Country's Hottest Duo, Montgomery Gentry, Adds Jim Beam to the Mix; Montgomery Gentry Kicks off Relationship and Jim Beam-sponsored National Club Tour.

Entertainment Editors & Music Writers

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--March 2, 2001

Jim Beam has found something that goes as well with its world-renowned bourbon as coke or water - Montgomery Gentry. For years Jim Beam has been the drink of choice for the renegade duo of country music, and Jim Beam has been a supporter of Troy Gentry since he first blew away the crowd at the Jim Beam Country Band Search back in 1994. Now it's official - Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry will be the spokesmen for Jim Beam and its Country Band Search during 2001.

The band recently hit the road aboard the decked-out Jim Beam tour bus for a national club tour. Joining them on the bus will be a "Jim Beam Tour Manager" who will collect quotes, pictures and stories from the road to be included on www.jimbeam.com throughout the year.

"We have always said we won't sing a song we haven't lived, and this is the same type of thing. There is long-standing loyalty between Montgomery Gentry and Jim Beam - so this really makes sense for us," said Eddie Montgomery. "They have supported us since 1994 when I won the Jim Beam Country Band Search. Now they are sponsoring our tour and hooked us up with the coolest tour bus on the road - what more could two boys from Kentucky ask for?" added Troy Gentry.

Throughout 2001, Montgomery Gentry's spokes-band responsibilities will include:

-- Acting as members of the B.E.A.M. (Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music)
Advisory Board

-- Speaking to emerging musicians about the opportunities available to them
through the B.E.A.M. programs and Jim Beam Country Band Search

-- Conducting radio interviews on behalf of the program

-- Judging applications for the 2001 Jim Beam Country Band Search

-- Participating in a "Real Friends, Real Bourbon" ad campaign featuring
Montgomery Gentry with Booker Noe -- grandson of Jim Beam and Master Distiller
Emeritus

Before officially coming on board in 2001, Montgomery Gentry was already committed to supporting emerging music through the Jim Beam music initiatives. In November 2000, the band gave some up-and-coming musicians the opportunity of a lifetime when five finalists opened-up for Montgomery Gentry at the Jim Beam Country Band Search national competition.

In January 2001, Montgomery Gentry officially kicked off the partnership by playing crowd favorites "Hillbilly Shoes" and "All Night Long" at the Jim Beam Global Sales Meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. The band also debuted material off of its second album, Carrying On, which will be released on May 1, 2001, including its latest single, "She Couldn't Change Me."

"Everyone at Jim Beam is extremely proud of all Montgomery Gentry has accomplished since we first met Troy in 1994," said Joe Karcz, director, promotional marketing and public relations, Jim Beam Brands. "Eddie and Troy share the attitude of our brand, and we look forward to an exciting year together."

In order to welcome Troy and Eddie to the Jim Beam family, they were invited to hang with Booker Noe and visit the Jim Beam distillery in Clermont, Ky. The guys got a behind-the-scenes tour, taste-tested bourbon and handpicked their very own barrels to have bottled with personalized labels - the barrels will follow once they're empty. The Kentucky born-and-bred boys took home some items they eyed along the tour and shared lunch with Booker at his house before heading to their show in Louisville.

Upcoming dates on the Montgomery Gentry's Jim-Beam
sponsored club tour include:

Saturday, March 10 - Oklahoma City, Okla.
Thursday, March 15 - Valentine, Neb.
Friday, March 16 - Denver, Colo.
Saturday, March 17 - Colorado Springs, Colo.
Wednesday, March 28 - Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Thursday, March 29 - Kalamazoo, Mich.
Friday, April 6 - Broussard, La.
Saturday, April 7 - Alexandria, La.
Saturday, April 21 - Biloxi, Miss.

For the latest tour date information, please visit www.montgomerygentry.com.

After winning the 1994 Jim Beam Country Band Search, Troy Gentry teamed up with Eddie Montgomery to form Montgomery Gentry, currently one of country music's hottest duos. With a gold album, Tattoos and Scars, under its belt, Montgomery Gentry went on to sweep every major award in its category last year, and even put and end to Brooks and Dunn's eight-year reign when it was named Country Music Association Duo of the Year in October. In addition, country's favorite bad boys took home Top New Vocal Duo honors from the Academy of Country Music Awards and won top honors in the Favorite New Country Artist category at the American Music Awards.

The Jim Beam Country Band Search, now in its ninth year, allows country musicians to showcase their talents at one of Nashville's premier music venues in front of a live audience and judging panel of country music and recording industry professionals.

For more than a decade, Jim Beam has been a substantial supporter of the music community. The Jim Beam Country Band Search is a part of B.E.A.M. (Benefiting Emerging Artists in Music), a program funded by Jim Beam that provides financial assistance and other resources for emerging musicians. In addition to the Country Band Search, the B.E.A.M. program helps emerging musicians make their way to the national spotlight by awarding $100,000 in grants to unsigned musicians, through the Rock Band Search, and by sponsoring live music events at Jim Beam Back Room Sessions in local clubs.

Additional information about the B.E.A.M. programs is available on www.jimbeam.com or by writing to the B.E.A.M. Advisory Board at P.O. Box 5349, New York, NY 10150. All applications are open to all qualified adults, 21 years of age or older. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Subject to complete and official rules.

Jim Beam Brands Co. is an operating company of Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc., an international distilled spirits and fine wines company that manufactures and markets more than 80 brands in 160 countries. Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. has leadership positions in bourbon, with Jim Beam(R), the number one selling bourbon worldwide; Knob Creek(R)bourbon and The Small Batch Bourbon Collection(TM); scotch, with The Dalmore(R)Single Malt Scotch; and cordials, with DeKuyper(R), the number one cordial line in the United States. In addition to spirits, the Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. portfolio includes Geyser Peak(R), Canyon Road(R)and Barwang(R)wine brands. Jim Beam Brands Worldwide, Inc. is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), the consumer products company.

Jim Beam(R)Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 40% Alc./Vol.(c)2001 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY, USA www.jimbeam.com B.E.A.M. program is correctly pronounced as individual letters B-E-A-M, not as one word.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Photos available upon request