or


[09/27/06 - 12:00 AM]
Grammy-Nominated Music Sensation Jewel to Host Season Five of 'Nashville Star' Presented by Sonic

[via press release from USA]

GRAMMY-NOMINATED MUSIC SENSATION JEWEL TO HOST SEASON FIVE OF 'NASHVILLE STAR' PRESENTED BY SONIC

Season Four's Cowboy Troy returns as Co-Host; Show Premieres on its New Night, Thursday, January 11 at 10pm/9pm Central

NASHVILLE, Tenn. � September 27, 2006 � NASHVILLE STAR, USA Network's original grassroots talent search to find America's next great country music star and the nation's top-rated country music program, will return on its new night, Thursday, January 11 from 10-11pm ET/9-10pm CT with Grammy-nominated host Jewel. Joining Jewel for the record-breaking fifth season will be season four co-host RAYBAW/Warner Bros. Record's Cowboy Troy. The announcement was made today by Jeff Wachtel, executive vice president, original programming, USA Network.

Jewel succeeds five-time Grammy Award-winning superstar Wynonna Judd, who co-hosted season four with Cowboy Troy, as host for season five.

"Jewel brings a new and exciting dynamic to NASHVILLE STAR for its fifth season," said Wachtel. "Her success and her understanding of the craft as both a singer and songwriter will be invaluable to the aspiring singers and insightful to the viewers. With her fresh perspective and Cowboy Troy's return, the two should make a phenomenal hosting team!"

"I grew up on a ranch in Alaska, and my favorite memories are of sitting around a camp fire with my father and listening to the songs he wrote and sang. It was pure country music, and it has made me a sincere fan of country music ever since," said Jewel. "I am so excited to be part of this show, and for the chance to watch the contestants compete in this uniquely American artform."

"Jewel is one of the most extraordinary artists in the music industry, and we are thrilled that she will participate as the host of NASHVILLE STAR for its fifth season," said H.T. Owens, executive vice president, creative affairs, Reveille, which produces the nation's top-rated country music program. "As an acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet and actress, Jewel will help us find another talented and deserving artist to bring to the country music scene."

From the remote tundra of her Alaskan youth to the triumph of international stardom, Jewel has traveled a singular road as an acclaimed singer, songwriter, poet, actress and painter. The three-time Grammy nominee, hailed by The Times of London as "the most sparkling female singer-songwriter since Joni Mitchel," continues to explore new musical avenues from the simplicity of acoustic-driven folk to the embrace of rock, pop, country, blues, jazz and classical influences. To date, Jewel has sold over 27 million albums worldwide, enjoying career longevity rare among her generation of artists. Jewel's personal odyssey, partly chronicled on her twelve-times RIAA platinum debut album Pieces of You comes to full flower with her most recent Atlantic Records CD, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland.

The Hick-Hop originator, Cowboy Troy's release Loco Motive debuted at #2 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart and at #15 on Billboard's Hot 200 chart. Billed as the world's only six-foot-five black rapping cowboy, Cowboy Troy, burst onto the country music fan's consciousness with the multi-lingual breakdown in the middle of "Rollin' (The Ballad of Big & Rich)", the opening track to platinum-selling labelmates Big & Rich's 2004 release Horse of A Different Color. The University of Texas grad continues to electrify crowds on the road as he tours with Big & Rich.

For its fifth season premiere in January 2007, NASHVILLE STAR will become the longest-running competition series on cable television. Its national casting tour began on August 31 in Atlanta and continued to twelve other cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York, Dallas, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Oklahoma City, Tampa Bay, Albuquerque, Charlotte and of course, Nashville.

The auditions are open to women and men, ages 18 and over (as of January 1, 2007), who think they have what it takes to become the next NASHVILLE STAR. Updated information on auditions including cities, locations and times, song lists, applications, as well as how to audition if you can't make it to an open call, can be found on http://www.usanetwork.com/nashvillestar/.

As in the past, the winner of this season's NASHVILLE STAR will receive a major music recording contract with a top-level record label.

In its previous four seasons, the careers of promising artists including Miranda Lambert, Buddy Jewel, Erika Jo and Season Four winner Chris Young have been launched. Jewel debuted his self-titled CD at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and was eventually certified gold by the RIAA. Runner-up Lambert became a household name when her Kerosene became the highest-selling debut album of 2005. Young, the most recent winner, will release his first CD on October 3; his self-written first single "Drinkin' Me Lonely," which he performed on NASHVILLE STAR, recently debuted at country radio.

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

SONIC, America's Drive-In (NASDAQ/GS: SONC), the nation's largest drive-in restaurant chain, is the exclusive presenting partner of the fifth season of NASHVILLE STAR.

NASHVILLE STAR is created by Reveille and executive produced by Ben Silverman ("The Biggest Loser," "The Office") and H.T. Owens ("The Restaurant," "30 Days"). 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, alongside co-executive producer Mark Koops ("The Restaurant," "Blow Out").

For photos of Jewel, Cowboy Troy, as well as photos from previous seasons of NASHVILLE STAR, please log on to the NBC Universal Media Village at http://www.nbcumv.com/.

