Top 12 Nashville Star Contestants Revealed
- NBC revealed the top 12 acts vying to become the next Nashville Star, and it seems they all have
somewhat of a sob storyovercome many adversities to get where they are. (via ggcolumn) - In an open letter to her fans, Shania Twain expressed her gratitude for their words of encouragement during her rough time.
I have so much to say but I know the best way for me to speak is through my music. This is my therapy, my passion, and my love. I look forward to sharing it with all of you as I begin this new journey.
- Dwight Yoakam plays the Opry on Saturday night
- Mindy McCready likes shouting the word “ass” from stage during her shows, judging from the write-up on her CMA Music Festival appearance, and if you’re a man and you don’t like her song “Guys Do It All The Time,” you can kiss her ass.
- For Hayes Carll, stories seem to flow like the word “ass” from Mindy McCready’s mouth; The Austin Chronicle’s Doug Freeman shares a few.
- The big voiced Martina McBride comes in at No. 26 on Country Universe’s list of “100 Greatest Women.”
- Gibson posted “The Ballad of Sneaky Pete: A Guide to Country Rock’s Greatest Pedal Steel Player,” an article about Pete Kleinow who played pedal steel for Gram Parsons & The Flying Burrito Brothers and later Wilco and Uncle Tupelo. It’s mostly a few YouTube videos, but there is enough background information to pique interest. (via Lonesome Music)
- By the time Ashton Shepherd started performing seriously, she had close to 120 songs written. Nick Hilbourn relays the story of how she got started:
Shepherd got her start in a local country band that was familiar to her brother. Consequently, the band was how she met her husband.
“My brother had known my husband,” she said, and he had “overheard my husband and his brother say they needed a lead singer, and my brother said, ‘You should hear my sister sing.’”
- Big Rock Candy Mountain posted a big mix of nothin’ but venerable train songs, so choo choo on over there and check it out.
- The inaugural Porter Wagoner Memorial Artists & Anglers Memorial Fishing Tournament on June 3rd was won by Emerson Drive keyboard player Dale Wallace and fishing pro Ramey Colson. Together they caught 21.8 pounds of bass, while his bandmate, Brad Mates, came in second.
- Fox 17 News in Nashville has a great feature, “A Day in the Life of Eddie Stubbs,” the legendary Grand Ole Opry announcer and WSM DJ:
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Ashton Shepherd // CMA Music Festival // Dwight Yoakam // Emerson Drive // Gram Parsons // Grand Ole Opry // Hayes Carll // Martina McBride // Mindy McCready // Nashville Star // Porter Wagoner // Shania Twain // WSM
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June 6, 2008 at 10:01 am Permalink
In fairness to Mindy McCready the “so I grabbed my glass and said kiss my ass” part of “Little Bit Lonesome” gets the loudest sing-a-long at Kasey Chamber’s shows.
June 6, 2008 at 11:10 am Permalink
Not to mention Garth’s 3rd verse to “Friends in Low Places” But there is such thing as cursing too much AND cursing just to try and sound edgy. When used right, curse words can be effective in delivering a message, but when used wrong, they’re just obnoxious.
June 6, 2008 at 12:07 pm Permalink
I’m a Hank III fan.
June 6, 2008 at 12:17 pm Permalink
You had it right the first time: they’re sob stories. I hope that NBC isn’t planning to market the show like this, because this kind of stuff is nauseating:
JUSTIN GASTON AGE: 19 HOMETOWN: Pineville, Louisiana CURRENT HOME: Los Angeles, California Originally from Louisiana, Justin left home at age 17 to pursue a career in music, while supporting himself as a model. Only after suffering heartbreak from breaking up with his long-distance girlfriend did Justin realize how isolating living on his own can be at a young age. With his good looks and great voice, Justin is the ultimate teenage country heartthrob.
I know that I spend a lot of time crying over teenage heartthrobs who break up with their girlfriends.
June 6, 2008 at 12:23 pm Permalink
I think Dale Watson has a song about that. Ooops there’s that “ass” word again.
June 6, 2008 at 6:15 pm Permalink
Wow, those NS bios almost remind me of the 60’s vintage “Queen For A Day” TV show where the contestant with the biggest, most tragic sob story won a prize like a washing machine….
