Although Melissa Lawson gave it her all on the reality competition show Nashville Star, she didn't expect to be crowned as the sixth season champ over Gabe Garcia during Monday's live finale.  As the winner, she was awarded a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records, a Toyota Tundra pickup truck, and the opportunity to perform at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"We're standing there and of course it's that horrible music that they're playing.  I'm standing next to Gabe and was just telling myself, 'Gosh, I made it to the Top 2.  This is unbelievable,'" Lawson told Reality TV World of her unexpected victory.

"I was really sure they were going to call Gabe's name.  That's what I was anticipating in my mind. So when they called my name, it was so shocking.  I was so excited and there were so many things going through my mind all at the same moment," she added.

While Lawson tried to captivate audiences week after week, she also credits her victory to her family, who supported her throughout her struggles on Nashville Star.

"There was a moment that I caught my husband's eye and he was just beaming from ear to ear, and the boys were smiling," the 32-year-old mother of five boys said. "We do some sign language with them, so they were sending me the, 'I love you,' sign.  I just was so proud.  I knew at that second it wasn't just me that was winning, it was my kids too and my family and everybody that voted for me.  It was just such a special moment."

Now, the Nashville Star champ is preparing for her performance at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games on August 12, which will be telecast on the Today show.

"It's kind of crazy.  The opportunity to sing in front of what is potentially 100 million people, I feel so amazingly blessed," she said.  "I think it's going to be a great journey and I'm really excited about going over and seeing a little bit of their culture."


-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Reality TV World
(Image courtesy of NBC)