Big & Rich star
John Rich is taking on his biggest challenge yet on CMT's new reality series,
Gone Country. The show follows the country music star as he guides seven established performers from both the entertainment and music industries in their journey to becoming the next big country superstar. As part of the competition, Rich introduces and immerses the celebrities in the country life, and whoever proves to be most successful at crossing over by the end of the series is deemed the winner. The prize? A country single produced by Rich himself.
The eclectic cast of
Gone Country includes:
Bobby Brown, a Grammy Award-winning R&B singer who broke into the music scene as a member of the boy band, New Edition. He has been inducted into the Boston Hall of Fame, and previously starred in his own reality series,
Being Bobby Brown.
Carnie Wilson, a singer-songwriter known most for her work with the all-female group, Wilson Phillips. She has also gained fame from her dramatic weight loss, and appeared in several television programs, including
Sabrina the Teenage Witch and
Celebrity Fit Club.
Dee Snider, a radio personality and is the frontman of the hard rock band Twisted Sister. This is his first foray into reality television.
Diana DeGarmo, an aspiring country singer known most for her participation in the 2004 American Idol, where she finished second. She has performed in
Hairspray on Broadway and is continuing work on her second album.
Julio Iglesias Jr., son of best-selling Spanish singer, Julio Iglesias. He has some albums, both in the Spanish and English languages. Although he received various acting offers, he chose to focus on his music career.
Maureen McCormick, a singer-actress made famous by her portrayal of Marcia on the hit family series,
The Brady Bunch. In more recent years, she appeared in such television shows as
The Amanda Show and
Scrubs, as well as participated in VH1's
Celebrity Fit Club.
Sisqo, an R&B singer and former member of Dru Hill. He rose to fame as a solo artist with the songs “Thong Song” and “Incomplete.”
These seven celebrities will live under Rich's Nashville mansion for two weeks, during which they will attempt to embody the country lifestyle and compete in challenges on and off the stage. Each challenge is featured in each episode, with the finale airing on Friday, March 7.
Gone Country is executive produced by David Garfinkle and Jay Renfroe under the banner of Renegade 83 Productions. Also serving as executive producers are Marc Oswald, and CMT's Melanie Moreau and Bob Kusbit.
-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: CMT
(Image Courtesy of CMT)