On the road again: 'Nashville Star' to seek talent for its third season

ZAP2IT.COM
The USA Network will have folks crying into their beers again next year with a third season of "Nashville Star."
The country-music talent competition, which has spawned strong-selling albums from its first two winners, will return in March, the network says. It's kicking off a search for potential contestants in Long Beach, Calif., on Monday.
The show will visit 19 cities in the coming weeks, during which time would-be country stars will have a minute to sing a song from an approved list. The show will accept videotaped auditions as well (details are at USANetwork.com).
Although "Nashville Star" won't stray too far from the format of its first two seasons, USA promises "a few twists" to the show this time around "that will heighten the competition and make a great show even better."
"'Nashville Star' is going to reflect what's happening on today's country music scene," says Libby Hansen, vice president of alternative programming for the network. "It's young and fun, and we want our cast and the show to be the same."
The winner will receive a recording contract, joining past winners Buddy Jewell and Brad Cotter, who have both used the show as a springboard to success. Jewell's self-titled first album entered the Billboard country charts at No. 1, while Cotter's "Patient Man" made a Top 5 debut last week.