CMT Blog: Can You Duet

A bright, shiny six-pack of new videos was served up to the CMT video evaluation team this week. And they were all as different as could be from each other. There was a little bit of everything: an island mini-sermon, a white trash ho, a barroom descent straight to jail, A Star Is Born variation and more. Let’s talk videos.

Artist: Kenny Chesney
Video: “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven”
Director: Shaun Silva

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Joey & Rory have something going for them that a lot of people noticed the first time we saw them on Can You Duet. Genuineness, honesty, whatever you call it. The couple never appeared to be pretending. “Cheater, Cheater” is their first video and was too much fun for me to only watch once. I like a lot of things about this one. The casual setting that feels like it could actually be their home, the perma-smile that Joey sports throughout the whole thing and especially the way Rory reacts when Joey confronts him in the garage. Plus there’s a very special cameo at the end.

Can You Duet was a big event for CMT. Many viewers took a real liking to the contestants — even the ones who didn’t win. Comments are still rolling in about the way it ended, the judging during the show and, most importantly, what’s happening with the rest of the cast. Joey + Rory, a husband and wife duo and my personal favorites, had a huge following right up until the end, and some predicted that they would still end up with a record deal even though Caitlyn & Will took home the grand prize. Well, it looks like those people were right because Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records has announced that Joey + Rory have signed a recording contract and plan to release their debut album in the fall of 2008. Better still, “Cheater, Cheater,” a song they performed on the show, will be the first single and a video should be out soon.

Will Snyder and his duet partner Caitlin Lynn won CMT’s Can You Duet competition. Will shares his thoughts about the journey.

When we made it to the top 25 duos, they moved us to the Gaylord Opryland Resort. My room was delta 4044, and I remember when I checked in to the hotel they handed me a map to find my room. I couldn’t find my room because it seemed like a mile away through a maze, so me Carlos, and Dave got a bellboy to help us find our way to our rooms. Camera men were going crazy videotaping everyone trying to find there way through the confusion lol. Actually, Camera men was everywhere you’d turn for the majority of the show. I could be standing out in the hall talking to one of the contestants, and before you would know it… you’d look around, and you would be filmed. Read more…

Naomi Judd is a judge on CMT’s Can You Duet competition.

I must say that I could have never predicted how this competition was going to turn out. Not that I’m unhappy with the final choice. In fact when you look at it purely from inside the music business, the duet with the best chance of establishing themselves and making a long career as artist were the winners.

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Jeremiah Richey and his duet partner Nick Brownell came in second place in CMT’s Can You Duet competition.

What a ride! Can You Duet has been such a joy to film and so stressful all at the same time; I can’t decide if I’m happy or sad that its over. lt will be so nice to get a little down time so I can gather my thoughts and figure out what the next steps are for Nick and I. I want to thank EVERYONE who watched the show whether you supported Brownell and Richey or not! It has been our honor to play and sing for you all every Friday night for the last couple of months.

Congratulations to Cait and Will for a very deserving win; they worked just as hard as everyone else on the show and I wish them unbridled success in the future! I have made so many friends through this experience and I’m sure some of you will see us all hanging out around Nashville. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Brownell and Richey and I hope all of you stay with us! We’d love to see you guys on the road! Make sure you go to our Myspace pages and add us:

Brownell and Richey: www.myspace.com/brownellandrichey
My solo project: www.myspace.com/jeremiahrichey
My personal page: www.myspace.com/jeremiah9

Also, if any of you would like a copy of my debut album, Take Your Chances, you can order a copy from my Myspace page or from Itunes (or any other major online distributor).

I leave all of you with this thought:

We live in a world full of hurting people. My challenge to all of you is to bring hope to those who have none. If you have been blessed please bless someone else today. I love all of you and can’t wait to meet you!

Troy Gentry is no longer able to fish or trap in Minnesota, per court order. But he is allowed to rock, which he intends on doing during Montgomery Gentry’s appearance at the Winstock Country Music Festival.

