NASHVILLE, TN (USA Network) -- NASHVILLE STAR, USA Network's original grassroots talent search to find the next country music star and the nation's top-rated country music series, has partnered with the Warner
Music Group to give one lucky winner their big break when the hit show returns for its fifth season, it was announced today by executive producer H.T. Owens. At the show's finale, Nashville's newest country superstar will be signed to Warner Bros. Nashville label. NASHVILLE STAR premieres with season five on Thursday, January 11 at 10pm/9 Central.
"With so many artists over the past four seasons from Warner Bros. Records, it seemed to be the perfect fit to partner with a phenomenal label that would help to cultivate and launch the career of our NASHVILLE STAR season five winner," said H.T. Owens. "We look forward to working closely with their label's immensely talented A&R department to ensure that this year's finalists are the most talented to date, and that this season's winner has all of the resources and support to succeed in the highly competitive country music market."
Warner Bros. Nashville is home to multi-platinum and platinum superstars including Faith Hill, Big and Rich, Randy Travis, Blake Shelton, The Wreckers and NASHVILLE STAR co-host Cowboy Troy, as well as many talented young acts just breaking into the business.
For its record-setting fifth season, over 20,000 people auditioned in 13 markets nationwide for the producers of NASHVILLE STAR, in addition to the thousands that submitted videos of themselves for consideration. The final ten contestants will be announced during the second week of December.
The first four seasons of the series have launched the careers of promising artists including Chris Young, Buddy Jewell, Miranda Lambert and Erika Jo. Buddy Jewell debuted his self-titled CD at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and was eventually certified gold by the RIAA. Runner- up Miranda Lambert became a household name when her "Kerosene" became the highest-selling debut album of 2005 and then went on to be certified gold as well. Erika Jo landed at No. 5 on the same chart with her self-titled debut CD and at No. 27 on the Hot 200 Album Chart (all genres), outselling Kenny Chesney, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Tim McGraw and Shania Twain, among others. Most recently, Chris Young debuted his self-entitled CD at #3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, making him the top selling debut male artist of 2006.
As previously announced, Grammy-nominated Jewel (Atlantic Records) will host and RAYBAW/Warner Bros. Record's Cowboy Troy will co-host season five, and country music icon Randy Owen and country star Blake Shelton will join music and film executive Anastasia Brown at the judges table.
NASHVILLE STAR will continue to be broadcast live from the 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. Todd Lubin ("30 Days," "Black.White") serves as co-executive producer. 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 NASHVILLE STAR, please log on to the NBC Universal Media Village at https://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.
Warner Music Group became the only stand-alone music company to be publicly traded in the United States in May 2005. With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Atlantic, Bad Boy, Elektra, Lava, Maverick, Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word. Warner Music International, a leading company in national and international repertoire, operates through numerous international affiliates and licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers.
USA Network is cable television's leading provider of original series and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 basic cable network across the board in 3Q06, USA Network is seen in 90 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site is located at https://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.
