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RSSThe final four go home on 'Nashville Star'
With the finale coming up around the bend, the last contestants standing on Nashville Star get warm welcomes and perform concerts in their home towns before going facing the judges and getting all the votes as they can.
Just so you know, next week's finale will be on at 10pm. Why? Don't know. And, after the winner is announced, they'll be singing their first single. Quick turn around, no? The concerts down were for charity with State Farm donating $10,000 to each hometown for programs to keep kids in school.
1. Shawn Mayer
Song: "I'm Here for The Party" by Gretchen Wilson
Her hometown of May City, Iowa has a sign for her at the city limits, she does a packed autograph session at the local mall, and leads a pack of bikers to her concert. Not a bad visit, I'd say. The song choice is solid, it fit her personality very well. The home visit did her good because this may be the best she's done stage presence-wise.
2. Gabe Garcia
Song: "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" by Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett
Gabe was met by a giant crowd (including his family and the mayor) at the airport, a police escort, a parade in his honor, and a key to the city before doing his concert for 10,000 people in Lytle, Texas. The song strikes me as odd for some reason but it works. He seems really at ease on stage so, again, the home visit infuses confidence. One thing that bothers me is John Rich's pushing the whole "bridge the gap to the Latino audience" rhetoric. It seems like he's just interested in getting money from an untapped market moreso than it just being about Gabe being so talented.
3. Coffey
Song: "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Instead of going to his hometown in Texas, he went to Los Angeles which is where he lives now with his daughter. He got honored by The Dream Center, an organization that he works with, before playing his show. The song is both a smart and extremely risky choice because everyone loves it. It's one of his better covers but I can easily see a lot of people hating on it. But props on the performance - it was high energy and he didn't overdo it on the vocals. John and Jeffrey Steele think he's a star but maybe not the Nashville Star.
4. Melissa Lawson
Song: "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" by Pat Benatar
Melissa's visit to her hometown of Arlington, Texas started with going home and getting mobbed by her kids. She then visited her high school where she did an autograph session before her concert and received a key to the city. Ah...Pat Benatar. How I adore her. Great song choice and she didn't try to do too much to it.
After all that happy stuff, we get to the elimination chunk of the episode. Only three will get to sing their second song.
5. Shawn Mayer
Song: "The Dance" by Garth Brooks
Wow. I'm very impressed. She didn't try to do too much with the song and sang it well. I couldn't always understand what she said but it's way better than a few weeks ago. Let that be a lesson to all women involved with someone who tears them done. Drop him and everything will turn around.
6. Melissa Lawson
Song: "Jesus Take the Wheel" by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood covers, like all songs by people with big voices, are tricky but I think Melissa really did it justice. It started out lower than I'm used to but I like her low register, though Jeffrey thought it was a little shaky.
Well...it's down to Gabe and Coffey. I think we all suspect how this will go, and we're all right. Gabe is through to next week and it's the end of the show for Coffey.
7. Gabe Garcia
Song: "Living in Fast Forward" by Kenny Chesney
I was skeptical with the song until the breakdown near the end - he got the crowd into it, clapping along with him and it took a turn. I still like his vocals overall though. John says he thinks there's a record deal in his future no matter what. I agree, and I think that's the case with pretty much all of them.
So that's it. Next week's the finale. Who do you think will win? Should Coffey have made it and someone else get sent home? Do you think they'll all get contracts regardless of who wins? Any other thoughts?
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Next week is an hour later because the American Gladiator fnale is two hours.
Gabe should win.
Agree on John Rich pushing the Latino thing; he needs to back off because it does sound greedy rather than excited about having the first great Latino country singer since Freddy Fender.
Well, I like the final three and that Coffey is finally gone. I must admit to being impressed by Shawn and the way she has stepped up the last 3 weeks. When the show first started I thought she would make an early exit.
I agree that Rich's obsession over Gabe being hispanic is annoying. He ruined his own B-list celebrity singing show on CMT by picking a guy for skin color instead of singing ability. Gabe has the chops to be a great country singer; Rich's is going to hold him back if he keeps trying to narrowly define him as a the latino-country guy.
It would be nice if they all got contracts, but what if these finalists end up like all the winners from past years. In the past no one has made it. Buddy Jewel did well for a while, but has faded away. I do not believe the producers have helped anyone from Nashiville Star. What a shame, some very good talent has been ignored.
Thank Goodness Coffey was sent packing. He tries to be so cool, but ends up singing off key while trying to impress the audience with his moves. Not my idea of an ARTIST!
Gabe did a good job last night, although I'm still not too impressed with him.
The girls were terrific, on both of their performances. I'm rooting for Melissa, although I wouldn't be disappointed if Shawn won.
I'm STILL waiting for sweet Billy Ray to entertain us. I hope he will.
Just found out that Chris Young {season 4) has a song on the charts and is touring with Martina McBride. Good to hear.
I agree, so glad Coffey is gone--it was his time, & would of definately been disappointed if anyone else would of went!! Love all that's left!! Really want Melissa to win, Gabe would be cool too, heck I wouldn't even mind Shawn winning it, I'v e liked her all along!! Hope whoever doesn't win, that they all get deals of some sort, they are all so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can't wait for Monday!!