Nashville Star
'It sounds like
"American Idol" with a twang.
The USA Network will be conducting a nationwide search for
the next great country music singer-songwriter on the new show, "Nashville
Star." According to published reports, the network will join forces
with Universal Music Group and Ben Silverman's production company Reveille to
produce the new six-episode reality series. Though the exact format of the show has not been finalized,
contestants from all country genres who write and perform their own songs will
be competing for a recording contract. The personal lives of each contestant
will be a major focus of the show as well - producers want to meet all the folks
who left the singers cryin' in their beer. "Country music is a genre that really resonates with our audience,"
USA Network president Doug Herzog tells The Hollywood Reporter. "It's
great to be able to tap into the resources of the Universal family by teaming
with the Universal Music Group and Reveille to find the next great country star." "Nashville Star"
is expected to debut in the first or second quarter of 2003.'