It looks like we don't have any summaries for this title yet. Be the first to contribute.
Learn more- "Nashville Star" - Season 6 Premiere - June 9, 2008
USA's "American Idol"-style talent competition moves over to big sister network NBC for its sixth season.
New host Billy Ray Cyrus informs us that the search for the next music superstar starts now.
We get shots of crazed auditioners and meet the judges: folk-pop gone country star Jewel, songwriter Jeffrey Steele, producer John Rich of Big and Rich (and producer of Jewel's new country album "Perfectly Clear.")
Credits- a zippy sequence that flies over an animated crowd - including waving flags and cowboy hats- up to a stage where a lone man is playing for the masses. (Hmm, no female counterpart?)
Billy Ray tells us that the top 50 will go to the top 12 and that Taylor Swift will be performing.
Auditions: We get shots of crowds in Pittsburg (sic), Denver, Charlotte, Austin, Tallahassee, Houston, Washington, D.C., Milwaukee, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Nashville. Contestants line dance, cry, sing together, cry, barbecue, and cry. Apparently, the show is looking for trios and duos as well as soloists. We hear snippets of each type good and bad.
We get a shout out to the armed forces and this year the show held auditions on the U.S.S. Virginia. Apparently, some of the soldiers and marines think Billy Ray Cyrus is a legend. He sings his song "Some Gave All"- about the ultimate sacrifice- for them. It's very touching. Then the military folks audition. They only show the good ones thankfully.
Back in the studio Cyrus gives a shout out to the military.
We are formally introduced to the judges the three J's: Jewel (an edgier Paula Abdul-type), Rich (the Cowell-esque blunt talker), bassist and songwriter Steele - who's written songs for Cyrus, Leann Rimes, Rascal Flatts, and Faith Hill among others- holding down the Randy Jackson role.
We get a clip package of the top 50 arriving to Nashville- this show's version of Hollywood- for "Judgement Day."
We get little snippets of good and bad - boring, tight, fake accents, oddly lots of covers of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away"- and Rich telling one geeky contestant "there's a very good chance that someone would beat the crap out of you on the Grand Ole Opry." Ah, Nashville, so welcoming to those outside of the cookie-cutter's edges. They come out to tell the remaining contestants to buck up.
Some start to shine: a cute black cowboy, a snazzy trio, a couple of good duos. The judges go over the photos, Jewel and Rich butt heads a bit. (Setting the tone perhaps?)
Top 12: They're introduced via a group sing as each one comes out singing a line from "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane, and more recently Rascal Flatts. Unlike "Idol" the judges stand, dance, clap, and singalong, Jewel's even strumming a guitar.
Charley Jenkins, 29, Roosevelt, Utah (the one who sounded tight) Tommy Stanley, 22, USS Kitty Hawk (although certainly he wasn't born there) Gabe Garcia, 28, Lytle, Texas (one of the ones who "Drift-ed Away") Coffey, 28, Bangs, Texas (the black cowboy) Justin Gaston, 19, Pineville, Louisiana (a male model looking dude) Alyson Gilbert, 28, Jackson, Tennessee (a spirited redhead) Third Town: a trio with Toni, 35, Toni, 29, and Jeff, 37 Las Vegas, Nevada Melissa Lawson, 32 Arlington, Texas (a cute, plus-sized gal) Laura & Sophie, best friends, 18 and 16 respectively, Eastlake, Ohio Pearl Heart: a sister act trio with Angela, 21, Amy, 21, and Courtney, 17, Florissant, Missouri Ashlee Hewitt, 20, Lancaster, Minnesota (a pretty blond for whom this song is either pitched too low or she's just not a very strong singer) Shawn Mayer, 21, May City, Iowa (a striking brunette with the same problem)
Performance: Taylor Swift, "Picture to Burn." Swift tries to give her all to this teenage girl scorned anthem but honestly she seems breathless and a little flat throughout. She looks super cute in her Nashville-goth black dress though.
John Rich points out to the contestants that Swift's sensibilities are unparalleled right now which is why she's the hottest thing in "our format." He thinks she kicks country ass. Steele wants that from the contestants. Swift's advice to the contestants is to figure out what makes them different and treat people with respect because a performer is nothing without fans.