Reveille is a leading independent production and distribution company focused on exploiting worldwide intellectual property rights through scripted and alternative television formats. Launched in March of 2002 by Ben Silverman, the company produces innovative entertainment programming across all television genres such as the Emmy Award-winning "The Office" (NBC), which has also received two Television Critics Association Awards; "The Biggest Loser" (NBC); "Ugly Betty" (ABC); "House of Boateng" (Sundance Channel); "30 Days" (FX); "Blow Out" (Bravo); "Bound For Glory" (ESPN); "Nashville Star" (USA); "Date My Mom" (MTV); and "The Restaurant" (NBC). Reveille is also the world leader in creating integrated marketing opportunities for leading advertisers while developing alternative financing paradigms. In addition, Reveille's growing library of programming is distributed to more than 150 countries worldwide through Reveille International. The company maintains offices in Los Angeles and New York.

Seen in 90 million homes, USA Network is cable television's leading network of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, network shows and blockbuster theatrical films. The USA Network Web site is located at www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.

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.





  [september 2006]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
     


· 30 DAYS (FX)
· BIGGEST LOSER, THE (USA)
· BLOW OUT (BRAVO)
· BOUND FOR GLORY (ESPN)
· NASHVILLE STAR (NBC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· RESTAURANT, THE (NBC)
· UGLY BETTY (ABC)





[07/14/25 - 02:13 PM]
Lifetime Announces Three New "Ripped from the Headlines" Movies Debuting Saturdays This Fall
Keana Lyn Bastidas, Jon McLaren, Marilu Henner, Brielle Robillard, Sam Trammell, Steve Byers, Ashley Jones, Holly Barrett, Doug Savant, Maggie Lawson, and Courtney Stodden are among the featured talent.

[07/14/25 - 01:10 PM]
Season 10 of the Hit Dating Series "Ready to Love" Returns to Philadelphia as the Journey to Find Love Continues This Summer on OWN
Beginning Friday, August 1 at 8 PM ET/PT on OWN, viewers return to the City of Brotherly Love to reignite the search for lasting love among its most eligible singles.

[07/14/25 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix and MVP's Taylor-Serrano 3 Goes the Distance with Nearly 6 Million Global Viewers
In the US, an estimated AMA of 4.2 million viewers tuned in to the main event (Live+1) according to VideoAmp and Netflix, making it the most-watched professional women's sports event of 2025.

[07/14/25 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "SEC Football: Any Given Saturday" - Official Trailer - Netflix
Follow college football's most elite players and coaches in this unfiltered documentary series that goes behind the scenes of the 2024 SEC season.

[07/14/25 - 11:01 AM]
Hosted by Ken Jeong & Erin Andrews, "99 to Beat" Premieres Wednesday, September 24 Following the Season Four Premiere of "The Floor," Hosted by Rob Lowe
In "99 to Beat," 100 contestants go head-to-head in a range of visually distinctive and hilarious games in an arced competition game show like we've never seen before.

[07/14/25 - 10:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Programming
Featured are beloved returning series including "Gen V," "Upload," "Hazbin Hotel," "The Legend of Vox Machina," and highly anticipated new series like "Helluva Boss," "The Mighty Nein," and "Butterfly."

[07/14/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Hulu Reveals Official Trailer for "The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball"
Additionally, it's been announced that the series will make its franchise-first debut at San Diego Comic-Con on Saturday, July 26.

[07/14/25 - 09:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Debuts Trailer and Key Art For Spy Thriller "Butterfly," Starring and Executive Produced by Daniel Dae Kim
As previously announced, all six episodes will debut on Wednesday, August 13.

[07/14/25 - 08:15 AM]
Sean Hannity to Host "Wanted: Dead or Alive" on FOX Nation
Set to premiere on Wednesday, July 16, new episodes will be released weekly and tackle the stories of the infamous John Dillinger, Bonnie and Clyde, Baby Face Nelson, and Ma Barker.

[07/14/25 - 08:00 AM]
Gabby Windey Sets Sail as Host of Hulu's New Unscripted Series "Love Overboard"
Step aboard the ultimate luxury yacht, where sexy singles are ready to mix and mingle... and find love.

[07/14/25 - 08:00 AM]
HBO Original "Harry Potter" Television Series Begins Production
The series will debut in 2027 on HBO and HBO Max where it's available, including in upcoming launch markets Germany, Italy, and the UK.

[07/14/25 - 08:00 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases First-Look Images and Teaser Trailer for Upcoming Psychological Thriller "The Girlfriend"
All six-episodes will be available September 10 exclusively on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories around the world.

[07/14/25 - 07:41 AM]
Welcome to Atlanta: FOX Sports Assembles All-Star Cast for MLB's 95th Midsummer Classic
Live from Truist Park, FOX MLB's lead duo of Emmy Award-winning play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and first-ballot Hall of Famer John Smoltz (eight-time All-Star with the Atlanta Braves) reunite in the booth for their fourth All-Star Game together.

[07/14/25 - 07:15 AM]
Prime Video Announces Six Additional Cast for New Original Series "Bloodaxe"
Karlis Arnolds Avots, Rod Hallett, Alina Tomnikov, Sisse Marie, Rune Temte, and Jesper Christensen join the cast of the historical drama.

[07/14/25 - 07:14 AM]
Icon Award, Presenters, Attendees, and Musical Performances Announced for "The 2025 ESPYS Presented by Capital One," Airing Live Wednesday, July 16 at 8pm ET/ 7pm CT on ABC and Streaming on ESPN+
During this year's event, ESPN will honor former WNBA player Diana Taurasi and former USWNT player Alex Morgan with the Icon Award in recognition of their incredible careers and significant impact on the world of sports.