Brown has worked in various artist-development capacities with Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Sting and Keith Urban. She is head of 821 Music Group and the wife of Tony Brown, Senior Partner of Universal South Records.
In the past, the judges could eliminate candidates in the early rounds, but in the new season that chore is left to phone-in votes or online votes on http://nashvillestar.yahoo.com from the television viewing audience immediately after each episode. This co-branded Yahoo! Music and USA Network Web site features a behind-the-scenes look at the contestants, exclusive clips and each week's footage of contestants and special guests.
"We are excited to help pick the next 'Nashville Star' as this is an extension of our continued commitment to support up-and-coming artists," said Jay Frank, Head of Programming and Label Relations for Yahoo! Music. "It is our hope that with the extensive reach of Yahoo! Music we will help 'Nashville Star' and its contestants gain incredible exposure and a forum to reach new and existing fans."
"Teaming up with Yahoo! Music is a clear advantage for USA," said Chris McCumber, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy for USA Network. "It allows us to extend the 'Nashville Star' brand across Yahoo!'s massive user base."
"Every one of the finalists could easily be winners this year," said Wachtel. "Yahoo! has streamlined the voting process but the talent is so phenomenal that picking a winner is going to be a real challenge for the audience."
Comedian Cledus T. Judd is serving as the show's special correspondent and color commentator, a role than enables him to wisecrack about the follies of this business the contestants are so keen to enter.
Again this year, the shows are being broadcast from the BellSouth Acuff Theatre adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. Except for the first segment, which was taped Feb. 10 and broadcast on March 1, the hour-long episodes are staged in front of an audience and aired live on Tuesdays from 10-11 PM ET/PT. The final episode on April 26 will run 90 minutes.
Besides singing bouts among the contestants, each episode also features performances by major Country acts, including guests Big & Rich featuring Cowboy Troy, the Charlie Daniels Band, Sara Evans and Montgomery Gentry. Additional artists will be announced throughout the season, which also promises several surprise guests.
The talent search for this season started last October in Long Beach, Calif., and swept back through 18 other cities across the country and into Canada. Season one kicked off with 12 finalists and season two with 20 semi-finalists. The current season bowed with a more manageable class of 10 - five men and five women.
"Going through the process of screening thousands upon thousands of performers, the quality of untapped talent continues to amaze me," said Boggs. "The wonder of this show is that it works. In this ocean of hopefuls, the talent was so strong that we had a tough time getting it down to only ten. This will be our best season yet."
This year's finalists are Justin David, 30, from Marshfield, Mo.; Jody Evans, 28, Donaldson, Ark.; Jenny Farrell, 35, Albuquerque, N.M.; Erika Jo Heriges, 18, Angleton, Texas; Christy McDonald, 29, Tabor City, N.C.; Jason Meadows, 33, Calera, Okla.; Josh Owen, 19, Brownsboro, Texas; Casey Simpson, 19, Cerritos, Calif.; Tamika Tyler, 33, Coffs Harbour, Australia; and Jayron Weaver, 22, Dallas, Ga.
Several finalists are already regular or full-time regional performers, but there is also a policeman, a rancher, a music minister and a record company receptionist in the lineup.