"Nashville Star" Loses Momentum

Shades of "Nashville Star" 2007 happened last night as the 2008 version of NBC's hit show took a decided down turn. More that a couple of performances were not just bad, but downright awful.

The series announced that it was family week for "Nashville Star" as the contestant's families came to support and watch their children, wives, and husbands perform. Perhaps the extra bodies in the room worked against the competitors instead of on their behalf. Or maybe the addition of an extra song became more than the crew could handle.

Whatever the cause for last night's many failures, some of the performances were dismal. Some contestants gave in to nerves while others just seemed ill prepared.

Kicking off the night was young Ashlee Hewitt. For her first song of the evening, she sang "Midnight Train."

While I thought the performance was all right, I didn't think it was anything spectacular. The judges' opinions were mixed.

Jeff Steele said it was "like the Barbara Mandrel show" because Ashlee started the song at the piano and ended it with her guitar. John Rich said the transition between instruments went well but that Hewitt began the vocals weakly; only gaining strength toward the end. He cautioned her that she needed to bring the vocals every single time.

Jewel thought the transition from the piano to the guitar was a bit too "clinical." She said that while the performance was good, it wasn't anything to write home about.

For her second song, Ashlee chose "Help Me Make it Through the Night." Rich said it was good but still a bit weak overall.

Next up to sing was Coffey. After taking a hit last week for not sounding country enough, the artist chosen a pure country tune in "Hey Good Lookin'." I loved his performance but was not blown away by his vocal rendition.

Jeff said it might have been "too little, too late." He said that Coffey wasn't getting through to him and just didn't sound like a country singer.

John agreed, saying that he might be better suited to "that other show that looks for pop singers." He called him totally uncountry.

Jewel said that the song choice was difficult. Although she felt that Coffey had tried, she also agreed that it didn't sound very country. She hoped he would get to stay for another week so the audience could hear him to a ballad.

For his second song, Coffey chose "Take Me Home Country Roads." Jewel said he still sounded too "pop."

Navy engineer Tommy Stanley was up next with "God Bless the Back Road." I really liked his rendition of the song.

Jeff said that he finally saw something in the artist that he had not seen before. John said that it didn't appear that country singing came naturally to the navy man. He also suggested that he try a different singing show, which I felt was a bit uncalled for. Jewel said that she felt he was a bit self-conscious and not at all at ease with his song choice.

For his second song, Tommy chosen Elton John's "Tiny Dancer." Jewell said that, oddly enough, he managed to make that song sound more country than his first tune, which was a real country song.

The sisters known as Pearl Heart chose "Ill Still be Loving You." I thought it was their best performance yet. Their harmony sounded amazing.

Jeff said they had done a fine job; had "rose to the occasion." John said that when their harmony was on, it was incredible. Unfortunately, he noted that it wasn't always on the mark. He urged them to work harder.

Jewel said that she loved the mechanics of their performance; how they started sitting on stools and then stood up and moved about the stage as they got to the heart of the song. However, she encouraged them to work even harder in that arena.

For their second song, the sisters chose "One Way Ticket." Jeff said that did okay but said that he didn't want three girls who gave him 100% total. He wanted three girls who each gave him 100%.

Underdog, Melissa Lawson, chose "This One's for the Girls." She made the song her own and belted it out just like a real pro.

Jeff said that he had worried she might not be able to handle both the highs and lows of the tune. However, he was delighted that she had.

John said that "if the competition were ending today, she would be the undisputed winner." He told her to keep working at it to prove his opinion that she was the best female singer in the competition.

Jewel also noted that she appreciated that Lawson could handle the full range of notes of the complication song. She said to "keep up the good work."

For her second song, Melissa chose "Landslide." John announced that she let her nerves get a hold of her in that song and suggested she practice more to keep that from happening.

Shawn Mayer was up next with Faith Hill's "Breathe." I was very happy with her performance. I thought she delivered a winning routine.

Jeff said that he liked that she had chosen something a bit softer and that she had done "a good job." John said for the first time, he was impressed. He called her the show's "wild card." Jewel said that she had made a good song choice.

For her second performance, Shawn chose "Forever and Ever Amen." The judges were not nearly as pleased with the second choice. John called Shawn "too inconsistent" and told her that she needed to conquer that if she expected to stay around.

Up next was Gabe Garcia with Bon Jovi's "Wanted: Dead or Alive." I loved it. I thought it was remarkable.

Jeff loved it as well. John called him the show's "best male singer" and said that Gabe had taken a "big step forward." Jewel said he had done a good job and that she loved the gravel he put in his voice.

For his second song, Gabe chose "Fireman." John said that he believed that Gabe could make hit after hit.

In the bottom two this week were Alyson Gilbert and Laura and Sophie. Both were allowed to sing their first song, but only the one(s) moving on were allowed to sing their second song.

Alyson chose "She's in Love with the Boy." The performance was inconsistent at best. It wasn't at all memorable.

Jeff said that she was not listening to her mentors. John said that she had moments of brilliance but that it wouldn't be enough to advance her in the competition. Jewel said that her pageant eyes were back and that she definitely was not feeling the song.

Laura and Sophie sang "Walking on Sunshine." It was the worst performance I'd ever heard on this or any talent contest.

Jeff said he was proud that they had taken some risks even if the risks had not paid off. John said that they were very sweet girls but that they weren't ready for this kind of competition. He even said that the worst thing that could happen would be for them to win because the industry would chew them up and spit them out. Jewel said that they fell apart during the performance.

After America's votes were tallied, Alyson Gilbert was sent home. There seems little doubt, however, that Laura and Sophie will be right behind her.

I still predict that this competition is Gabe's or Melissa's to win or lose. I love them both. I think they both have star potential.