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                            LifePoint Hospitals, Inc.



Date:    June 3, 2001


                      James M. Fleetwood, Chairman and CEO
                     of LifePoint Hospitals, Dies in Florida

BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE - James M. Fleetwood, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of LifePoint Hospitals, Inc., (NASDAQ: LPNT), died Saturday, June 2nd of
an apparent heart attack in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was 54 years old and a
resident of Nashville.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

DeWitt Ezell, Jr., was elected to serve as Interim Chairman in a non-executive
capacity during a LifePoint board meeting on Sunday, June 3rd. Mr. Ezell is the
former State President of Tennessee BellSouth Telecommunications. He retired in
1999 after 37 years in the firm's management. He is a resident of Nashville.

Mr. Fleetwood had served as LifePoint's President and Chief Operating Officer
since its formation in 1999. He became Chairman and CEO of the company in May,
2000, following the death of then Chairman and CEO, Scott L. Mercy, in an
airplane accident. Mr. Ezell also served as Interim Chairman after Mr. Mercy's
death.

The following statement was issued by the board of directors and management
group of LifePoint:

"Jim Fleetwood was our great friend, as well as our leader. Our hearts go out to
Jim's wife, Gay, and to their two children, Ashley and Josh. Jim was nationally
recognized as an outstanding and dedicated healthcare professional. He will be
deeply missed by all who knew him."

"Jim Fleetwood's trademark was his pragmatic approach to the professional
delivery of the highest levels of quality healthcare, " Mr. Ezell said.



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"The board is proud of the distinctive culture that has been established at
LifePoint. This is based on a commitment to: quality patient care; employees;
physicians; community needs and fiscal responsibility. The board remains
committed to these ideals and will identify the best person to continue to
implement the company's operating philosophy and business strategy," said Ezell.

Operations of the company will continue under the senior management team in the
corporate office, led by Ken Donahey, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer. Hospital operations remain under the direct day-to-day
leadership of Division Presidents: Bill Gracey and Dan Slipkovich.

LifePoint Hospitals owns and operates 21 non-urban hospitals throughout the
United States. It is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.