The Final Two . . . Will Ashlee or Shaun Head to the House?

The final two performers tonight are Ashlee Hewitt and Shaun Mayer.

Ashlee Hewitt is up first singing her original ditty, "Mike's Hard Lemonade". She calls it a little bit nasty, but she's comfortable with it. She has been looking forward to this night the entire time.

She just sounds wonderful. Like Coffey, this is by far her BEST performance. She sounds comfortable and her stage presence is, as per usual, on target. For the first time, I'm totally into her voice. She sounds kind of like a more country version of Jewel. I'm impressed.

Jewel - She thinks that Ashlee is, above everyone else, an artist. She loved the song, and wants to write songs for her when she records.
Jeff - Ditto his other comments. He just thinks that everyone is more talented than he would have ever anticipated.
John - Thinks that no matter what happens, Nashville would be a fool not to give her a recording contract.

I don't know if I would go as far as Jewel . . . I think Gabe and Melissa are both artists as much, if not more so than Ashlee. However, I guess we've got to cut Jewel a break here, she is talking to the girl who is almost EXACTLY her spitting image.

Shaun Mayer is up next, and I think Jeff Steele has worked with her so much better than John Rich. She just seems to blossom under his tutelage. She is also singing her own original tune tonight, "I'm Not Looking Back".

I will say this . . . probably not the best performance of the night . . .BUT, this is clearly the one song out of all five where she absolutely FEELS the lyrics. Clearly, the one performance that was from the heart. Excellent!

John - Thinks that she has knocked it out of the park the past two weeks. If she goes this week it is bad timing.
Jewel - Mentions the Lisa Marie Presley connection again. Liked her.
Jeff - Just completely loved her performance and her phrasing throughout the song.

ELIMINATION TIME!

Here comes the BRC with the recap and the inevitable massive silence of elimination . . . Who is going home?




Ashlee Hewitt is hitting the road, jack. BRC thinks she is a star waiting to happen. Again, she was the first to perform last week . . . seems to be a complete hex.

Official Top 6 Rankings!

Alright, this week was a wee better than most on the entertainment mecca that is Nashville Star!

Here are my rankings . . .


1. Melissa Lawson - By a longshot . . . she is still the Queen of this Kingdom!
2. Gabe Garcia - He's so authentic . . . so vocally amazing.
(SPACE)
3. Shaun Mayer - She took a shot by doing such a contemporary song . . . but she did a very, very good rendition.
4. Ashlee Hewitt - Her stage presence continues to rule, but her vocals are not improving . . .
(SPACE)
5. Coffey - He retains his usual place on this list. He was better this week, but just not good enough. He seems like a nice guy, but he should not still be on this list.

Eliminated Laura and Sophie would have been ranked 5th on this list. They were better, but not great . . . but better than Coffey.

Nashville Star: We're Going From Six To Four Tonight . . . I Think . . .

It's time for another episode of Nashville Star.

I'm still reeling a bit from last week's episode . . . The Pearl Heart is gone . . . and "others" remain . . . yikes . . .

So, anyway, here comes the BRC and his teleprompter lines delivered with such . . . er . . . um, gusto.

BRC tells us that we are about to hear who is the first to be safe for the night . . . Hmmm . . . they must be doing the eliminations a little differently this evening.

The first to be safe tonight is . . . Ashlee Hewitt.

Not a big surprise here. A pattern seems to have emerged where the person who is in the bottom two is safe the next week . . . and the first person to be safe is the person in the bottom two the next week.

Ashlee is going to sing "Cowboy, take me away" . . . I think this is a Dixie Chicks song . . . I'm not quite sure. Ashlee is excited to be the first to be selected. I wonder if it will make her vulnerable next week. Here she goes . . . Wow, as per usual, her stage presence is just rocking. She just looks so natural on stage. I just wish that her vocals matched her stage presence. Man, her vocals are all over the place. The guitar playing is on target, her stage presence is immaculate . . . her vocals are just not quite there.

The judges like her: Jewel is a fan and likes how she uses her . . . er, um . . . crack . . . her vocal crack, that is. Jeff Steele didn’t like her last week, but thought she was back (minus a few iffy notes) this week . . . John Rich, of course, thought that she brought poppies, and lilies, and daisies to the stage . . . he hearts her hardcore . . . .

Who's Hittin the Road?

Once again, Pearl Heart and Ashlee Hewitt are in the Bottom Two. Here comes the requisite teleprompter read from BRC about the two acts.

And now, the requisite ELEVENTY YEARS OF BLUE CHEESE LACED SILENCE . . .

And, yes, I was unfortunately correct, the girls of Pearl Heart are gone. They are taking it very well . . . and have wonderful words for their friends and family.

What will Mentor Jeff have to say . . . . Wow, I believe he just invited them to record a CD. Based on what he said, and the response from the crowd, I believe that we WILL be seeing the girls of Pearl Heart putting out a CD. Of particular importance, Jeff repeatedly discussed their amazing work ethic.

I'm upset, but happy to think that I will be able to buy a CD from these girls. What is upsetting is that I think this elimination is bad for the show. This season of Nashville Star, the first on NBC, only has four . . . possibly five . . . viable acts. Melissa Lawson, Pearl Heart, Gabe Garcia, Ashlee Hewitt . . . and possibly Shaun Mayer. They are in a different league from the rest. Nashville Star is struggling in the ratings for NBC, and they will be in need of a STRONG final three or four to try and pull in enough ratings to guarantee a renewal.

