Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PUCKETT KAREN A
   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
CENTURYLINK, INC [CTL] 		5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Ex. VP & COO
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
CENTURYLINK, INC., 100 CENTURYLINK DRIVE		 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/31/2011
(Street)

MONROE, LA 71203		 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)		 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 05/31/2011   A   45,999 (1) A $ 0 283,235.8516 (2) D  
Common Stock               202 I As custodian for child
Common Stock               1,081.6711 I By 401(k) plan
Common Stock               1,964.0393 I By ESOP
Common Stock               20.846 I By Stock Bonus Plan

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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)		 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)		 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)		 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)		 8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)		 9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)		 10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)		 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Performance-vesting restricted stock units (3) 05/31/2011   A   23,000     (3)   (3) Common Stock 23,000 $ 0 23,000 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PUCKETT KAREN A
CENTURYLINK, INC.
100 CENTURYLINK DRIVE
MONROE, LA 71203		       Ex. VP & COO  

Signatures

 /s/ Jennifer A. D'Alessandro, as attorney-in-fact   06/02/2011
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) One-half of the grant vests in three equal annual installments beginning on May 31, 2012, and one-half vests on May 31, 2014 based upon satisfaction of performance conditions related to the issuer's total relative shareholder return for 2011, 2012 and 2013, provided that the reporting person remains employed by the issuer over the vesting period (except in the case of death, disability or certain terminations of employment following a change of control).
(2) Includes ESPP purchases through May 31, 2011.
(3) Each unit represents a contingent right to receive a share of the issuer's common stock. Vesting will occur on May 31, 2014 based upon satisfaction of performance conditions related to the issuer's total relative shareholder return for 2011, 2012 and 2013, provided that the reporting person remains employed by the issuer over the vesting period (except in the case of death, disability or certain terminations of employment following a change of control).

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