-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 MN838K8atdgJ86s80ohD8w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001225208-09-022203.txt : 20091112
<SEC-HEADER>0001225208-09-022203.hdr.sgml : 20091111
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091112120608
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001225208-09-022203
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Huber Dennis G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001439625

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07784
		FILM NUMBER:		091175509

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5454 W 110TH ST
		CITY:			OVERLAND PARK
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66211

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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4a.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-07-07</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001439625</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Huber Dennis G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 CENTURYTEL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONROE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>71203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Ex. VP - Network &amp; Info. Tech.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>30.62</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32507</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-03-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32507</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32507</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amended to correct conversion price</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option provides for vesting in 3 equal annual installments beginning March 2, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Each share of Embarq common stock was exchanged for 1.37 shares of CenturyTel, Inc. common stock on July 1, 2009 pursuant to the merger
agreement. Any fractional share was paid in cash. The value of each share of CenturyTel common stock at the close of business on June 30, 2009 was $30.70.
 Pursuant to the merger agreement, the number of shares of CenturyTel common stock underlying each new stock option award was determined by multiplying
the number of shares of Embarq common stock underlying each stock option by the Exchange Ratio (1.37), rounded down to the nearest whole share, at a per
share exercise price determined by dividing the per share exercise price of each Embarq stock option by the Exchange Ratio (1.37), rounded up to the nearest
whole cent.   The number of shares underlying each CenturyTel restricted stock unit award (?RSU?) was determined by multiplying the number of shares of
Embarq common stock underlying each RSU by the Exchange Ratio (1.37), rounded up to the nearest whole share.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kay C. Buchart, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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