Well, there goes another week of Nashville Star . . . and we still have the dynamic duo of Coffey & Lauren and Sophie . . . ugh. . .

Two more will be eliminated next week. . . SURELY THE AFOREMENTIONED DUO WILL BE VOTED OFF THE ISLAND! Leaving a somewhat viable final 4.

Here's hoping!

The Bottom Two: IS AMERICA SERIOUS!???

Seriously . . . Pearl Heart and Ashlee Hewitt are the bottom 2 . . . SERIOUSLY! For the love of Tamyra Grey, Latoya London, Chris Daughtry, and Melinda Doolittle, what in the heck is going on. I’m once again wondering if there are just too few voters, and therefore, the contestants with the big voting bases (e.g. come from towns, counties, and states where they are more likely too vote), are always gonna get through. They don’t ever tell us how many votes were cast. . . . Just a thought . . . Anyhoo, tonight IMO, one of the top 3 acts is getting voted off. . . . AND two of the Top Four acts are in the Bottom Three!

First of the bottom two to perform . . . Ashlee Hewitt . . . John Rich wants her to sing, “Take the Money and Run” Steve Miller Band . . . she’s uncomfortable with the song . . . and states that she is more of a hippee chick . . . Anyone else noticed that John Rich seems to not be listening to his mentees . . . He seems to always think his opinion is better. I understand that he is a big time producer and performer, but there is something to be said for listening to the performer . . . who has performed . . . and may know themselves . . . just a wee bit.

Here she goes. As per usual, her stage presence is stellar. She is sooooooo comfortable on stage and it totally shows. However, her vocals, for me, continue to be a bit iffy . . . at times she seems as if she is going to just crack . . . However, her stage presence out weighs her vocals. . .

One of Jewel’s favorites, took a minute to get started, but a good artist. Jeff didn’t like it. He loves her, but just didn't get it. John liked the bare feet . . . foot fetish anyone J . . . he thinks there was a mathematical error and that she shouldn’t be in the bottom 2. I agree.

Its Time for Nashville Star! Who's the First to be Safe?

Nashville Star – We’re down to nine . . . Who is staying and who is going home?

Tonight is family night on Nashville Star . . . do we have a theme?

Who’s first to go through?

Ashlee Hewitt is the first to be safe . . . .

Ashlee wants to sing “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. She and John Rich are talking to her about playing piano and guitar for this number. Sounds like a tall order, but I bet this one can figure it out.

Here she goes on the piano . . . and she’s off the piano and onto the guitar . . . Huge points to Ms. Hewitt for her multiple instrumentation . . . . her voice is still not winning me over, but there’s no denying the girls gives great stage . . .

Jewel – Liked the instruments and the singing, but thinks that she is still way too clinical. Needs to stop thinking.

Jeff – Compares her to Barbara Mandrell . . . I think he was positive . . . not really clear on what else he is saying (channeling his inner Paula Abdul)

John – Thinks she did great and that she is on a slow steady climb to the top of this competition.

Next up, Ashlee croons "Help Me Make it Through the Night" – Much more purely country performance . . . very good steady vocal. Shortened version – perhaps giving them a blip to perform actual country music.

Here’s a thought . . . why don’t they have them sing actual country music during the show . . . . just a thought . . .

Did Ashlee Hewitt "Drive You Crazy"

Ashlee Hewitt – “You Drive Me Crazy” – Gots to say, this girl choosing Britney Spears does not shock me in the slightest. On the surface, it may seem like a weird choice . . . but could be brilliant if performed correctly. She has to sing it better and could place a very original spin on it. First ballsy choice for Ms. Hewitt. . . . Overall, I think she did a good, solid performance. She definitely turned the song country. For me, she sang it better than the previous two weeks . . . but, for me, she was juuuuuust shy of a GREAT performance. Something was missing . . . but for me, she gets major props for taking a chance.

Ashley's Ring of Fire

Next up, John Rich's charge . . . Ashley Hewitt. I just kind of thought she was ok last week. Clearly the potential for some good stuff from her . . . and clearly the judges loved her look and her sound. I'll be interested to see how she does this week . . . particularly with this very interesting choice of Ring of Fire.

Hmmm . . . first half of the song was much more a ring of sparklers than a ring of fire, BUT, the second half of the song was MUCH better. She picked up her vocals and really hit some strong notes. Thought this was a much better performance from Ms. Hewitt.

Ashlee Wants to Crinkle Your Toes and Charley Hopes You Wants Some More of It.

Side note: It will be really interesting to see who the judges eliminate because some of the ones that they have loved . . . . not so much for me.

Next up, Ashlee Hewitt singing . . . that Cobbie Callet song about crinkling your nose and toes and stuff . . . the judges are gonna love her but I’m not sold quite yet. She is a beautiful girl, and if she wasn’t, they wouldn’t love her this much . . . On a second look, she is a very pleasant singer and could have some potential. She's definitely safe tonight . . . maybe she'll grow.




Charley Jenkins is on stage next . . . good ole boy wanting to sing good ole country songs . . . daddy died and wants to make him proud. He’s singing “I like it, I love it, I want some more of it” . . . clearly a Big and Rich song cuz John Rich is grinning from ear to ear. Judges didn’t love him . . . I didn’t love him . . . A decent voice there . . . with a kind of yodel in the vibrato. The judges are very mixed on him . . . he could be very good but I'm not sure he will be given the chance.