We go backstage with Cledus T. Judd, who is talking to Christy. He asks her how her nerves are holding up after three weeks in this competition.
Christy: "Well, I'll tell you like mama says. God and Angels are always watching over you. So I feel like Angels and God are watching over me, and everything's gonna be alright."
Cledus: "So you're holding it together?"
Christy: "I think so."
The remaining contestants are back on the stage and LeAnn asks Erika Jo, "Alright Erika Jo, you look a little nervous. Everybody looks a little nervous. Now, do you feel you did enough on last week's show to get called out tonight?"
Erika Jo: "Man, I just had fun. And I hope that if you guys had a fourth of the fun that I had you still had a blast. I hope that it was enough to get me through. I think I did, but we'll see."
LeAnn:"Are you ready to have more fun tonight?"
Erika Jo: "I am SO ready to have more fun."
The next contestant to move one step closer to becoming the next Nashville Star is Justin David.
In Justin's pre-recorded segment, he says he has a a bit of a strategy. He feels that he hasn't done his best yet, but he doesn't think he has to give 110% until the final episode. He thinks maybe some of the worst things he can do are someone's best. He says as long as he doesn't get the lowest amount of votes, he will win this.
Justin sings John Hiatt's "Tennessee Plates."
My thoughts: He seems kind of loose tonight. Not singing a bluegrassy song tonight, he still seems fine with what he chose. And he now is playing a guitar, rather than mandolin. I give him a 7 out of 10.
LeAnn: "So, regarding your strategy, did you bring your A-Game tonight?"
Justin: "Maybe I did, and maybe I didn't."
LeAnn: "Really?"
Justin: "No, I did. It's just a great song. John Hiatt. And you know, it's a great energy. I love doing it."
LeAnn: "Well, do you think that's a great strategy?"
Justin: "No, I think, well, we'll see next week. I feel comfortable with it."
The Judges Comments:
Anastasia "Hey Justin. I love John Hiatt, but I'm offended by your strategy. When I managed artists, I told them to give their all whether there's three people in the room or 300, and you have 2.5 million. I'm not ok with that, so you need to change your plan."
Bret - "Justin, I said last week, and I mean this. I think you're cool, and I think you have a cool vibe about you. And I think to just say this as best as I can. Just give me a little more energy. That's it. A little more energy. Cuz you got it there. Just a little more energy."
Phil - "Yeah, I like the guitar. You know, leading with that. I still think, man, you gotta come out and you gotta kick it every week. You have no excuse for that. You gotta do it, man. Step it up, every week. Kick it man. You can do it. Let's go. Every night."
Next we find out the fourth performer tonight is Erika Jo.
In Erika's pre-recorded spot, she talks about how the show has changed a lot of things for her. She says her friends actually call her back now. She says she was shopping in the mall and had people ask her for autographs, and she thinks it's wonderful. For all the years nobody wanted it, she'll take that trade.
Erika sings Tanya Tucker's "Texas (When I Die.)"
My thoughts: Again, she gives a good performance, moving around the stage. I think this is a good song choice for her. More so than last week's "party" song. I give her a 8 out of 10.
LeAnn: "How has Nashville Star affected your senior year in High School?"
Erika: "I'm not there. But, I miss everybody, and they've supported me so much, and I thank them for that."
LeAnn: "Do you have any amazing plans for spring break?"
Erika: "Hopefully, I will still be here. Hopefully, I won't get a spring break."
The Judges Comments:
Bret - "Erika Jo, give me a T for Texas and give me a T for Tennessee. I love it. I'll say this. Don't change a damn thing. That's all I gotta to say."
Erika Jo - "Thank you. Happy birthday."
Bret - "Thank you."
Anastasia - "I do think you are the one top vocalist in the female category. You and Tamika. You and Tamika are like neck and neck. But one thing, I do want to give you some advice. I wanna see the veins in your neck pop out. I wanna see little beads on your forehead just kind of sweat. And I want you to feel this song, because I'm not feeling it as much as I want to."
Bret - "Phil and me wanna see a couple other things, but that's neither here nor there."
Phil - "I think you look really comfortable. I think you probably have the best stage presence. I mean you look like you're just so at home. If you're 18, you know. You really look great. Keep rocking. You're doing great."
