USA NETWORK TAPS GRAMMY-WINNING COUNTRY MUSIC SENSATION LEANN RIMES TO HOST NASHVILLE STAR

USA NETWORK TAPS GRAMMY-WINNING COUNTRY MUSIC SENSATION LEANN RIMES TO HOST NASHVILLE STAR

Nationwide Local Market Auditions Begin this Week

Los Angeles, CA - October 27, 2004 -LeAnn Rimes will host the third season of Nashville Star, it was announced today by Libby Hansen, vice president, alternative series & specials, USA Network. A long-time fan of the show, Rimes performed as a special guest on the second season finale of Nashville Star in May. Rimes succeeds Nancy O'Dell ("Access Hollywood") as host.

"As we move forward into the third season of Nashville Star, Nancy O'Dell will pass the hosting torch to LeAnn, who will lend a unique artist's perspective to the show," said Hansen. "LeAnn embodies the vitality of country music. We couldn't be more thrilled to have her on board."

LeAnn Rimes said, "As a singer and songwriter, I have great admiration for many of the budding stars who come to try their hand at performing, and can relate to the hopes and aspirations of all the contestants, no matter how good or bad. Nashville Star is great TV - it has drama, humor, sadness, fun and great music. I am really excited to host the show and of course, I have big shoes to fill with Nancy's departure."

"LeAnn is a superstar whose presence grounds the show firmly in its Nashville country music roots," explained Jeff Boggs, who joins Ben Silverman and H.T. Owens as executive producer this season. "As 'Nashville Star' grows in popularity, we must continue to feed it creatively with big name talent that will inspire our country music hopefuls."

At 21, LeAnn Rimes has sold more than 30 million albums since her breakthrough hit "Blue" (1996) and has been an inspiration for young singers ever since. She has won two Grammys� and numerous CMA and ACM Awards, headlined several international tours and made countless TV appearances. The young veteran has had a role in a hit motion picture ("Coyote Ugly"), authored a series of children's books with her husband Dean Sheremet (2003's JAG and Jag's New Friend) and met with President Bush when she was named spokesperson for Children's Miracle Network, which raises funds for hospitals for young people.

Rimes' most recent release, "LeAnn Rimes Greatest Hits (To Be Continued)," includes sixteen of her chart smashes, and two new songs, including the hit track "This Love." The release is also available in a special DVD edition which includes videos, performance footage, home movies and behind-the-scenes footage of her career. "Greatest Hits" has sold well over a million copies and is in the Top 5 throughout Europe.

Below please find a list of confirmed cities where the auditions for Nashville Star will take place. Updated information on auditions (including locations, times and applications), as well as show news can be found exclusively on http://www.usanetwork.com/nashvillestar/.

CONFIRMED CITIES OPEN CALLS CALL BACKS

Long Beach, CA October 25 October 25
Bakersfield, CA October 26 October 26
Reno, NV October 28 October 28
Hartford, CT November 13 November 14
Chicago, IL November 14 November 15
Atlanta, GA November 16 November 17
Baton Rouge, LA November 16 November 17
Salt Lake City, UT November 16 November 17
Charlotte, NC November 18 November 19
Kansas City, MO November 19 November 20
Little Rock, AR November 20 November 21
Tulsa, OK November 20 November 21
Nashville, TN November 21 November 22-23
Biloxi, MS November 22 November 23
Springfield, MO November 22 November 23
Detroit, MI November 22 November 23
Tallahassee, FL November 27 November 28
Austin, TX November 29 November 30
Dallas, TX December 1 December 2
Las Vegas, NV January 3 REGIONALS
Austin, TX January 5 REGIONALS
Baltimore, MD January 7 REGIONALS
Nashville, TN January 9 REGIONALS

In each city, those auditioning for Nashville Star will have one minute to perform a song off an approved cover song list. The talented and lucky ones will be called back the next day, when they will have a chance to sing both a cover and an original song or two cover songs. The top contestants from this forum will proceed to one of four regional auditions where the finalists will be selected. The auditions are open to women and men, ages 18 and over, who think they have what it takes to become the next Nashville Star!

As in past seasons, the winner of next season's Nashville Star will receive a recording contract with a major record label, joining the ranks of Buddy Jewell (winner � season one) and Brad Cotter (winner - season two), whose careers were both launched by Nashville Star.

Nashville Star will continue to be broadcast live from the BellSouth Acuff Theatre in Nashville.

Nashville Star is created by Reveille, run by Ben Silverman ("The Restaurant," "Coupling") and executive producer H.T. Owens ("The Restaurant"). Jeff Boggs will executive produce in association with Reveille. The show is produced by Jon Small ("Garth Brooks Live From Central Park," "Billy Joel Live at Yankee Stadium") and his production company, Picture Vision. Jason Cornwell serves as casting producer.

REVEILLE, a joint venture between Ben Silverman and NBC Universal Television Studio, develops, produces and distributes new and non-traditional programming formats for television and motion pictures across a variety of genres, including comedy, drama, game, and reality for American and international markets. In addition to selling television formats for independent producers such as NBC Universal Television Studios (USA Network, Sci Fi Channel), BBC Worldwide, Renegade and Princess Productions, Reveille sells its own produced program formats such as "The Restaurant" (NBC), "Blow Out" (Bravo) and "30 Days" (FX). Reveille also distributed the internationally renowned, award-winning "911" documentary and is a world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for leading advertisers, developing alternative financing paradigms and selling and distributing television formats in markets worldwide.

Reveille has produced projects such as, "Coupling," "The Restaurant", "The Biggest Loser" and coming in 2005 "The Office: An American Workplace" for NBC. Cable projects include "Blow Out" for Bravo, "The Club" on Spike, USA Network's "Nashville Star" and the Morgan Spurlock project "30 Days" for FX Networks.

USA NETWORK
USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. USA Network is seen in over 88 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com.

USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience.