Gone Country on CMT
Reality television is all the rage right now with the writer’s strike still ongoing, and country music is staking a claim in that realm of television entertainment. Of course we know all about Nashville Star and the upcoming Can You Duet, but CMT is taking it one step further with their own version of “CelebReality” like you can see on VH1.
The new series, Gone Country, features singer/songwriter John Rich of the envelope pushing duo Big and Rich. His task is to take seven established singing stars and turn them into cross over country music superstars. Just wait until you hear the cast list. This is going to be one crazy show:
Bobby Brown - Troubled R & B artist and the former Mr. Whitney Houston.
Diana DeGarmo - American Idol 3 runner up and now a Broadway actress.
Julio Iglesias, Jr. - Latin pop star, son of Julio Iglesias and brother of Enrique Iglesias.
Maureen McCormick - Marsha Brady on the Brady Bunch, Celebrity Fit Club contestant, and former pop/country music artist.
Sisqo - R & B artist best known for the Thong Song.
Dee Snider - Former lead singer of Twisted Sister.
Carnie Wilson - Former member of Wilson Phillips, yet another Celebrity Fit Club contestant, and daughter of Beach Boy Brian Wilson.
This crazy group of artists will move into a Nashville mansion together for 2 weeks while they compete in challenges, practice with some of Nashville’s best song writers, and try to win a single to be produced by John Rich and played on the radio.
Here are my early thoughts on how it will shake down. I am pretty sure that Maureen McCormick had a short lived country music deal in the 80s, so she already knows her way around Nashville, which should be a big help. Sisqo probably has the best voice out of all the contestants, but he’s so R & B it may be difficult to cross over. Carnie should be okay, but she’s never really done anything on her own and usually sang harmony on Wilson Phillips songs. Can Dee Snider sing? He’s known more for yelling, which doesn’t play well on country radio. I don’t know much about Julio Iglesias, Jr. other than he’s the less talented Iglesias son. His dad had a big country hit with Willie Nelson, though, so he could work it out. Diana DeGarmo should do well. One of her best performances on American Idol came during country week (although Martina McBride was too big for her to attempt in my opinion). That leaves Bobby Brown. That’s a train wreck waiting to happen. He used to have a great sound and know how to entertain, but the years of partying have left him in the dust.
I can’t wait to see how this all goes! The series premieres on Friday January 25th at 8:00 PM ET. I’ll be watching, will you?
country music, Gone Country show, CMT Gone Country, John Rich, Big and Rich, Maureen McCormick, Diana DeGarmo, Dee Snider, Bobby Brown, Carnie Wilson, Sisqo, Julio Iglesias Jr
January 19th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
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January 28th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
[...] another new Celebrity Rehab premiering Thursday night. You also have one chance to check out Gone Country, a new reality show from CMT which involves taking music artists of various genres and giving them [...]
February 6th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Be sure to check out the new
entertaining and enjoyable reality show on CMT TV, “GONE COUNTRY” !!
‘Should be a big, big hit and the
“edit-ing” is so very well done that it’s far and above the best reality show.
February 6th, 2008 at 6:03 am
Be sure to check out the new
entertaining and enjoyable reality show on CMT TV, “GONE COUNTRY” !!
‘Should be a big, big hit and the
“edit-ing” is so well done that it’s far and above the best reality show.