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Nashville Star - What happened this week? - Debut Show - March 8, 2003 The Road to Nashville - Meet the Contestants | |
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March 8, 2003 was the date of the first showing of the new Nashville Star reality TV show with a country flavor. The 90-minute premiere showed the road to Nashville for the twelve contestants. The regional competitions were held in Los Angeles, Houston, Baltimore, Kansas City and Nashville. We got to hear the performances of many different contestants, some good, some not so good, and some absolutely horrible. The three judges, Robert K. Oermann, Charlie Robison and Tracy Gershon got together after each city and discussed the things they liked and disliked about the performers and came up with a finalist. After each city had a finalist, the judges went back over the previous contestants again and picked seven additional contestants.
At the beginning there were over 8000 people trying out for one of the final spots. In the end, just twelve made the cut, and they are surely talented.
First stop was Los Angeles, where Travis Howard was chosen as the first finalist. Travis is originally from Georgia. He performed a very energetic "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down." Robert commented after the performance, "Travis, this is your card. I put a little star on it, because I hope you become a great big one."
Second stop was Kansas City, where Natasha (Tasha) Valentine was the finalist. Tasha is traditional all the way, and performs part-time as a Patsy Cline impressionist. She sang two songs, "Ring of Fire," with a very up-tempo beat, and "Crazy Arms." She said about herself, "I'm a hillbilly. A big old hillbilly. I like rockabilly and very traditional country."
Third stop was Houston, where Miranda Lambert was chosen. Miranda says that people tell her she can be the next LeAnn Rimes, but she says, she doesn't want to be the next LeAnn Rimes, she wants to be the first Miranda Lambert. She performed an original song that she wrote called "Leave Me Lyin' Here."
On to Baltimore where Jamey Garner wowed the crowd and judges with his energetic performance and awesome harmonica playing. Tracy said to him "You know luck has a lot to do with your career, and you're lucky that I'm a sucker for a handsome guy with a harmonica."
Back to Nashville where Amy Chappell was chosen. Originally from Kansas, she moved to Nashville to pursue a music career. Amy performed "Two More Bottles of Wine." After her performance, Charlie said, "I love a girl who plays guitar. You knock me out. You did a great job."
After the five finalists, the judges then take all the photos out and get the video tapes out and re-watch the performances.
They decide to add Brandon Silveira, who has a very different look. Charlie and Robert are both crazy about him, but Tracy isn't so sure, but majority rules, and she agrees if she can have her pick later on. He performed "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down."
From the group in Kansas City, Brandi Gibson, a 911 dispatcher is chosen. This time Tracy is the one that is really pro-Brandi, saying that she's got an awesome voice, and it's time for a big woman in Nashville. Brandi performed "Blame It On Your Heart."
From Houston, three more are chosen. First Kristen Kissling who sings "Heads Carolina, Tails California," both onstage, and then in a short segment she twists herself up on the floor with her legs over her head and sings again. Charlie says "She's got my vote. I vote yes."
Prentiss Varnon is a dark slim Texan with a cowboy hat, and he's the next finalist to be chosen. They go to his work at a hat shop to give him the good news. After his performance Charlie said, "I like your vocals. I like your timbre. I love your stage presence. You have a natural stage presence. George Strait has that. You got the look, you got the voice, and you get the right songs, I think you'll be fine."
The final choice from Houston is John Arthur Martinez, who Tracy says is "real." He incorporates Spanish lyrics in his songs, much like Freddy Fender did in the past. After his performance, Charlie said, "I don't give a *beep* if Nashville is ready for you. I'm ready for you." John says about himself, "I'm a country artist that embraces his roots, as compared to a Tejano artist who's trying to sing country."
The final two contestants are Buddy Jewell, who reminds me of Clay Davidson. He wears a black hat and long coat similar to Clay or Eddie Montgomery, and has a killer song he wrote called "Abilene." After his performance, Robert said, "First of all, you're probably the best country singer we've heard on the whole tour. And second of all, if somebody on Music Row doesn't cut that song, those people at the record labels are even deafer than I thought."
Anne Louise Blythe, who sings "Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me is the final choice. After her performance, Robert said, "We've seen over a hundred contestants so far, and you're the first one to choose that song. So the taste and material gets an A+, and you are definitely at home on that stage."
After all the contestants are chosen, they go to a photo shoot, and are shown taking off for Nashville. Next week will be the first week where viewers can vote by phone or online for their favorite performer. Plus the judges will eliminate one person.
Feel free to vote for your favorite below. I'll include polls in my updates each week.
