Melissa Lawson: Nashville Star

Melissa Lawson, one of Nashville Star's three finalists lives in the wonderful small town of Dalworthington Gardens, just a few blocks from me. Dalworthington Gardens is adjacent to Arlington, Texas, between Fort Worth and Dallas. It has been such fun to see my neighbor do so well in the competition. Melissa Lawson's great voice is enhanced by her personable stage presence. Melissa always sings like there is nothing she would rather be doing. You can't help but recognize her amazing talent, although she makes it seem so effortless. It's easy to get caught up in the performance and almost believe you can sing like that, too.

Nashville Star, on NBC, is in its 6th season. This year Billy Ray Cyrus is hosting and John Rich, Jewel, and Jeffrey Steele are the judges. After somewhat of a slow start, the judges have been very complimentary to Melissa. In various blogs and message boards on the Internet and also on Nashville Star, Melissa Lawson's voice has been compared to Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood and Wynonna. From the beginning of this season, Jewel has made a habit of giving advice on the star's personal lives and trying to teach them various life lessons instead of sticking to the judges' job of critiquing the star's performance and abilities. On a previous show, she made comments to Melissa implying that she might not need to be a country star because of her family obligations. But tonight after both of Melissa's performances, Jewel actually deviated from her pattern. She told Melissa that she "showed restraint and hit the notes right on every time". After Melissa's last song, Jesus Take The Wheel, Jewel told Melissa that it "was beautifully sung". John Rich and Jeffrey Steel also had great things to say to Melissa Lawson on the July 28 show. Although, Jeffrey Steele commented that he wanted to hear something other than the "big notes" all the time, he also stated to Melissa that she "always does a great job and that he loves her". John Rich actually was standing and applauding during Jesus Take The Wheel. His comments to Melissa after that song were that "performances like that always connect to country audiences".

Melissa Lawson is 32 years old. She is the mother of five little boys ranging in age 9 months to 8 yrs old; she is wife to Rick Lawson. Melissa has lost more than 70 lbs since she first began her quest to win the title of Nashville star when she competed with 45,000 others who auditioned in Austin, Texas. She has been eating healthy and exercising for her health's sake but states that she "wants to prove that country music is about the songs and the voice, not the size jeans you wear."

In addition to Melissa Lawson, the other finalists are Gabe Garcia and Shawn Mayer. The winner will be given a major recording contract with Warner Bros. Nashville and will sing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Although, all of the final three along with Coffey, who was eliminated on tonight's show, are great country singers, Melissa Lawson should be the 2008 Nashville Star winner. Regardless, she is already a winner to her family and fellow North Texans in Dalworthington Gardens and Arlington, Texas.

You can view videos, hear Melissa Lawson sing and find out how to vote for her on nbc.com/Nashville_Star.
The show to announce the winner will be Monday Night August 4, 2008 at 9 pm central on NBC.

http://www.nbc.com/Nashville_Star/about/
www.star-telegram.com/408/story/784996.html

Jesus Take The Wheel by
Brett James, Hillary Lindsey and Gordie Sampson
recorded by Carrie Underwood