Nashville Star is a reality television program. Its sixth season will be broadcast on NBC in the United States, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television . A sixth season will air beginning in June 2008 on its new network, NBC , with Billy Ray Cyrus as host . New judges will be announced at a later date. In Canada, the show has aired on CMT.
It is similar to American Idol, in that performers must sing to impress both celebrity judges and the public via call-in and/or internet votes. Unlike American Idol, however, the performances are limited to country music.
Nashville Star is produced by Reveille Productions and originates live (except for each season's premiere episode, which is taped) from the Acuff Theatre at the Opry Entertainment Complex in Nashville, Tennessee. Audience members are required to have tickets, which are distributed free of charge except for a standard handling fee. The competition has historically taken place over the months of March and April, though it moved to January and February for the 2007 season and will move to the summer months in 2008.
