PERFORMERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE NATIONWIDE INSURANCE PERFORMANCE STAGE AT THE “2011 CMT MUSIC AWARDS” ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8

Nationwide Insurance Creates Branded Stage to Feature Performances by Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Hunter Hayes, The JaneDear Girls, Thompson Square and CMT’S NEXT SUPERSTAR Finalists Matt Mason and Steven Clawson

NASHVILLE – June 7, 2011 – The superstar lineup continues to grow for the 2011 CMT MUSIC AWARDS with the addition of Lee Brice, Colt Ford, Hunter Hayes, The JaneDear Girls, Thompson Square and CMT’S NEXT SUPERSTAR Finalists Matt Mason and Steven Clawson who will perform live from the Nationwide Insurance stage on Wednesday, June 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. For the fourth year in a row, Nationwide Insurance will be prominently featured throughout the night on a branded performance stage that resembles the insurance giant’s blue frame logo

As part of their sponsorship, Nationwide will bestow the Nationwide Insurance On Your Side® Award to country music’s best new live act as determined by the fans. Fans can watch their videos and vote through June 7th at CMT.com for nominees Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Colt Ford, The Band Perry and Josh Thompson. For the second year in a row, NASCAR driver and Nationwide Insurance customer Dale Earnhardt Jr. will reveal the winner on Wednesday, June 8.

The 2011 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will be hosted by Kid Rock and will air LIVE from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 8 on CMT and CMT.com. Performances for the award show include Jason Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Big & Rich, Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and Luke Bryan. Presenters during the 2011 CMT MUSIC AWARDS include Shania Twain, Sara Evans, Justin Bieber, Sheryl Crow, ”American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina, Train, Kristen Chenoweth, Melissa Peterman, ”Dancing With The Stars” winner Hines Ward, Green Bay Packers’ Clay Matthews and Mary Steenburgen.

For more information as it becomes available, follow CMT on Twitter (@FollowCMT) with hashtag #CMTawards, text AWARDS to 32709 to get alerts on your phone or become a fan of the CMT MUSIC AWARDS on Facebook.