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Finalewatch: 'Nashville Star'
Here we are. The moment hundreds of you have been waiting for - the revelation of who will be this season's Nashville Star. Over/under on cumulative length of "dramatic pauses" - six minutes.
Spoilers
Host Billy Ray Cyrus opens the show with "Achy Breaky Heart." Wow. Did I really write that? Did that actually happen? I had to check my watch to make sure I hadn't spontaneously traveled back to 1992. In addition to back-up dancers, the three finalists join in with Billy Ray - first Gabe, then Shawn and finally Melissa. Oh. And all the other contestants pop up at the end and they do a bit of line dancing. It ended with some pyro on stage and it actually wasn't bad. I might dare say it was good. Odd, but good.
As a courtesy, the finalists get to perform an "encore" before eliminations begin.
Gabe Garcia
Song: "Celebrity" by Brad Paisley
Melissa Lawson
Song: "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts
Shawn Mayer
Song: "Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert
Before eliminating one of them, a package shows the three finalists spending time with the judges, a high-level radio dude, and the legendary George Jones who all shared their expertise and insight about being in the biz.
Back from a commercial break, Shawn Mayer has been taken out of the running. You really have to give it up to her - she'd come alive since she fired John Rich as her mentor and moved over to Jeffrey Steele. She took it very well and said that she'll be out there fighting for her record deal.
Gabe Garcia & Melissa Lawson
Song: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from the Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
The Countrified version is surprisingly solid but the arrangement is weird in terms of the lines they chose to break up or change. They sound good together, there's just something...awkward about it.
More adverts and more performances are next. Each contestant gets a journey-to-now type profile package before doing another number. Melissa sings "Something More" by Sugarland while Gabe chooses Alan Jackson's "Gone Country."
Ah...more filler. The judges are told to pick a winner, but they can't pick their own person which leaves Jeffrey as the tie breaker. He sidesteps it by saying he thinks Pearl Heart can still come from behind and win. Next, a sequence about recording their first singles with John is aired after yet another set of commercials.
After more producer mandated minute-filling yapping from Billy Ray and another chunk of silence, Melissa Lawson is named the 2008 Nashville Star. To close out the show, she gets to sing her new single titled "What If It All Goes Right." She holds it together admirably during the performance and it's a much better first single than pretty much any of the American Idol winners. Roll credits and hugs from the other contestants as the confetti of winning rains down upon her.
That's a wrap folks. Any thoughts from the show? I wouldn't feel bad for Gabe if I were you, he'll get a contract anyway. Congratulations Melissa!
This lady has the pipes to really be a huge star! I had her picked as my choice, from the very beginning, and I'm just thrilled to death that she won. I'm also very glad that the stereotype of the thin, waiflike body type is thrown into the wind, and Melissa did so well, being a woman of substance. I am too!
Kathie | Aug 4, 2008 10:53:10 PM | #I loved you from the first time I heard you sing. Best of luck with your singing carrer. We love you here in New Orleans. you have a wonderful family. I think your boys are very handsome.....Take care and stay safe....And may god bless you all.......Lesa Cota
LESA COTA | Aug 5, 2008 3:44:13 AM | #Great season end after a slow start. Since I figured Melissa would record some hits anyway, was actually hoping Gabe would win. Tamara: it's Jeffrey STEELE.. might not be the first time you listed the best judge on the show with the wrong name! Other then that, great coverage.
countrylover | Aug 5, 2008 4:32:08 AM | #You are amazing!! You deserve it all. it is amazing you have 5 boys. You deserve a metal for keeping your dream alive!! Cant wait to see you here in St. Louis.
Brooke | Aug 5, 2008 7:26:51 AM | #Congratulations and best of luck to Melissa. I was hoping that she would end up the winner. It would have been difficult for me to accept anyone else. She definitely deserves it. Way to go, Melissa!!
cynx | Aug 5, 2008 8:33:00 AM | #I also had it pegged as Melissa winning all along--although I really loved Gabe & even Shawn!! I hope they all find or get deals out of it, they are so good!! Congrats Melissa--way to go girl!!
Michele | Aug 5, 2008 9:14:54 AM | #not the best year for this show, most likely the last season, Melissa wont go anywhere in the biz. and John Rich is a loser who blows way too much smoke
eric | Aug 5, 2008 9:32:01 AM | #Yay! The voters got it right. So happy to see Melissa win, and the new song is great.
Well, I finally got to see THE MAN Billy Ray perform, although I would have liked him to sing "Some Gave All" or one of those wonderful songs that he wrote and recorded.His voice is so pure, and some folks don't realize it if they haven't heard him much. Me, I've got every one of his CDs, and they're all great.
Fun show to watch and listen to. Good talent.