Look out Tim and Faith, there’s a new adorably-in-love country couple in town: Joey and Rory Feek, one of the final twosomes in CMT’s Can You Duet.

Trisha Yearwood is so passionate about raising money for breast cancer research that she’s teamed up with retailer Coldwater Creek for a viral fundraising program.

Miley Cyrus is in the news again, this time on Forbes‘ annual Celebrity 100 list. She’s blazing trails for the young, powerful and famous.

If you were a musician on an episode of American Idol, then you should get paid any time that episode airs. Or at least that’s what the musicians union says in a lawsuit.

Jeremiah Richey is a contestant in CMT’s Can You Duet competition.

Well, its getting down to it and Nick and I are starting to feel the pressure. It seems like everybody steps up their game every week and it is getting harder and harder to advance. I love the song that we picked this week because it reminds me of home. It was such a great feeling to receive positive feedback from all three judges and I hope Nick and I can take that momentum into the final two shows. I also feel like Nick and I are starting to mesh more as well. I think one of the things that makes us unique is that he and I are so different from one another. I feel like we are oil and water that miraculously find a way to mix together. The energy that I feel on the stage when we perform is almost overwhelming and I can’t wait to develop this project even more. It is my sincere hope that we somehow find a way to reach each and every music fan out there with a positive message and show them that we are here for their enjoyment. I love everyone of you that has been watching and I pray we get the chance to sing to all of you after Can You Duet is over! Oh yeah, would someone please tell Nick that eyeliner is cool.

Kacey Coppola is a contestant in CMT’s Can You Duet competition.

Rehearsal day!! There is nothing more fun than walking into rehearsal with Sixwire. They are the best. Today was a little sad though because Wild Honey isn’t here anymore. I think we all miss them more than anything. Ruth and Victoria are simply awesome…and insanely talented.

Today was one of the more stressful days Kate and I have had yet. We had a mentor session with Naomi. And I’d guess y’all know that we’ve had some problems connecting with her in this competition. We still can’t figure out why she has some of the problems she does with us, and all we have been trying to do is show her all the things she can’t see yet. But to have to walk in that room and be one on one with someone you know doesn’t like you very much is really difficult. And disappointing … because Kate and I have looked up to the Judds for as long as I can remember! But right before we went in, the entire cast came up and offered us hugs and support … Rory and Caitlin both prayed for us, and even the camera men and producers offered encouragement. I don’t know if Kate and I could have done it without all of them. So thank you from the bottom of my heart to all involved with Can You Duet! The session went pretty well … Naomi hugged us when we left, and she gave us some pointers to work on! So … we survived another day!!

kacey

Brett Manning is a judge on CMT’s Can You Duet competition.

We are not singing a duet. We are not even singing the same songs at all. But as a “Can You Duet” judge/mentor, my wife [ELLE aka Bethany] and I will do something that has never been done before this coming week. What’s that?

As husband and wife, we are set to release simultaneous ‘debut’ singles on iTunes on the same day.

“We’ve asked around in the biz and everybody tells us this is a first.” As a vocal coach to artists like Taylor Swift, Keith Urban and Paramore’s Hayley Williams, I’ve been asked when my project will FINALLY be released. Well… ELLE has never been on TV, but she’s way prettier than me, so I’m just gonna ride her coat-tails. :~}

Even though I’m best known as “vocal coach to the stars” rather than a rock star myself… I believe it’s time to reveal my best kept secrets, that is, unlike most vocal coaches, I am an accomplished singer and songwriter in my own right. Many of my students, from Keith Urban to Mark Kibble of Take 6, have urged me to take my voice out for a spin in the light of day. So on June 6, I will release “This Time,” the first single from my upcoming album. And on that same day Bethany Manning, aka “Elle,” will release her rock single, “Take Me Down.”

So with these his-and-hers FREE myspace (one -day- only downloadable) singles, you will finally get to hear us “bring it.” (especially the lovely Elle, who is a much better singer than me. Watch for iTunes single release the day after the finale of CAN YOU DUET!

Peace and blessings to you all,
Brett