The Greatest   -  About the Episode

CMT 40 GREATEST MEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC This three-hour documentary honors 40 men who have made unforgettable contributions to an entire music genre. To create the exciting three-hour countdown from No. 40 to No. 1, the special also includes performance footage, historic photos and the timeless music these men have made over the years. Each hour will draw viewers closer to knowing which artist will be honored as the "Greatest Man of Country Music." The three-hour tribute includes interviews with Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Jay Leno, Faith Hill, Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge, Merle Haggard and John Corbett (Sex & the City and My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and many other celebrities from country music and other entertainment genres and is hosted by Megan Mullally (Karen on Will & Grace).

JOHNNY CASH "If country music had a mountain, he'd be part of the Rushmore scene." -- Merle Haggard "There's something magnificent about him, something powerful about him. And believable." -- June Carter Cash "He's as solid as an old oak tree." -- Wynonna DWIGHT YOAKAM "Yoakam was a huge influence on me because what I saw in him was an entertainer." -- Garth Brooks "He's a really good showman, and he knows how to move on stage. He's got the feet going this way and one shoe is pointing that way. I really don't know how he does that." -- Jay Leno WAYLON JENNINGS "He just blew this town wide open." -- Hank Williams Jr. "He had such character in his voice. He had depth and grit. He had an edge that I thought was just way cool." -- Shania Twain "Even though Waylon's gone now, his music will be having an effect on people and artists in this business for decades and decades and decades to come. He was just that kind of guy." -- Travis Tritt TIM MCGRAW Tim's going to be around a long time." -- Loretta Lynn "He's already a superstar, but I think history is going to be so flattering to him because of the consistency that's a model career, right there, what he's accomplished." -- Brad Paisley VINCE GILL Vince Gill is the master of all things." -- Jo Dee Messina "There's times he brought me to tears. He was just good for my soul." -- Patty Loveless "I think Vince Gill is an alien. Because nobody should be able to sing like that and play guitar like that and write songs, too, and play golf. OK, that just ain't right." -- Pam Tillis