I'm so glad Melissa won. She stayed with her dream & didn't give up. A lot of women would think after having 5 children, & being in her thirties, & being a plus size that it would be to late to persue your dream. Good for you Melissa, I had you pegged to win after about the 2nd week.
Farm Girl | Aug 5, 2008 10:53:26 AM | #Yay for Melissa! But don't cry for Gabe - I'll be stunned if he doesn't get his own record deal. Could work to his advantage, as the winners don't usually get a huge push from the show like the "Idol" winners do.
binky | Aug 5, 2008 11:24:11 AM | #Bad season. Bad final two. I won't spend a penny on Melissa or Gabe's music or concerts. Neither has an ounce of star quality.
tk | Aug 5, 2008 11:29:04 AM | #eric you're an idiot. melissa may not be a skinny itch but she's got the pipes and i'm buying her single like i bought melinda lambert's. i knew who had talent and who didn't.
renee | Aug 5, 2008 11:42:39 AM | #I don't know who "tk" is but he/she got it all wrong. I'm gonna buy Melissa's album and then I'm gonna buy Gabe's album. The Star winners have so much more substance and ability than Idol winners--except Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson, of course. Most of the Idol contestants are no talent hacks like Sanjaya. Good to see real talent such as Melissa and Gabe.
Michael Jackson | Aug 5, 2008 11:56:10 AM | #Melissa was my pick as the singer with the best range but Gabe was the essence of old fashioned western singing.
I didn't care for the way the judges put so much emphasis on his being Hispanic, this was self evident and unnecessary.
Though I thought the lady was deserving and felt she'd win, I'm betting that he'll go further and faster than she will.
pjal | Aug 5, 2008 12:12:04 PM | #countrylover: Thanks for the catch. I didn't get a chance to reread this before posting - mistakes happen to the best of us. And, as I agree he's the best judge, this would be first time I listed his name incorrectly.
Tamara B. | Aug 5, 2008 1:14:37 PM | #Maybe Melissa can afford some slim-fast now.
Jason | Aug 5, 2008 4:09:41 PM | #Melissa congrats great job and you never gave up! Gabe will do good on his own also!! Melissa if you stay focused as you have through this whole thing you will continue to do great!! And great job you look great keep up the good work!! You have allot to be proud of and what you have accomplished!!
countrygirl | Aug 5, 2008 4:59:23 PM | #hey renee dont be a fool and put words in other peoples mouths, i never said she was fat ( although she is ) i said it was a bad season and she will not go anywhere in the biz, mainly because the pressure of the road and radio and 5 kids will be too much for her, and look at Nashville stars track record for producing stars, remember Angela Hackard ??? Erica Jo ??? or that Aussie guy from season 2 ????
eric | Aug 5, 2008 5:32:45 PM | #No amount of hard selling from John Rich can turn Melissa into a star. Or Gabe. In a year no one will remember either of them even if they get an album released. The most pathetic thing about this season are the people who made being overweight and breeding uncontrollably into virtues.
blahblah | Aug 5, 2008 6:21:59 PM | #Re: Blah blah
But isn't being overweight and breeding uncontrollably a requirement to be a country music fan? LOL
Jason | Aug 6, 2008 6:23:56 AM | #She's not going to be a star, people. Only 7 million people watched this show, the vast majority of fans have no idea who she is, and when they see her, they'll see a mother of 5 who can sing a little. Not gorgeous, not sexy, not such an undeniable singer that you can't refuse her. She was the best SINGER on the show, nowhere near the best artist. People want to identify with STARS, and she just isn't a star.
But neither were the other two. The only real artist was Ashley Hewitt, and she went away at #5. Shawn was right in reminding the audience that Miranda Lambert lost, too, but she's not the next Miranda Lambert, Ashley Hewitt is.
The show is too cheesy, with a bad host in Billy Ray, with sex-ed up dancing girls, and Katie Cook's Stripper dress. It was almost like, "hey, let's do American Idol, but let's do a real cheap version of it, those Country hicks will never notice." There's a reason that the losers from Idol get record deals and the winners from this show, people like Angela Hackard, Erika Jo, and everyone except Miranda Lambert, they get to go bck to parking cars and changing diapers.
Radio Guy | Aug 6, 2008 1:32:33 PM | #Melissa you are awsome!!!!
so very very happy for you.
i knew you would win from the first time i heard you sing and I VOTED FOR EACH WEEK THE WHLE 2 HOURS WE COULD VOTE.
what happen to angela hackard? does anyone know?
Mennalady | Aug 8, 2008 9:04:54 AM | #daxy huczaev mxpvbko smhfkoju ldnhgj jvuskqhl fsyjtcpeq
fwnsky yceahj | Aug 15, 2008 3:11:23 AM | #
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