KRIS KRISTOFFERSON TO BE HONORED WITH THE “JOHNNY CASH VISIONARY AWARD” AT THE 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
03/12/07
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON TO BE HONORED WITH THE “JOHNNY CASH VISIONARY AWARD” AT THE 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Rosanne Cash to Present Award to Kristofferson at the Live Awards Show on April 16
NASHVILLE – March 12, 2006 – CMT honors Kris Kristofferson with the “Johnny Cash Visionary Award,” to be presented to him at the 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS, airing live Monday, April 16. Chosen for his contributions to country music, his straightforward songwriting, as well as his uncompromising approach to his art and unwillingness to fit a mold, Kristofferson joins an elite circle of gifted performers to have received this prestigious mark of distinction. Past recipients include Hank Williams, Jr. (2006), Loretta Lynn (2005), Reba McEntire (2004), Johnny Cash (2003) and the Dixie Chicks (2002). CMT’s “Johnny Cash Visionary Award” recognizes an artist’s extraordinary musical vision, innovative and groundbreaking music, and pioneering initiatives in entertainment.
Singer/songwriter Rosanne Cash, the daughter of Johnny Cash, will present the award to Kristofferson. “I jumped at the chance to present this award to Kris," says Cash. "I love Kris fiercely, not just because he and my father are cut from the same spiritual cloth, and because he is the living artistic link to my dad, but because he is my ideal as a songwriter and a human being. He and my dad were closer than brothers. They loved each other dearly, and it is so fitting that he receive this award named after dad. It's my honor to present it to him."
Kris Kristofferson has always identified himself first and foremost as a writer, and true writers know that what works best is giving a piece of themselves to the listener. Kristofferson’s story is fairly well known: he had a dream—along with the necessary talent and ambition—to become a songwriter. After turning down a teaching position at West Point, the Rhodes Scholar hoped to get his foot in the door of the music business by taking a job as a janitor at Columbia Records. It wasn't long after arriving in Nashville that he was receiving widespread acclaim and being hailed as one of America’s honest and most important voices, having penned such classics as “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “For the Good Times,” and many others.
Kristofferson’s plainspoken, honest lyrics and emotional themes helped to usher in a new ‘Nashville sound' and to this day, approximately 500 artists from all genres have covered Kristofferson-penned songs. A true visionary on all fronts, he was the first country star to make a giant leap into films. Kristofferson is an established pro-peace, pro-civil rights, pro-social activist.
CMT’s sixth annual awards show honors country music’s elite for the year’s most outstanding music videos and is the genre’s only fan-voted awards. The 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will air live from Nashville’s Curb Event Center at Belmont University on Monday, April 16 at 8:00 p.m., ET.* Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will feature performances by Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Sugarland and Dierks Bentley, with others soon to be announced. Voting is currently underway at CMT.com to determine the night’s big winners. The final nominees for Video of the Year will be announced at the beginning of the show, and fans can vote at CMT.com as well as via mobile phone throughout the live broadcast (ET/CT only) to determine the final award of the night.
The 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS is produced by Audrey Morrissey and Camouflage Films, Inc. Sarah Brock is the executive producer for CMT.
Visit CMT's press-only 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS web site www.cmtmusicawardspress.com for more information and downloadable photos.
CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts 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, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 84 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.cmt.com.
*EDITORS: The 2007 CMT MUSIC AWARDS premiere LIVE on Monday, April 16 at 8:00 PM, Eastern and 7:00 PM, Central; and at 9:00 PM, Mountain and 8:00 PM, Pacific (tape delayed).
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