Cyrus tells us what the winner will receive: a Warner Brothers recording contract, an AEG Live concert tour, a Toyota truck, and a performance at the 2008 summer Olympics. (Way to cross-promote, NBC!) Tonight, one contestant will be eliminated by the judges after the performances and then America gets to vote.
Contestant #1: Pearl Heart
Video: They're sisters and music is their passion. Their parents moved to Nashville to help them pursue the dream. They finish each other's sentences, they're cute.
Song: "Wide Open Spaces," Dixie Chicks
Performance: They sound pretty good, the little one who sings lead overdoes it a little, but overall a good start.
Jeffrey: He loves their family harmonies and sense of oneness.
John: Incredibly good.
Jewel: Is in love with them but wants to see the little one work more on being a frontwoman, she wants them to murder people, musically speaking that is.
Contestant #2: Tommy Stanley
Video: We see him work as an engineer and write songs on Kitty Hawk. His parents are supportive.
Song: "Walking In Memphis," Marc Cohn
Performance: Tommy does a jaunty, countrified version of this, upping the tempo, maybe a little too much, it feels like he's rushing. He's cute but not compelling, he seems nervous but sounds good in general.
Jeffrey: Thinks he has the crowd but still isn't sold, reveals he was his worst critic during the auditions. Thinks he has talent in a Keith Urban vein but isn't there yet.
John: Believes he made a mistake by oversinging and he felt like his nerves took over the melody. But says he should be proud of himself.
Jewel: Disagrees a little bit and does so with a suddenly Southern accent. She likes what he did.
Cyrus thanks him for serving our country.
Contestant #3: Shawn Mayer
Video: She's a motorcycle mama, part-time mechanic, hog farmer, and volunteer firefighter. She left her boyfriend behind and she's country to the bone. She cries.
Song: "Piece of My Heart," Janis Joplin
Performance: She does it in the Faith Hill vein with a little more grit, she comes on a little strong, angry, desperate, and wild. She sounds okay though.
Jeffrey: Thinks she's great but wants her to be even better.
John: Felt like she was singing in a bar not on national TV.
Jewel: Knows she has the notes - and proceeds to sing a few of her own- and tells her not to be afraid to stretch the range.
Contestant #4: Third Town
Video: They have been playing for 14 years, they're the oldest in the competition, but they're ready for the challenge.
Song: "Elvira," Oak Ridge Boys
Performance: Kind of a hokey song choice but they're cute and old time country fans will dig it. Again the lead singer is overdoing it both walking around and haranguing the audience to have a good time, exuding that same nervous energy. They sound great though and the bass singer is most impressive on the "oom-pa-pa mow-mows."
Jeffrey: He feels like he's at the county fair.
John: His question is who's the lead singer, they say they all are, he thinks that's a problem. Wants one identifiable sound.
Jewel: Thinks they're good at getting the crowd going but they need to figure out how to make them a modern act.
Contestant #5: Coffey
Video: Is a single dad with an adorable little girl. Is going to put his best foot forward.
Song: "Drift Away," Dobie Gray
Performance: God, these people love this song. I used to love this song. He way oversings the intro. He has a pretty voice with nice bits of grit, he sounds nervous and trembly in places. He exhorts the crowd to singalong. They do. He ends on a nice falsetto flight.
Cyrus advises Coffey to not let his daughter go into show business. Not sure why, it seems to have worked out pretty well for him.
Jeffrey: Had a few pitch issues. He's got a thing he loves and needs him to calm down a little.
John: Is the best thing hes seen so far.
Jewel: When Jeffrey says the thing about pitch, she screeches "what??" And Rich points out that since they just made a record together he knows that she has pitch issues too. (It's super rude but incredibly entertaining in a "no you didn't!" way). She says, to Rich I think, "when you can hit half the notes I can hit you can fricking talk to me, you no-singing son of a gun." She says he has a one octave (and pronounces it awk-tayve) range. Ooh, feisty. Steele claims he can hit all those notes.
Contestant #6: Laura & Sophie
Video: They have been BFFs for seven years. They don't date or go out they just sing. They think it's fate that they met. They're determined.
Song: "Stand By Your Man," Tammy Wynette
Performance: They switch off the lines then come together in the chorus. They sound great, perfect harmonies. I think Rich may have a problem with switching off though. They seem a little nervous but it doesn't mar the performance.
Jeffrey: Great, great singing.
John: It's hard to come up with a criticism.
