or


[03/10/11 - 08:13 AM]
CMT Announces Top 10 Contestants Competing to Become "CMT's Next Superstar"
Thea Andrews hosts the series, which will launch Friday, April 8 at 9:00/8:00c.
[via press release from CMT]

CMT ANNOUNCES TOP 10 CONTESTANTS COMPETING TO BECOME "CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR"

New Series Premieres April 8 on CMT

NASHVILLE - March 10, 2011 - The search is on for CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR as five men and five women fight for the title in CMT's latest competition series premiering Friday, April 8 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Hosted by Thea Andrews ("Top Chef Canada," ESPN, "Entertainment Tonight"), in each episode of the ten episode series, CMT will search to find America's next great country star and will open the door for undiscovered singer/songwriters who think they have what it takes to make it in the country music industry.

The show will allow the world to see every triumph and every set-back unfold weekly as each contestant will compete while living together in a house in Nashville, providing a rare and revealing inside look at the all ensuing drama that can take place when musical adversaries live and compete together.

Contestant auditions were held in Los Angeles, Nashville, Dallas and Austin, as well as through private showcases around the country, and an online competition through www.ourstage.com. Show talent scouts also sought contestants through industry agents, management, labels, talent schools, honky-tonks - anywhere they could find strong country singer/songwriters.

The Top 10 Finalists:

· Bri Bagwell, 23, Las Cruces, N.M.

· Adrienne Beasley, 22, Wickliffe, Ky.

· Courtney Cole, 24, Mandeville, La.

· Danielle Lauderdale, 23, Orange Park, Fla.

· Andrea Person, 29, Kelowna, British Columbia

· Steven Clawson, 29, Thomasville, Ga.

· Matt Dame, 37, Batesville, Ark.

· Matt Mason, 25, Fairland, Ind.

· Ben Smith, 29, Gainesville, Texas

· Wynn Varble, 50, Hampshire, Tenn.

*Full contestant bios available at cmtpress.com

Contestants on CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR will try to impress celebrity guests each week through a series of music business related 'challenges' and grueling performance rounds. Each week, one finalist will be eliminated and America will have the final vote to determine who will be crowned CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR.

CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR is executive produced by Legacy Productions' Co-President Simon Lythgoe and Nigel Lythgoe, co-founder and president of Big Red 2 Entertainment, a newly formed company with 19 Entertainment. Bob Kusbit executive produces, and Brad Johnson and Melanie Moreau serve as executive producers for CMT.

Like the show on Facebook for cast updates, exclusive extras and more: http://facebook.com/CMTNextSuperstar

About Legacy Productions

In 2010, Emmy-nominated producer, Simon Lythgoe launched Legacy Productions, a production company that specializes in reality competition shows and scripted comedy. Legacy has already cemented partnerships with a number of producers and executives in Hollywood, with a slate of shows in development for 2011. Among Legacy's charter group of partners are veteran producers from "America's Got Talent," "American Idol," and dick clark productions. Through the Los Angeles-based Legacy Productions banner, Lythgoe is partnering with his television mogul father, Nigel Lythgoe and his company, Big Red 2, to produce a new music competition series designed to find CMT'S next superstar.

About Simon Lythgoe

Simon came to the United States from the U.K. in 2001 to produce "American Idol" after successfully completing work on "Popstars," an Australian talent competition and ancestor of juggernaut, "American Idol." Prior to arriving in the U.S, Simon had already amassed an impressive list of television credits, including work on the Sydney Olympics and the Seven Network's long-running drama, "Home and Away," and "Late Night with David Letterman." Since his arrival in the U.S., Simon has produced six seasons of "American Idol," two seasons of "So You Think You Can Dance," and Mark Burnett's, "On the Lot," a series developed for Fox. In 2007, Simon was recruited by "American Idol" producer, Fremantle to co-executive produce CMT's "Can You Duet," and "Celebrity Family Feud." Simon consulted on "America's Got Talent," and "Let's Make a Deal." Simon has received 3 Emmy nominations for his work on "American Idol" and 1 Producers Guild of America nomination and in 2005 received a People's Choice Award for "American Idol."

About CMT

CMT, a unit of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 91 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network's digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.





