Nashville Star

The premiere episode of Nashville Star introduced us to the host and judges as well as the contestants who were picked to appear this season. The finalists were chosen from thousands, and only the lucky continued. No one was eliminated.

The twelve Nashville Star finalists each had the opportunity to shine as they performed country standards during the first round of competition. Miranda Lambert: "Honky Tonk Blues" - Hank Williama Buddy Jewell: "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" - Eddy Arnold Brandon Silveira: "Act Naturally" - Buck Owens Anne Louise Blythe: "Poor, Poor Pitiful Me" - Terri Clark Travis Howard: "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" - Willie Nelson Brandi Gibson: "Walking After Midnight" - Patsy Cline Prentiss Varnon: "Hey Good Lookin'" - Hank Williams Amy Chappell : "Son of a Preacher Man" - Dusty Springfield Kristen Kissling: "Heartbreak Hotel" - Elvis Presley John Arthur Martinez: "When You Say Nothing At All" - Keith Whitley Tasha Valentine: "Your Cheating Heart" - Roy Acuff Jamey Garner: "Two More Bottles of Wine" - Emmylou Harris

This week on Nashville Star, we said goodbye to two more contestants and watched 11 amazing performances intended to show us which styles of country music influenced the performers. Brandon Silveira: "I Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink" - Merle Haggard Amy Chappell : "Walk Softly On This Heart of Mine" - Bill Monroe Brandi Gibson: "Drinkin' My Baby Goodbye" - The Charlie Daniels Band John Arthur Martinez: "Roly Poly" - Bob Wills Miranda Lambert: "Texas (When I Die)" - Tanya Tucker Travis Howard: "Six Days on the Road" - Dave Dudley Jamey Garner: "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" - Tammy Wynette and George Jones Prentiss Varnon: "Milk Cow Blues" - Bob Wills Tasha Valentine: "Little Sister" - Elvis Presley Buddy Jewell: "Gimme Three Steps" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

This Saturday on Nashville Star, we saw how our remaining contestants brought their country style to a pop standard. Since being a star is also about a look, an attitude, and how you carry yourself, we saw each of the finalists consulting with stylists, shopping for clothes that reflected their personalities, and occasionally opting for a different hairstyle. Amy Chappell: "We Belong" - Pat Benatar John Arthur Martinez: "Some Kind of Wonderful" - Grand Funk Railroad Buddy Jewell: "Please Come to Boston" - Dave Loggins Jamey Garner: "Faithfully" - Journey Brandi Gibson: "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" - Bryan Adams Brandon Silveira: "Here I Go Again" - Whitesnake Prentiss Varnon: "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" - England Dan/John Ford Coley Miranda Lambert: "Hurts So Good" - John Mellencamp

This week on Nashville Star, our contestants proved their mettle and stepped the competition up a notch by performing their original songs. Brandi Gibson: "I'm Gonna Make It" - original Buddy Jewell: "Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)" - original Miranda Lambert: "Greyhound Bound for Nowhere" - original Brandon Silveira: "Life Don't Get Much Better Than This" - original John Arthur Martinez: "Everything I Never Knew I Wanted" - original Amy Chappell: "No Turning Back" - original

The American Spirit was alive and well on the Nashville Star stage this week, as each contestant performed a song that he or she felt reflected that spirit. Love of home and family, patriotism, rugged individualism, and hard work were all values expressed in the songs selected, values that together make up the fabric of American society. Remaining finalists: "Heartland" - George Strait Brandon Silveira: "A Country Boy Can Survive" - Hank Williams, Jr. Miranda Lambert: "Fightin' Side of Me" - Merle Haggard Buddy Jewell: "40 Hour Week" - Alabama Brandi Gibson: "Home" - Joe Diffie John Arthur Martinez: "The City of New Orleans" - Arlo Guthrie