NBC Reveals The Top 12 Acts Vying To Be Crowned The Next 'Nashville Star'
Published: June 4, 2008
Series to Debut Monday, June 9 on NBC (9-11 p.m. ET) –– Premiere Will Feature a Performance by Taylor Swift (2008 ACM Best New Female Vocalist)
BURBANK, Calif. –– June 4, 2008 –– From a 32-year-old mother of five to two high-school friends who dream of making it as a duet, NBC’s “Nashville Star” revealed the top-12 music acts that will be vying for the crown when it kick-starts its first season on NBC on Monday, June 9 (9-11 p.m. ET).
The-top 12 finalists sang their hearts out during the taping of the “Nashville Star” premiere on Monday (subsequent episodes will be live) in front of a packed audience at the Acuff Theater, part of the Opry Entertainment Complex, in Nashville. In episode one the performers have to impress the show’s judges/mentors multi-platinum singer-songwriter and three-time Grammy nominee Jewel and John Rich -- multi-award-winning singer, songwriter and producer and one half of the country duo Big & Rich -- and award-winning songwriter and hit-making producer Jeffrey Steele to make it to the next round. Beginning week two America decides who will return to the stage next week and who will pack up their guitars and head home.
The sixth season premiere also will feature a performance by 2008 ACM Best New Female Vocalist Taylor Swift as well as showcase highlights from the nationwide casting calls.
This year, “Nashville Star” the longest running cable reality competition series moves into the spotlight on NBC. With a bigger stage to play, the expectations become higher and the competition tougher as each contestant will turn to the celebrity panel that will not only judge them during the live shows, but will also provide a unique mentoring aspect to the series.
"Nashville Star" is created by Reveille and produced by 495 Productions. Ben Silverman (NBC’s “The Office”), Howard T. Owens ("American Gladiators"), Mark Koops ("The Biggest Loser") and Sallyann Salsano ("Design Star," "A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila") serve as executive producers. Jon Small (“Garth Brooks Live in LA”) is a producer.
Artwork and additional information on “Nashville Star” can be found at www.nashvillestar.com.
Nashville Star - Premieres Monday, June 9 @ 9pm on NBC!
The sixth season of "Nashville Star" will premiere on NBC Monday, June 9 (9-11 p.m. ET) followed by 90-minute live episodes each week. This year, "Nashville Star" moves into the spotlight on NBC. With a bigger stage to play, the expectations become higher and the competition tougher as each contestant will turn to the celebrity panel that will not only judge them during the live shows, but will also provide a unique mentoring aspect to the series.
Host Billy Ray Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") will join country music star, singer-songwriter and acclaimed producer John Rich and Multi-Platinum singer-songwriter and three-time Grammy nominee Jewel, along with acclaimed industry heavy weight and BMI Songwriter of the Year (2006) Jeffery Steele, to bring their unique insights and experience to the show and its contestants. The competition opens the doors for talent 16 years-of-age and older and welcomes not only solo artists to the stage, but also duos and trios. The winner or winners of this year's competition will receive a major recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville and the performance of a lifetime when they take to the world's stage at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.
"Nashville Star" will kick start its first show on NBC with a performance by 2008 ACM Best New Female Vocalist Taylor Swift. Her performance on "Nashville Star" will be part of the show's two-hour premiere episode that will also feature highlights from the nationwide casting calls and will unveil the Top 12. Over 45,000 (more than double those who auditioned for the fifth season) auditioned to make their dreams come true.
The first five seasons of the series have launched the careers of promising artists including Chris Young, Buddy Jewel, Erika Jo, current ACM triple nominee Miranda Lambert, Lance Miller and Angela and Zac Hacker -- the siblings who made it a family affair by coming in first and second, respectively, last season. Buddy Jewell debuted his self-titled CD at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and was eventually certified gold by the RIAA.
Runner up Lambert became a household name when her "Kerosene" became the highest-selling debut album of 2005 and then went on to be certified gold as well. Erika Jo landed at #5 on the same chart with her self-titled debut CD and at #27 on the Hot 200 Album Chart (all genres), outselling Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Tim McGraw and Shania Twain, among others. Most recently, Chris Young debuted his self-titled CD at #3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, making him the top-selling debut male artist of 2006.
TV Spotlight: 'NASHVILLE STAR'
