Gone Country (TV series)

Gone Country is an American celebrity reality television show in which contestants compete to become a country music singer. The winner gets a country single produced by John Rich. It aired on CMT, with reruns on TV Land, and VH1. On the first season finale, Julio Iglesias Jr. was named the winner.[1]

Gone Country uproots these seven musical celebrities and moves them into a Nashville mansion together to embark on a two-week adventure, hosted by singer-songwriter John Rich. Each celebrity will be paired up with some of Nashville's finest songwriters in an attempt to prepare them for a career in country music. In each episode, the cast competes against each other in challenges that will test them musically and physically to adapt to a country music lifestyle, both on and off the stage. At the end of the two weeks, the artist who is most prepared to impress a country audience, as determined by Rich, will record and release a song.[2]

Gone Country
Judges	John Rich of Big & Rich
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	16
Production
Running time	1 hour including commercials
Release
Original network	CMT
Original release	January 25, 2008 – March 7, 2009
External links
Website

Prince protege Sheila E. won the third season, making her the only female winner of the show

Season 1 contestants

• Bobby Brown – an R&B star of the late 1980s and early 1990s, member of boy band New Edition.[3]
• Maureen McCormick – best known from her role as Marcia Brady from the hit television show The Brady Bunch.[4]
• Diana DeGarmo – American Idol season 3 runner-up and a Broadway actress[5]
• Julio Iglesias Jr. – son of singer Julio Iglesias, brother of Enrique Iglesias, and a soulful dance-pop singer. (Winner) [6]
• Sisqó – Member of the R&B group Dru Hill. He is most widely known for his solo hit, the "Thong Song."[7]
• Dee Snider – lead singer of the 1980s heavy metal band Twisted Sister.[8]
• Carnie Wilson – daughter of Beach Boys front man Brian Wilson, Carnie Wilson was also a member of the pop band Wilson Phillips.[9]

Season 2 contestants

• Jermaine Jackson – a member of The Jackson 5 alongside brothers Michael, Marlon, Tito and Jackie.[10]
• Chris Kirkpatrick – member of the boy band *NSYNC.[11]
• Sean Young – Appeared in movies such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Fatal Instinct, Wall Street, No Way Out and Blade Runner.[12]
• Mikalah Gordon – American Idol season 4 finalist[13]
• Sebastian Bach – Former lead singer of the glam metal band Skid Row. (Winner)[14]
• Lorenzo Lamas – played "Tom Chisum" in Grease and starred on Falcon Crest, Renegade and The Bold and the Beautiful.[14]
• Irene Cara – played "Coco Hernandez" in the film Fame in 1980 and also is best known for the theme songs for both "Fame" and Flashdance.[15] Left the show in episode 2 after Sean Young's drunken actions during the night.

Season 3 contestants

• Tara Conner – Miss USA 2006[16]
• Micky Dolenz – former Monkees singer and drummer[16]
• George Clinton – funk master; leader of the band Parliament-Funkadelic[16]
• Richard Grieco – 21 Jump Street actor[16]
• Taylor Dayne – 1980s pop star[16]
• Sheila E. – Drummer and singer (Winner)[16]
• Justin Guarini – American Idol season 1 runner-up[16]

See also

• Outsiders Inn, the 2008 reality television series spin-off featuring McCormick, Brown, and Wilson.

References

1. "Iglesias Jr. Triumphs On 'Gone Country'". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
2. "About the Series". Cmt.com. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
3. Bobby Brown | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com
4. Maureen McCormick
5. "Diana DeGarmo". American Idol. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
6. Julio Iglesias Jr Archived December 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
7. Sisqó | View the Music Artists Biography Online | VH1.com
8. DeeSnider.com - Home Archived February 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
9. "Carnie Wilson Pictures, Biography, Discography, News, Ringtones, Videos". Starpulse.com. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
10. "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
11. "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
12. "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
13. "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
14. "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
15. "Gone Country 2 : Cast : John Rich Hosts : Celebrities Compete For New Country Music". CMT. Retrieved 2012-07-03.
16. Finan, Eileen (2008-11-06). "PEOPLE Preview: Latest Gone Country 3 Cast - TV News". People.com. Retrieved 2012-07-03.

External links

• Official homepage
• Gone Country on IMDb
• Gone County at TV.com