'American Idol': Nashville Auditions at the Grand Ole Opry's Ryman Auditorium

Nashville is one of the quintessential cities that has a viable music industry and produces music superstars. It's where "American Idol" held its auditions Thursday night in the Music City. One of the city's famous landmarks is the Ryman Auditorium where the contestants met with the judges. It is also the home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Only one other time has "American Idol" paid a call to Nashville during their audition circuit. "American Idol" winner and now country superstar Carrie Underwood resides in Nashville. She was not present at the auditions, but they mentioned her just the same. Excitedly I was expecting to see a lot of talented people during the one-hour show. Instead, it was only a handful of top notch singers in the beginning and the end. The middle was muddled with more nonsense only "American Idol" could come up with.

Duets and a Beauty Queen

What a pleasant surprise to see a former couple, who are now best friends, come to Nashville and audition. This was certainly a "no joke" type of audition that was prominent throughout the show, but more on that later, unfortunately. It was hilarious when Jennifer Lopez tried to play matchmaker and get them back together again as a couple. When they sang a duet of a Bee Gees song I can see why Lopez was being a romantic. Their separate auditions were incredible. Rob Bolin and Chelsee Oaks made it on to Hollywood. They still sing together, even though they're not together romantically. I'd like to see them on "America's Got Talent" as a duet if "Idol" doesn't work out.

Another legitimate audition was Stormi Bree Henley. She is also known as Miss Tennessee USA and then Miss Teen USA 2009. This pageant is the one owned and organized by The Donald, Donald Trump. It is also the same pageant that had one contestant give a horrifically embarrassing answer that made no sense at all. Miss Teen USA is not to be confused with Miss America, where the latter has a talent portion. Stormi sang very nicely, but her voice was a bit timid. Nevertheless, she got a golden ticket, though Jennifer said "no" and another judge was on the fence initially

Nashville and its Polar Opposite Talent

Another audition showcased the story of Adrienne Beasely, who is black, and was adopted by white parents since the age of 2. She was raised on a farm in Kentucky. Her heart-warming story and brilliant audition of Lady Antebellum's "American Honey" was another worthy and memorable moment in an otherwise boring episode of bad auditions run amuck. There was one very delusional singer with her self-produced CD, wearing a full length dress and stating she is a star.

Of course her vocals did not meet her talent whatsoever. Randy Jackson actually had a lot of mean things to say to her that were true. He may not be the second coming of Simon Cowell, but someone needs to be brutally honest at times. Either Jennifer or Steven actually scolded Randy for his meanness. To open the show we had to be subjected to and tortured by some ditzy dental assistant from Florida who sounded like she inhaled some serious doses of helium from her employer.

The Pimping of a New Star

Of course "American Idol" always saves the very best for last. Granted, 15-year old Lauren Alaina, has a great voice. What concerns me is how at the end of the show Steven Tyler made no bones whatsoever by saying to the camera "We found the one." That is putting a lot of pressure on Lauren Alaina who is so young and inexperienced to maintain a high level of performance during the semi-finals and finals each week. Not only that, I have seen this happen over and over and over again. Whenever the producers and judges hype a contestant early in the semi-finals they never win, never.

This is the first time in the show's history I have seen them do subtle hyping during the auditions. I'm sure Lauren will go far now on "American Idol", but there are a lot of others we haven't seen in next week's auditions. I literally resent when "American Idol" is telling me I must like a contestant. They did that non-stop with Lee Dewyze last season, who is the most boring winner of them all. Nest week "American Idol" will stop in one of my favorite cities, Austin, Texas.

SOURCES:

American Idol - Official Site for Videos, Photos and Community, American Idol.com

Gil Kaufman, "'American Idol' Takes Nashville, Finds Potential Winner in Lauren Alaina", MTV.com