LOS ANGELES (USA Network/ Universal South Records) - The producers of Nashville Star, USA Network's grassroots talent search series to find the next country music superstar, have named the third and final celebrity judge, rock band
Poison front man Bret Michaels.
Michaels will join show host
LeAnn Rimes and previously announced judges
Phil Vassar and
Anastasia Brown for the third season of the show, which will premiere on Tuesday, March 1, 2005, from 10:00 - 11:00 PM (ET/PT) on USA Network.
The show also continues its commitment to booking the hottest guest artists for its third season with a list of some of the most popular names in country music today.
The announcement was made today by Jeff Wachtel, executive vice president, original programming, USA Network.
"Having sold over 25 million records, Bret Michaels is one of the best-known and longest-running successes in the music business," said Wachtel. "But what will surprise his fans, is that he has always had one foot firmly planted in country music. He has the crossover appeal that we are looking for in our judges panel this season."
Montgomery Gentry, the Charlie Daniels Band and Sara Evans are among the artists scheduled to guest-star and perform on the show. Additional artists will be announced throughout the season, which also promises several surprise guests.
The grand prizewinner of the third season of Nashville Star will be awarded a recording contract from Universal South Records.
Poison front man and singer/songwriter Bret Michaels has been in the entertainment business for over 20 years. After over 25 million records and fifteen top-40 singles, he continues to sell out arenas and amphitheaters worldwide. Among Michaels' many endeavors, he has produced and written for some of the music industry's top talent, including Stevie Nicks.
Michaels also formed a production company with Charlie Sheen in which he wrote, directed and starred in several of the films. Michaels has appeared in numerous television shows including CBS 's "Yes Dear" and "Martial Law," Showtime's "The Chris Isaak Show," and has also co-hosted "Access Hollywood " with Pat O'Brien and has appeared on VH1's "Rock Bodies" with Beyonce Knowles. He has made Spin Magazines Top 100 Greatest Moments in Rock, appeared the cover of Playgirl Magazine and has had his ten-acre Malibu Ranch featured on MTV's "Cribs."
Michaels recently was featured on the cover of Billboard for his new solo album "Freedom Sound," where his first single, "All I Ever Needed," crossed from the rock to the country airplay charts.
With his own funding, Michaels formed his own record label, BMB Records, on which he will not only release his own solo album but which will also be home to new artists in the near future.