  [march 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· CMT'S NEXT SUPERSTAR (CMT)




[03/04/26 - 11:31 AM]
"Disney Animation's Songs in Sign Language" to Debut on Disney+ April 27
Directed by veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond, the featured songs are "The Next Right Thing" (from Frozen 2), "We Don't Talk About Bruno" (from Encanto) and "Beyond" (from Moana 2).
[03/04/26 - 11:03 AM]
Video: HBO Max Releases First Teaser from the DC Studios Series "Lanterns," Starring Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre, and Kelly Macdonald
The series is slated to debut later this August on HBO and available to stream on HBO Max.
[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix's "Untamed" Season 2 Production Kicks Off in Hawaii
The series will film on location on O'ahu and the island of Hawaii.
[03/04/26 - 10:01 AM]
MTV Announces the Final 18 Episodes of "Jersey Shore Family Vacation," One of TV's Most Influential Reality Franchises, Premiering on Thursday, May 7 at 8PM ET/PT
This farewell season marks the culmination of a franchise that entertained millions with major life milestones, laugh-out-loud chaos, and the unfiltered chemistry that defined an era of reality television.

[03/04/26 - 09:46 AM]
"The Verdict," Hosted by Christopher "Mad Dog" Russo, Returns to Vice TV For Season Two, Taking on the Biggest Debates in Sports
In each episode, Russo and a lineup of sports insiders, journalists, and analysts get to the bottom of the hottest debates in sports history, presenting both sides through a fast-paced documentary debate format.

[03/04/26 - 09:45 AM]
Lifetime Raises the Bar by Expanding Into Premium Vertical Storytelling with "Tides of Temptation," A Micro Drama Feature Executive Produced by Taye Diggs
Serving as a digital offshoot of the just announced upcoming original movie "Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You," the project expands the film's universe through a cinematic, mobile-first format designed with feature-level production value.
[03/04/26 - 09:44 AM]
Lifetime Greenlights Three New Original Movies for 2026 Love of a Lifetime Slates Featuring All-Star Casts
Valerie Bertinelli, Henry Czerny, Eric McCormack, Taye Diggs, Heather Hemmens, and Cynthia Bailey are among the featured talent.
[03/04/26 - 09:43 AM]
Lifetime Reteams with Robin Roberts for "Angel in the Rubble" Starring Sherri Shepherd in Remembrance of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11
Slated to premiere in September in remembrance of the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the movie is based on Genelle Guzman-McMillan's memoir "Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11's Last Survivor."
[03/04/26 - 09:42 AM]
Lifetime Expands Roster of Powerhouse Creatives with New Movie Projects Helmed By Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson
"Queen Latifah and Taraji P. Henson are extraordinary talents and dynamic producers who share Lifetime's passion for telling powerful stories about women," said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming, A&E, Lifetime and LMN.
[03/04/26 - 09:41 AM]
A+E Global Media Greenlights Two New Digital-First Series Under the History Brand
"Mistakes That Made America" and "Cracking Up" are both due later this year.
[03/04/26 - 09:40 AM]
The History Channel Marks the 25th Anniversary of September 11 with New Two-Hour Special "102 Minutes Inside the Towers"
The documentary offers a deeply immersive and unique perspective through firsthand accounts from those who were inside the Twin Towers.
[03/04/26 - 09:39 AM]
The History Channel Taps Internationally Acclaimed Action Icon Dolph Lundgren to Executive Produce and Host New Series "History's Greatest Machines with Dolph Lundgren"
Produced by Superluna Studios in association with 3BMG, the eight-episode series takes viewers on a thrilling journey through the gears, guts, and genius behind the machines that reshaped our world.
[03/04/26 - 09:38 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "Crime and Justice with Tom Selleck" (w.t.)
The 10-episode, one-hour series examines the true stories behind some of the most consequential crimes and investigations in American history.
[03/04/26 - 09:37 AM]
The History Channel Orders "Extraordinary Origins with Ted Danson" (w.t.) A New Series Hosted and Executive Produced by the Multi-Award-Winning Actor
The 10-episode series examines the stories behind some of history's most significant innovations, inventions, and discoveries that helped shape the modern world.
[03/04/26 - 09:36 AM]
The History Channel Greenlights New Nonfiction Series "History's Strange Fortunes with Kevin Bacon" (w.t.)
Stories about money - money made, money lost, and money spent - are woven into the fabric of our nation's history.