(LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS, INC. LETTERHEAD)



CONTACT: MICHAEL J. CULOTTA
         SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND
           CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
         (615) 372-8512


                     LIFEPOINT HOSPITALS ANNOUNCES EXERCISE
                             OF OVERALLOTMENT OPTION

BRENTWOOD, TENNESSEE (May 20, 2002) - LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPNT)
announced today that the initial purchasers of the Company's 4 1/2% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2009 were exercising their overallotment option to
acquire an additional $50 million of the notes. On May 17, 2002, LifePoint
announced the pricing of a private placement of $200 million of notes. The notes
are convertible into shares of LifePoint Common Stock at a conversion price of
$47.36 per share, which represents a 30% conversion premium over the closing
price on May 16, 2002.

LifePoint Hospitals estimates that it will receive net proceeds of approximately
$242.6 million from the sale of the notes and intends to use these proceeds for
general corporate purposes, which may include capital improvements on its
existing facilities, repurchases of its 10 3/4% senior subordinated notes and
working capital.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy securities. Any offers of the securities will be made only by
means of a private offering memorandum. These securities have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws
of any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States
absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state
securities laws.

LifePoint Hospitals, Inc. operates 23 hospitals in non-urban areas.
Headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, LifePoint Hospitals is affiliated with
over 7,000 employees.

The above statements include forward-looking statements based on current
management expectations. Numerous factors exist which may cause results to
differ from these expectations. Many of the factors that will determine the
Company's future results are beyond the ability of the Company to control or
predict. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties relating to the
Company, including, without limitation, (i) whether market conditions or other
circumstances enable LifePoint to complete the proposed offering of convertible
notes, and (ii) those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In particular,
the closing of the notes offering (including the over-allotment option) is
subject to customary closing conditions, and, were the closing not to occur
because any of those conditions was not satisfied or for any other reason,
LifePoint would not receive proceeds from the offering or be able to use those
proceeds for the purposes described above. Therefore, the Company's actual
results may differ materially. The Company undertakes no obligation to update
any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.







                                      -END-