'Nashville Star' Gets Dose Of Reality

[jacksonfan]

Sunday, 06/12/05

'Nashville Star' gets a dose of reality


So here we are in the middle of the COUNTRY Music Association Music Festival, but the American Idol champ seems to be getting more attention than the Nashville Star champ.

I mean, here's Idol winner Carrie Underwood getting flowers from Trisha Yearwood and Rascal Flatts, singing on the Grand Ole Opry stage, getting a front-page story in the local paper, scoring a slot on the Coliseum stage.

How can poor Nashville Star winner Erika Jo not be just a wee bit jealous?

"Well, she did the Coliseum and I did the River Stages," the Mt. Juliet teenager said, "but that's OK.

"I've already been on the front page of The Tennessean, and I made my Opry debut in May," she said matter-of-factly.

So there.

And let's not forget, people, it's officially Erika Jo Day in Mt. Juliet on Tuesday.

The city mayor, Linda Elam, issued a statement saying, "We are so proud of Erika Jo. … On behalf of the entire community, I'd like to give her our best wishes for a long and prosperous career."

Mayor Elam had nothing to say about Carrie.

Carrie owns the stage in her 'Opry' debut

Speaking of American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, she got a great reception at her Opry debut Friday night.

Carrie, a 21-year-old Oklahoman, first sang Roy Orbison hit Cryin', a song she scored big with on Idol.

"I thank you for voting for me and I thank you for putting me where I am," she told the crowd. "God bless you."

Then Carrie did her first radio single, Inside Your Heaven, and she walked off to loud applause.

Segment host Whisperin' Bill Anderson called her back onto the stage, and the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

Carrie then went back to her dressing room, where she signed autographs for those backstage for nearly an hour. She left Nashville yesterday after a lunch appointment.

The effect of all the Nashville/CMA Music Festival love for Carrie should be known soon. She's got meetings with her top label brass this week and some big decisions will be made about exactly how active Nashville will be in making her first album.


Copyright © 2005, tennessean.com.

[Perp]

Thanks for posting that. Standing ovations, even. Congrats Carrie :)

[PT08]

I thought the same thing just from reading all the stuff out of Nashville this week. Carrie's name was brought up very frequently while this article was the first time I saw Erika Jo's named mentioned. Just goes to show the amount of buzz American Idol can create for a person and the amount Nashville Star can't

[jacksonfan]

I personally prefer Carrie to Erika Jo - but that's just me. Erika Jo is okay - but I like Carrie's voice better and I think she sings country a lot better than Erika Jo.

[musicbuff78]

I actually prefer Erika Jo. When AI started, I was a DIE HARD Carrie fan, but as the weeks went on, I thought she got worse. I barely watched any of NS because no one on there but Erika Jo even sounded good.

[showersinger]

I heard Erika Jo sing at a charity event last week and she did a fantastic job. I was impressed. Carrie has a great voice too! I think there are a couple of reasons Carrie is more popular. American Idol reached millions more people than Nashville Star. Carrie's win is viewed as a victory for country music over other genres which makes us all proud. She got tons more press! I watched both shows and feel like Carrie has such a lovable personality. It's so refreshing to see a sweet, humble person making it in the world. Anyway....they're both great singers. :)

[wildcat]

[quote author=I think there are a couple of reasons Carrie is more popular.  American Idol reached millions more people than Nashville Star.  Carrie's win is viewed as a victory for country music over other genres which makes us all proud.  :)[/quote]

AI definitely was viewed by more people. I was able to see both perform at the CMA Festival. After seeing them on TV, I was not too impressed with Erika Jo, but she did okay live. Carrie looked scared to death when she walked up to the fans to sign. I thought there would be more of a roar for her, but there wasn't. I hope both do well, because it is a victory for Country music! :)