Headline News Anchor Robin Meade Hosts LIVE Sept. 10 Finale
Viewers Have Two Chances To Vote And Make One Finalist’s Dreams Come True
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – (August 25, 2008) – Grueling rehearsals, heart-stopping performances and sage advice from those who’ve already succeeded have led the six finalists to the LIVE televised finale of Great American Country and Music Nation’s Next GAC Star competition, which began as a nationwide online talent competition. Now it’s up to the talent of these up and coming country artists to win the ultimate prize: a record deal with Original Signal Recordings, a music video, and a Gibson Hummingbird guitar.
Robin Meade, anchor of “Morning Express with Robin Meade” on Headline News, will host the September 10 finale, to be broadcast live in front of a studio audience at Nashville’s City Hall venue. Joining her onstage as an expert panel - providing critiques and advice to the hopeful artists - will be ACM New Male Vocalist of the Year Jack Ingram, and producer/songwriter/performers Desmond Child and Victoria Shaw .
“Life will never be the same for the aspiring musician who walks away as the Next GAC Star,” commented Meade. “It’s a true honor for me, as a country music fan and as a viewer who has followed along at home, to be a part of this exciting evening!”
Mike Siegel, host of the weekly Next GAC Star show, returns to host the Sept. 3 episode to welcome J.C Andersen, Tyler Barham, Megan Conner, Angela Engelman, One Night Rodeo and Lane Turner to Nashville and profile each of the finalists’ journeys. The competitors set out to prove they have what it takes to make it in the business by participating in a bevy of activities, including individual recording sessions with Desmond Child or Victoria Shaw, a Country Weekly photo shoot, and a performance at Nashville’s famed music venue, Tootsies, on lower Broadway.
The finalists receive a warm welcome and a chance to learn more about the country music industry when they meet country music stars and recent chart-toppers Trace Adkins, vocal duo Montgomery Gentry, and Phil Vassar. The contestants caught Adkins before an Opry performance; three finalists met Montgomery Gentry at the duo’s #1 party held at ASCAP; and Vassar welcomed the other three finalists onto his tour bus.
Immediately following the September 3 episode, viewers will be able to cast their votes for their favorite contestant by logging on to www.gactv.com/star. Voting will end on September 10 – in mere hours before the LIVE 90-minute finale.
In the opening moments of the finale, Meade will announce the elimination of two finalists who received the least amount of viewer votes throughout the week. After that elimination, the remaining four contestants will perform a SONY ATV cover song. Viewers will have one final chance to weigh in on who they believe should win when voting lines open online, via text messages and to a specified 1-800 number immediately following the four performances. Voting will be open until the final minutes before the show ends.
As fans feverishly vote for their favorite performer, the finalists will perform a second time. Once Meade has announced the artist America has chosen as the Next GAC Star, the house band will strike up a never-before-heard Sony ATV original song, which will later be released as a single.
After the show, the winner will immediately begin working with Original Signal Recordings, who will release a video of the winner and a single for download in partnership with GAC.
For more information on The Next GAC Star visit www.gactv.com/star.