Jewel: Thinks they're great but wants them to include the crowd in the friendship.
Contestant #7: Gabe Garcia
Video: He shows us his supportive family in the backyard. He wants to represent for the Hispanic community in country music since there are so many fans and so few mainstream, popular musicians.
Song: "All My Ex-es Live in Texas," George Strait
Performance: He's a classic country hat act with a strong smooth tenor. Rich is thrilled with his choice and he and Jewel do a little dance.
Jeffrey: Wants to get him creased Wranglers and a starched shirt because he has a shot.
John: Says whoever becomes the next Nashville Star is going into the studio with him and says his voice is pure country and would love to record it.
Jewel: Thinks it's exciting he's here and loved his song.
Contestant #8: Alyson Gilbert
Video: She loves music and animals and is studying animal science in college. We see her shear sheep. She's got amazing cheekbones and dimples, she looks a little like a glamorous young Reba.
Song: "Suds in the Bucket," Sara Evans
Performance: She's a little busy with her big eyes and hand movements and she drops a note here and there but she has a winning way about her.
Jeffrey: Thinks it's all great: the voice, the look. She reminds him of Martina McBride and says to individualize herself.
John: Thinks Jeff's a little deaf because even though the ending was strong the start was shaky and asks if he's wrong. Thinks she overdid it like a pageant contestant. He's concerned because she was good not great.
Jewel: She agrees, and says she's not trying to mock her and then proceeds to mock her by singing the song with the big eyes like Alyson did, she wants to have it coming from the gut.
Contestant #9: Ashlee Hewitt
Video: She has 12 brothers and sisters and lives on a ranch. Her dad is in Iraq.
Song: "Bubbly," Colbie Caillat
Performance: She countries it up and it feels like she's overdoing the accent a bit, but she has a gentleness and nice trills her voice, which is a bit Jewel-like. Very pleasant.
Jeffrey: Agrees with Jewel that there's something there and hopes she makes it to the next round.
John: He loved that it was simple and he felt it.
Jewel: Likes her sincerity and sweetness and needs to showcase her voice going forward.
Contestant #10: Charley Jenkins
Video: He's a real cowboy, roping and riding all his life. His dad died of cancer recently. He's a hard worker.
Song: "I Like It, I Love It," Tim McGraw
Performance: Another classic country hat act voice, this time a baritone. He seems a little nervous and stiff as he walks around but he's sweet and has charm even if the performance is a little karaoke.
Jeffrey: He hated it and wanted no more of it even though he liked his voice.
John: Likes him a lot and his voice but doesn't love it that he ran around like a Garth Brooks impersonator in Vegas.
Jewel: Liked that he came out to the crowd but didn't love it since he was stiff and goofy with his body.
(Charley doesnt look to take criticism too well)
Contestant #11: Justin Gaston
Video: He is in fact a male model, but wants to be a musician.
Song: "Drops of Jupiter," Train
Performance: He is in fact, superhot. He sounds pretty good. Jewel looks charmed. He makes an ill-advised Up With People arm movement, twice. He's a little too laid-back. The camera loves him and he loves it back.
Cyrus says he feels old and ugly standing next to him.
Jeffrey: Didn't like the performance. Jewel wants to know why.
John: Thought it was pitchy but loved hearing it as a country song, thinks it worked. Says the singing was shaky.
Jewel: Thinks he needs to woodshed. Liked the song choice but says when you look that good you're going to have to sing that much better.
Contestant #12: Melissa Lawson
Video: She has five kids and looks like she's lost a little weight since the auditions. She wants to show America that you don't have to be a size 6 to be a superstar.
Song: "Something To Talk About," Bonnie Raitt
Performance: She's got a great big voice, the start is a little low but the meat of it sounds strong. She's not afraid to move her body around. The best pure vocal performance of the night and she's got great spark.
Jeffrey: Calls it a grand slam.
John: He couldn't stop looking at her and tells her it won't be her going home tonight.
Jewel: Wow. Loves her attitude and says Mick Jagger could learn a few moves from her.
Bottom Two: Charley Jenkins, Alyson Gilbert
Voted Off: Steele votes to send Charley home, Rich votes for Alyson, Jewel breaks the tie and sends Charley home.
Charley says he loves country music and wishes the remaining competitors good luck and tells people to stay tuned.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content