CMT & BLACKBIRD PRESENTS CELEBRATE MUSIC & CULTURAL ICON KRIS KRISTOFFERSON IN NEW STAR-STUDDED CONCERT FILM AND RECORDING "THE LIFE & SONGS OF KRIS KRISTOFFERSON" PREMIERING OCTOBER 27, 2017 AT 10PM ET/PT

FULL LENGTH CONCERT FILM AND AUDIO RECORDINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE PRE-ORDER ANDWILL BE RELEASED ON OCTOBER 27, 2017 VIA BLACKBIRD PRESENTS RECORDS

THE BROADCAST PREMIERE AND CONCERT FILM INCLUDES PERFORMANCES BY KRIS KRISTOFFERSON, LADY ANTEBELLUM, DIERKS BENTLEY, RYAN BINGHAM, ROSANNE CASH, ERIC CHURCH, EMMYLOU HARRIS, JAMEY JOHNSON, ALISON KRAUSS, MARTINA MCBRIDE, REBA MCENTIRE, WILLIE NELSON, JENNIFER NETTLES, DARIUS RUCKER, HANK WILLIAMS JR. AND MANY MORE

SEE THE ALL-STAR PERFORMANCE "WHY ME", EXCLUSIVLEY AT ROLLING STONE COUNTRY

September 8, 2017, New York, NY - Blackbird Presents Records and CMT are proud to announce the broadcast premiere and CD/DVreleaseof The Life & Songs Of Kris Kristofferson. The broadcast, concert film and music release features a collection of legendary singers, songwriters, and rising superstars who came together for a once-in-a-lifetime concert event taping in Nashville, Tennessee at the Bridgestone Arena to celebrate the songs of music icon Kris Kristofferson. CMT will premiere the 90-minute broadcast on Friday, October 27 at 10 PM ET/PT, and Blackbird Presents Records will release the full-length concert film as a CD/DVD combo, which is available for immediate preorder at http://songsofkristofferson.com and http://pledgemusic.com/projects/songsofkristofferson.

The Life & Songs Of Kris Kristofferson features captivating performances, in-depth interviews, and compelling behind-the-scenes footage with Kris Kristofferson, Jessi Alexander, Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Ryan Bingham, Rosanne Cash, Eric Church, Jessi Colter, Rodney Crowell, Larry Gatlin, Emmylou Harris, Jack Ingram, Shooter Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, The Travelin' McCourys, Reba McEntire, Buddy Miller, Willie Nelson, Jennifer Nettles, Jon Randall, Darius Rucker, Hank Williams Jr. and Lee Ann Womack. Performances include a range of Kristofferson classics, such as "Me And Bobby McGee" (performed by Reba McEntire), "Help Me Make It Through The Night" (Performed by Lady Antebellum), "To Beat The Devil" (Performed by Eric Church), a very special performance of "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" (performed by Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson), and an all-star grand finale performance of "Why Me", premiering today at Rolling Stone Countyhttp://www.rollingstone.com/country and available at all digital outlets.

In addition to the CD/DVD release fans can get exclusive merchandise from PledgeMusic http://pledgemusic.com including a limited edition framed gig poster from the night of the show, color photo, and an Epiphone Ltd. Ed. 1963 J-45 guitar, all signed by Kris Kristofferson. Merchandise bundles which include the official concert t-shirt, hat and CD/DVD are available via Blackbird Presents at http://songsofkristofferson.com.

Kristofferson, a Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, is considered a true poet who helped modernize the genre with songs such as "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Lovin' Her Was Easier." These are the songs of heartbreak and despair, of love and loss, of yearning and hope. These are the songs so honest that we adopted them as our own. They are the songs of a life led unlike any other: An All-American athlete, Golden Gloves boxer, Army Ranger, helicopter pilot, singer-songwriter, social activist, humanitarian and movie star.

