-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QfzA2ET3NTdPqaUIg6ACFE9JtF4C3gf5+1PHGQXzvegEiejP0gFp+yUbtIxTzgnc
 xsiecnHf9OjkIDq0tNzkEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-09-017306.txt : 20090814
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-09-017306.hdr.sgml : 20090814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090814110845
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-09-017306
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090813
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090814
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090814

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McCray Gregory James
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001327057

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07784
		FILM NUMBER:		091013175

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		422 HANDEL COURT
		CITY:			WHEATON
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60187

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CENTURYTEL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018926
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				720651161
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			LA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0701

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 4065
		STREET 2:		100 CENTURYTEL DR
		CITY:			MONROE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71203
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3183889000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 CENTURYTEL DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4065
		CITY:			MONROE
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			71203

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTURY TELEPHONE ENTERPRISES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CENTRAL TELEPHONE & ELECTRONICS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720512
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CENTURYTEL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001327057</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McCray Gregory James</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>655 CHASEWOOD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH ELGIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61265</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6368</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.5617</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6393</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kay McMillan, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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