, Male, Group and Duo of the year. Complete CMT poll results are as follows:

1. Entertainer of the Year - Taylor Swift
2. Album of the Year - Taylor Swift's Fearless
3. Song of the Year - Carrie Underwood's "I Told You So" written by Randy Travis
4. Female Vocalist of the Year - Taylor Swift
5. Male Vocalist of the Year - George Strait
6. Vocal Group of the Year - Rascal Flatts
7. Vocal Duo of the Year - Brooks & Dunn
   

CMT goes live with its annual, exclusive coverage of the "CMA Awards" when the CMA AWARDS RED CARPET 2009 premieres Wednesday, November 11 at 7:00-8:00 p.m., ET/PT. CMT hosts Lance Smith and Katie Cook team up for unparalleled coverage from the red carpet. The red carpet show will also stream live at CMT.com.

In addition, fans can log on to CMT.com for the latest CMA news, the complete list of this year's nominees, an in-depth archive featuring 42 years of CMA Awards winners, highlights, photos and video galleries. Fans can stream music videos from current and past nominated artists, or view more than 30 photo galleries featuring the most memorable fashion moments over the years with such artists as Shania Twain, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Dolly Parton and more.

Visit CMT's press-only Web site www.cmtpress.com for more information and downloadable photos on all of CMT's programming.

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 89 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.