We start with a recap of last week, showing Brent Keith being eliminated, and talk about this week's show when the contestants will give a show for a good cause, and four of them will sing duets with Terri Clark and Trace Adkins.
The finalists come onstage, George first, coming up the aisle, then Brad. Matt comes in from the side, then Jennifer from the other side, and Lance finally from the rear stairs. They sing "Put Some Drive in Your Country." The guys sound good, but Jennifer sounds like the key is too low for her.
Nancy introduces Terri Clark and Trace Adkins. She asks Terri and Trace "What special thing does it take to make it in country music?"
Terri: I always say never let the highs feel too high, and never let the lows feel too low. Just go with the flow.
Trace: That's good advice. Be thick skinned, and a lot of patience. That was the hardest thing for me to learn was the patiehnce part of it. I don't know if I still got a handle on that yet.. but...
Terri: He's tryin'.
Nancy will read the names of the finalists that will perform tonight, again in no particular order. Performing first will be Brad Cotter.
Nancy introduces the judges.
Brad sings "Drift Away."
Tracy: Good job Brad. Listen Brad, you have the wonderful ability to combine country music with a little bit of R&B, and I don't think anybody's done that since Ronnie Milsap. There is a void in country music. I believe you can fill that void. You are ready, buddy.
Billy: Brad, I would say thank you for showing Uncle Kracker how to sing that song. If you're not in the finals, I'm gonna be stunned. Stunned.
Brett: I'd be very surprised. We got in trouble for not saying anything bad about people last week. But you're a Nashville Star, my friend. You're it.
Brad: And that song has been covered more than Tracy's feedback, and you still did a great job with it.
My thoughts: Brad looks calm, and sings the song well. He's not playing any instruments tonight, but just standing with a microphone.
They cut to the Hot Spot Challenge. They find out about it on Dom Imus' show last week. They're going to put on a benefit show for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We're shown the contestants driving down to Memphis and meeting some of the kids in St. Jude's. Then, they set up on the stage in the auditorium and sing for the kids at the hospital. It was Matt's birthday, and the kids and everyone sang him "Happy Birthday." Matt is visibly touched.
Back from the commercial, Nancy heads backstage to talk to the contestants and tell them who will perform next. That person is George Canyon.
George sings "Jambalaya."
Billy: George, every week I try to find something about you that I can critique, and I just can't. You have the look, you have the sound. You've got a great aura. You have star quality. You and Brad are gonna make this really, really tough, tonight. I can't wait to see everybody else.
Brad: Yeah, I gotta tell ya, you know, a Canadian guy that looks like Buzz Lightyear doing a Cajun song. I never thought it would work, but I'll be damned, you pulled it off.
Brett: To Lafayette and Beyond.
Tracy: Listen, Canada must be proud. First Terri Clark, and then George Canyon. I love the energy you showed. You did a great job.
My thoughts: George has a lot of enthusiasim during his song, and like usual, he doesn't fail to impress me with his performing.
Nancy reads the third name. That person is Lance Miller.
Lance sings "Big City."
Brett: Lance, our whole career, people have told us we're too rock 'n roll. But there's nothing that we love better than a great country voice, and I am so glad that America picked you to stay with us. I'm glad you're back with us, man. I love country music.
Brad: And you look great in that suit, too. You're very happening.
Tracy: You know, my friend Bob Oermann once said if you're going to sound like somebody, sound like the master. You remind me of Merle Haggard. That's a good thing, but you are Lance Miller. You made it a Lance Miller song tonight.
Billy: Lance, I think the toughest thing about your performance is that I have to wait 40 minutes to have a beer. 'Cause everytime you sing, I want to go have a beer.
My thoughts: Everytime Lance sings a Merle song, he sounds like he's impersonating Merle Haggard.