Keith Wortman is creator and executive producer of the show. GRAMMY(R) Award-winner Don Was served as music director alongside country music legend Buddy Cannon. An all-star band that included featured artist and GRAMMY(R) Award-winner Buddy Miller backed the performers at this incomparable concert event taping.

"Few musicians have had as profound an impact on music as Kris Kristofferson," Blackbird CEO Keith Wortman says. "It's only fitting that we celebrated his artistry just blocks from where the legend was born, with both his friends and contemporaries and those who are continuing his legacy with raw, honest songwriting of their own."

FOR COMPLETE DETAILS VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://songsofkristofferson.com #songsofkristofferson

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About Blackbird Presents

Blackbird Presents is a global media company that produces premium content via a range of strategies including large-scale concert events and festivals, broadcast series and specials, and music releases featuring major music stars across all genres and demographics. Blackbird's recent concerts, broadcast specials and releases include "Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard," "The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson," "Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert," "Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings," "I'll Take You There: Celebrating 75 Years of Mavis Staples," "The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris," "Lynyrd Skynyrd: One More For The Fans," "The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac and His Music," and "All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman," the latter of which earned a 2014 GRAMMY(R) Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal's awe-inspiring performance of "Statesboro Blues." Blackbird Presents is also creator and producer behind the Outlaw Music Festival Tour, in partnership with Willie Nelson; the American Roots Music & Arts Festival, in partnership with Eric Church; and The Last Waltz 40 Tour.

About Kris Kristofferson

Kristofferson is a Country Music Hall of Famer who ranks among the most versatile of American talents. He's been a Golden Gloves boxer, a Rhodes scholar, a college football player, an acclaimed actor, a military officer, a helicopter pilot, a GRAMMY(R) winner, and an icon. It was the singing and the writing that called to him. He wound up penning classics including "Me and Bobby McGee," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" and "For The Good Times," as well as a slew of other empathetic, incisive gems. Kristofferson - along with contemporaries Tom T. Hall, Mickey Newbury, Willie Nelson and John Prine - enhanced the scope of country music songwriting, focusing on layering, nuance, empathy and emotional truth. Once established, he quickly became one of music's most charismatic and intriguing figures. Kristofferson went on to a prolific acting career with roles in "A Star is Born," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," "Blade" and many more films.

About CMT

CMT is the leading authority on country music and lifestyle, offering a mix of original series, music events and specials. CMT is everywhere its fans are including two cable channels (CMT and the 24-hour music channel, CMT Music), radio (CMT Radio), digital (CMT App, CMT.com) and social (CMT on Facebook, CMT on Instagram and CMT on Twitter). CMT is a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB). For more information, please visit CMT Press.

2-CD TRACKLISTING:

1. "Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends" Buddy Miller

2. "Kristofferson" Jessi Alexander, Jon Randall & Larry Gatlin

3. "Here Comes That Rainbow Again" Martina McBride

4. "The Taker" Ryan Bingham

5. "The Captive" Jessi Colter

6. "Nobody Wins" Lee Ann Womack

7. "Jesus Was A Capricorn (Owed to John Prine)" Jack Ingram

8. "Worth Fighting For" Jennifer Nettles

9. "Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)" Rosanne Cash

10. "Chase The Feeling" Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell

11. "The Pilgrim: Chapter 33" Emmylou Harris & Kris Kristofferson

12. "From the Bottle to the Bottom" Dierks Bentley & The Travelin' McCourys

13. "Help Me Make It Through The Night" Lady Antebellum

14. "Under The Gun" Darius Rucker

15. "For The Good Times" Jamey Johnson & Alison Krauss

16. "Casey's Last Ride" Alison Krauss

17. "If You Don't Like Hank Williams" Hank Williams Jr.

18. "To Beat The Devil" Eric Church

19. "Me And Bobby McGee" Reba McEntire

20. "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down" Willie Nelson & Kris Kristofferson

21. "Why Me" Kris Kristofferson & Full Ensemble

Pre-Order: http://songsofkristofferson.com https://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/songsofkristofferson