Here is a song-by-song description of tonight’s Nashville Star show. It’s down to the final three: Melissa Lawson, Gabe Garcia and Shawn Mayer. Check back for updates as the show gets under way at 9:00 Central time. Tonight is the finale - and they will drag it out unmercifully. The decision has already been made as to who the winner is - so all the singing is just to fill the time.
OK - finally they’re getting it underway with Billy Ray Cyrus singing “Achey Breaky Heart!” Ahhh - it brings back such memories! The three finalists are accompanying Billy Ray. Folks, this is the best part of the Nashville Star so far this season. LOL! It looks like the other contestants are off to the side of the stage.
The emcee chick is wearing a hideous dress. I don’t even know her name - totally unremarkable - except for wearing a butt ugly dress tonight.
Of course the winner has already been decided, but they’ll each sing their “encore song” first.
Gabe Garcia is up first. If this guy wins, it’ll be a travesty. I can’t even understand the words well enough to figure out what the song is. Something about reality. Everybody is cheering wildly. Jewel is getting all gushy over him. The other two judges don’t comment.
Melissa Lawson is next singing “My Wish For You.” It actually is about my least favorite of the songs she has sung this season. John Rich does his usual vapid comments.
Shawn Mayer is the last to sing, and she’s singing something I can’t understand - something about a shotgun. Not impressive. Jeffrey calls her the dark horse in the competition.
Isn’t it an amazing coincidence that each of the three judges has one contestant left in the competition. Amazing how that worked out.
John, Jeff and Jewel bring in THEIR mentor, Blair Varner. Apparently he’s a bigwig somewhere in country music. Then George Jones came in - as another of the judges’ mentors. Now EVERYONE knows George Jones. His contribution to the conversation is to say, “Well heck, I think you’re doing a great job!” And that was that.
Up next - the first elimination of the night. Of course they have the heartbeat drum keep going for a L-O-N-G time. First eliminated is SHAWN MAYER. That’s as it should be. They had the traditional video montage looking back at Shawn’s Nashville Star run. She’s a sweet girl with a good voice, but she was definitely not star material.
Shawn Mayer - buh bye!
Now Melissa Lawson and Gabe Garcia are singing a duet - “I’ve Had the Time of My Life.” They actually sounds pretty good together, but they look very uncomfortable singing together.
Now they’re doing a brief interview/look-back-at-Nashville-Star segment on both Melissa. She cries when she talks about how much she wants to win - for her family, of course. Time filler. Now she’s singing “Gotta Be Something More.” She is rocking out. What vocals! She is definitely, without a doubt the best singer and performer on the show. Am I the only one that thinks she looks like Wynonna? Now Jewel is giving her a critique. And Jeff. Then John. Just idle chit-chat - nothing significant said - “you’ve got a wonderful talent, I like your tone . . . blah blah blah.”
Gabe’s turn for the interview/look-back-at-Nashville-Star segment. He says his goal is to become “a legend in country music.” Sigh! A legend? Come on, Gabe! You’re a good singer, but a legend? Gag! He’s singing “Gone Country.” The judges are clapping and acting like he’s wonderful - except for Jewel. I’m sorry, but I just don’t see this guy being a huge success - much less a “legend in country music.” Standing O from Jeff and John. Jeff - “You’re already country. You’re one of the greatest voices I’ve heard on this show.” John - “You’ve done your heritage proud. What a testament to great country music.” Jewel - “I feel there’s a really great future for you here.”
Whoever wins will have their new single out tomorrow morning. So now they’re showing them both getting their singles ready to go. Wow! Melissa is 32 years old - and has FIVE chidlren. She just jinxed herself. She said, “I not only want to win this competition, I’m GOING to win this competition.”
Judges give “final thoughts” before winner is announced - blah, blah, blah…. Then the blonde “hostess” or whatever she is called is asking Gabe and Melissa what winning would mean to them. . .
Billy Ray “This is it . . .” And the winner is:
Nashville Star Winner - Melissa Lawson
She sings her new single “What if it All Goes Right” and it is really good. Her little boys are picking up confetti off the floor and throwing it up as she sings. Hey - this song is GOOD - it might just might do really well.
And to Gabe - we must now say, “Buh-Bye.”
Gabe Garcia - Buh - bye!
