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RSSFinalewatch: '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!
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
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!
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
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.
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.
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!!
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!!
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
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.
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.