Gone Country – Here It Comes
Curiosity got the best of me last night, so I dropped into the Wildhorse Saloon for a taping of Gone Country, a new series coming to CMT in early 2008. John Rich is the host, and besides talking a whole lot, he ends up choosing one of seven singing celebrities to introduce to country radio. At this taping, the cast members sang for a country audience for the first time, trying out something co-written with some of the city’s finest writers.
Personally, my favorite song of the night was the first one – “Smile That Smile,” about the moment when your resistance falls away. Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips sang it with her co-writers, Marv Green and Leslie Satcher. (I guess Wendy and Chynna couldn’t make it.) She sparkled in a beautiful white rhinestone jacket, clearly loving her moment in the spotlight again. Julio Iglesias Jr. has … well… he has a great smile. Sisqo earned the most applause of the night, and his original song was a standout too. Am I the only one who never heard “The Thong Song”? Must be. So I had nothing to judge him against. If you like Martina McBride, you’d like Diana DeGarmo, a strong singer and American Idol runner-up. For a quieter performance, give a shot to Maureen McCormick (Marsha Brady on The Brady Bunch), who is taking another stab at a music career and did herself proud.
Bobby Brown – of New Edition and The National Enquirer -- offered a song about changing his ways. He told the audience he just got out of a long marriage, even though he wishes it wasn’t over. What would Whitney Houston say to that? Bobby was quick to add that he’s got a new woman and says he’ll be on his best behavior from now on. Considering the rumors about his behavior in the Nashville house where he and the castmates lived for two weeks, I seriously doubt that. Meanwhile, the original song by Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider was more rock than country, but what isn’t these days? Although I’m partial to country music, at the end of the night, I couldn’t resist singing along to “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Of course, in the long run, we are gonna take it, because one of these artists is going to have a shot at country stardom, but we’ll have to wait until early next year to find out which one.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
OutlawSteph says:
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B.W. LaRoy says:
Marsha Marsha Marsha! This pretty much sounds like it will work if we can get some ultimate fighting on the stage at the same time…you know…just to enhance the drama a bit. Does anyone remember Midget Wrestling? B.W. LaRoy
Tricia says:
Diana was the standout for me. She reminded me of Martina, LeAnn, all the great ones. John Rich would be foolish to make the same mistake American Idol did.
Tammy says:
Im with you Tricia, Diana was the standout for me too.
Rick says:
Oh great, the CMT channel folks have figured out yet another way to subvert real country music and hasten the rock-pop takeover of the format by MTV/VH1 Viacom types. I know this is the CMT blog and website, but I sure am glad GAC exists so I can still watch real country music videos in the evening when CMT is airing old TV series or playing the three same movies over and over again. The CMT channel seems to be compelled to follow the lead of the once fine TNN Nashville Network channel into becoming a pop culture channel like Spike, much as lemmings are drawn to jump over a cliff. The “C” in CMT no longer really stands for “Country” as its mutated into “Cross-Over” music television. This new reality series is yet more proof of that fact and the reason why I so rarely tune in any more…..
Tricia says:
Well normally I would agree with you Rick but I’m supportive of Diana because she’s the only one who has a background in country music. Before she was on AI she performed as a pre-teen at the Opry, with Steve Warniner. She’s the real deal and deserves a country music homecoming courtesy of JR.
Jimmy says:
American Idol made a mistake? Isn’t it the number one rated show when it’s on? And didn’t winner Carrie Underwood go on to sell 6 million albums? Those are mistakes I wish I’d made.
chris says:
Jimmy, Diana/Carrie were from different seasons. And once you become winner/runner-up there is alot of other legal issues that goes on.
mike says:
Was at the Whitehorse,and Diana Degarmo just blew the roof off. What a set of pipes.
Carol says:
Hey..how bout the house they are staying in??? Gorgeous!! I believe it is Barbara Mandrell’s former home, correct me if I am wrong…
Raye says:
Carol, you are right! That is Barbara Mandrell’s former house and isn’t it gorgeous! Everytime I see the whole group gathered in the great room I have a flashback to when Barbara renewed her wedding vows in the same place. I remember seeing the house featured years ago in a special with Lorianne Crook (Chase?). Gosh - do I feel old now.
ja says:
I just finished watching the Gone Country Marathon and I loved it. I think John Rich picked a really awesome group of people to choose from. What is so sweet to me is how they all supported each other…..It seemed that being on the show touched all of them in a very rich and fulfilling way or at least that is how the directors portrayed it on tv. I can’t wait for Gone Country 2.
Angela says:
Watched all seven shows of Gone Country and the show was great. Agree with the review of the show above. Diana Degarmo was the best on the show. She would be great in a country music career. She would definitely make an album like a LeAnn Rimes or Martina McBride.
Great job on the show Diana Degarmo.
April says:
Diana Degarmo was good but, this really wasn’t a far stretch for her considering she was country before she was pop. The ones that I thought really reached outside themselves were Carnie, Bobby, and Maureen. They completly surprised me. Who knew they could really be country! I hope they pursue a country music career. As for Julio he is a wonderful performer but, he is not country!