UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 26, 1999


                       CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


       Louisiana                    1-7784                     72-0651161
    (State or other            (Commission File              (IRS Employer
    jurisdiction of                 Number)                Identification No.)
    incorporation) 

        100 Century Park Drive, Monroe, Louisiana                71203

         (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code) 


    Registrant's telephone number, including area code      (318) 388-9500



Item 5.        Other Events.

On January 26, 1999,  the  Registrant  entered into  definitive  asset  purchase
agreements  with  Western  Wireless   Corporation  (the  "Buyer")  to  sell  the
operations of two companies that own and operate  non-wireline  cellular systems
in the  Brownsville-Harlingen  Metropolitan  Statistical  Area  ("MSA")  and the
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission   MSA.  The   Registrant   expects  to  complete  these
transactions in the second quarter of 1999, subject to the receipt of regulatory
approvals,  the  satisfactory  completion of the Buyer's due diligence,  and the
satisfaction of certain other closing conditions.

According to  published  sources,  approximately  855,500  people  reside in the
Brownsville and McAllen MSAs. The Registrant,  which owns a majority interest in
both of the  operating  companies,  controls  approximately  625,000  pops  (the
Registrant's proportionate interest in the population) in these markets.

In exchange for these properties,  the Buyer will pay $95 million cash,  subject
to various closing adjustments.  The Registrant's  proportionate interest in the
$95 million of cash proceeds is approximately  $69 million (or approximately $39
million  after-tax).  Due to the Registrant's  non-deductible  cost basis in its
investment in these  markets,  the Registrant  expects to incur a  non-recurring
loss of  approximately  $12 million in the fiscal quarter during which sales are
completed.

For additional information, please see the Registrant's press release announcing
the transaction, which is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.


                                   SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                   CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES, INC.

                                   By: /s/ R. Stewart Ewing 
                                       -------------------------
                                       R. Stewart Ewing
                                       Senior Vice President and
                                       Chief Financial Officer