Stormy, have you ever been on a participant on the official Kasey Chambers fan forum? Stickman was just wondering…..
Female Aussie country singer Carla Herrod has a song titled “Bob’s Birthday” which includes a line in the chorus that asks “Does my ass look big in this dress?” I think Mindy McCready should cover that song in her concerts these days! (lol)
That’s an interesting article on Pete Kleinow, but when it comes to country rock steel guitar playing in those days I’d give the nod to Buddy Cage who was with The New Riders of the Purple Sage when they recorded the “Adventures of Panama Red” album…..
Eddie Stubbs is a truly strange individual, but in a good kind of way since he is such a huge fan of traditional country music. Go Stubb’s! (If they offered his T-shirts in extra-long I’d probably get one.)
June 6, 2008 at 6:47 pm Permalink
Rick: I was Whiskey over there.
June 7, 2008 at 1:08 am Permalink
Ah yes, I thought I recognized your style Miss “Whiskey and a Prayer”. Its great to see you in action here at The 9513. Its kind of like a Swarm reunion! If you would have praised Trish Murphy and that Bap fellow I would have known it was you! (lol) Now that Kasey has put out a decent new album you should drop back in over there and say hello…..
June 7, 2008 at 10:39 am Permalink
Any word on that album being released stateside? Because I WILL pay 35.00 for it if I have to, but I’d rather pay 15.00.
June 7, 2008 at 12:41 pm Permalink
Wonder why dropped Charla Corn? must be more to the story there. Maybe the trio they replaced them with had more of a sob story. or….maybe there was an incident?? I really hope they post some drama footage during the premere on monday.
June 7, 2008 at 2:37 pm Permalink
Yeah, I wonder, too–be sure to visit the bios of each of the top 12 finalists on NBC’s website. Maybe there are some clues to be found there–all I know is that Thirdtown dropped everything (each of the trio was pursuing something separate at the time in Vegas) to head to Nashville, so I love them for showing so much heart and desire for this show.
Be sure to watch the premiere for the drama and the talent (not to mention a live performance by Taylor Swift!!) on NBC this Monday, Jun 9, at 9/8c. I can’t wait to learn what happened…
Anyone else found anything??
-Callie
June 7, 2008 at 2:50 pm Permalink
I’ll tell you why I’m watching. Because Country music breeds the hottest women in the world! Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, the list goes on! I can’t wait to see what’s in store! My eyes will be glued to NBC this Monday night!
June 7, 2008 at 4:56 pm Permalink
Stormy, The best I could find was around $ 28 (before shipping) at Village Records and independent sellers at Amazon, which is outrageous! I’m thankful for my generous Aussie friends from the Swarm….
Now, back to the scintillating discussion of that wellspring of great country talent, Nashville Star…
June 9, 2008 at 4:47 am Permalink
LovinMyMullet – Pop a Loretta Lynn CD in your F150 and drive over to the high-end strip club. That way you get the best of both.
June 9, 2008 at 5:57 am Permalink
Baron, have you been following me around town again?
June 9, 2008 at 6:57 am Permalink
texasgurl, Callie, and LovinMyMullet are actually NBC employees. There are a few others on the other Nashville Star posts (Angie, Kristi, CountryFANLA, leila) and they basically just search for “country music blog” or “Nashville Star blog” in the search engines and then spam them with mindless, positive comments about whatever they’re promoting. There are entire companies based around ‘virally’ promoting content in this way on YouTube, blogs, messageboards, etc.
June 9, 2008 at 10:53 am Permalink
Stupid me–It took me until now to realize that they only asked BRC to host in the hopes of getting a Miley Cyrus performance in there somewhere.
June 9, 2008 at 12:08 pm Permalink
Seriously, they’re gonna have to do better than “I can’t wait to see what’s in store!” if they want us to believe this stuff.
June 9, 2008 at 12:18 pm Permalink
They are going to have to do better than “Special live performance by Taylor Swift” too, cause I have heard that girl sing live and its not pretty.
June 11, 2008 at 11:39 am Permalink
Rick–Good News from Kasey’s Myspace:
To all of our U.S fans, you will be excited to hear that we have a deal for a U.S release of Rattlin’ Bones. We are in the midst of confirming the date of release and tour dates. Keep checking back for more details!
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