FALL INTO MUSIC WITH CMT IN SEPTEMBER AS NETWORK LAUNCHES NEW ORIGINAL SPECIALS, DOCUMENTARIES, ARTIST COLLABORATIONS, LIVE PERFORMANCES, ALBUM PREMIERES AND MORE

Month Long Multi-Platform Events/Specials Includes "CMT Crossroads: REO Speedwagon and Sara Evans," "Johnny Cash: American Rebel" Doc, "CMT Instant Jam: Darius Rucker" and Exclusive Album Premieres from Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett

NASHVILLE - September 4, 2015 - Summer might be winding down, but CMT is heating up September with a can't-miss lineup of music programming featuring new original specials, a documentary, once-in-a-lifetime artist collaborations, live performances, album premieres and more.

"Country music is CMT's touchstone, obviously. We're always on the lookout for new ideas and formats which connect artists and fans," said CMT President Brian Philips. "With our fall music slate, we're launching an ambitious, diverse array of original programming including a new episode of our signature series "Crossroads," with hitmakers REO Speedwagon and Sara Evans, a beach party in Charleston with hometown hero Darius Rucker, and an intimate, intense documentary, 'Johnny Cash: American Rebel.'"

The music-filled month kicks off Labor Day Weekend on September 5th live from Charleston as Darius Rucker performs a surprise pop-up show before his hometown in a brand new installment of "CMT Instant Jam." Music aficionados don't want to miss the highly-anticipated doc "Johnny Cash: American Rebel" on September 12th, the anniversary of the Man in Black's passing, or the return of the network's flagship series "CMT Crossroads" on September 19th as REO Speedwagon and Sara Evans share the stage to perform some of their biggest hits.

The month-long celebration continues across CMT's digital platforms with music premieres, including the exclusive advance streams from both Brett Eldredge and Thomas Rhett.

Music specials slated to premiere this month include:

"CMT First: Brett Eldredge" - debuts today, Friday, September 4 at BrettEldredge.cmt.com. CMT gets the first listen to 10 of the 12 tracks from Brett Eldredge's upcoming album Illinois on September 4 as part of its "CMT First" album premiere series presented by Reese's. Fans can check out the album a full week before it goes on sale, available at retail September 11. Eldredge's debut track from the album "Lose My Mind" currently sits in the top 10 on the country charts.

"CMT Instant Jam: Darius Rucker" - premieres Saturday, September 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Darius Rucker returns home to Charleston, South Carolina for a surprise concert when CMT's "Instant Jam" series debuts. Just a few hundred lucky fans get a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience as Rucker performs his most-loved hits in a beachfront concert.

"Johnny Cash: American Rebel" - debuts Saturday, September 12 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Premiering on the 12th anniversary of his passing, the unprecedented original documentary celebrates the life and artistry of the late Man in Black as captured through the unique perspective of his greatest songs. The film combines original interviews with his family and friends including John Carter Cash, Rosanne Cash, Carlene Carter, Eric Church, Sheryl Crow, Rodney Crowell, Clive Davis, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, Rick Rubin, Willie Nelson and more. For the first time, Cash's children, John Carter Cash and Rosanne Cash, along with June Carter's daughter Carlene Carter, will appear together in a film about Johnny Cash.

"CMT First: Thomas Rhett" - debuts Friday, September 18 at ThomasRhett.cmt.com. CMT will exclusively premiere eight never-before-heard tracks from Thomas Rhett's sophomore album, Tangled Up. The album, which can be streamed a full week before it goes on sale on September 25, includes his hit single "Crash and Burn," which sits in the Top 5 on the country charts this week. The "CMT First" stream is presented by Reese's.

"CMT Crossroads: REO Speedwagon and Sara Evans" - premieres Saturday, September 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. CMT Crossroads returns with two new artists for a night of collaboration like no other. Chart-topping rock band REO Speedwagon and country singer/songwriter Sara Evans are the latest musicians to be paired together for an all-new episode of CMT's flagship music series. Evans, who returned to the Crossroads stage for a third time, and the popular '80s band swapped vocals effortlessly on some of their biggest hits including Evan's "Born to Fly," along with some of REO Speedwagon's smash hits including "Take it on the Run."

CMT, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 92 million homes in the U.S. CMT, CMT.com and CMT Radio offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and are the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT App, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.