Look who's "Gone Country"

While CMT's reality music series "Gone Country" has had two prior successful seasons, the 3rd installment hooked me with its first episode, which aired Saturday night. The series takes a group of seven celebrities/former celebrities who want to embark on a career in country music and moves them into a house together for two weeks where they have to participate in challenges and they get to learn the craft, so to speak. The winner is chosen by John Rich of the country duo "Big & Rich", who produces and hosts the series and gets to record and release a song. Latin crooner Enrico Iglesias was the 1st seasons winner and rock frontman Sebastian Bach(Skid Row) took the honors the second time around.

The new cast consists of drummer/musician Sheila E.,American Idol hopeful Justin Guarini, pop singer Taylor Dane, Former Monkee Mickey Dolenz, disgraced beauty queen Tara Connor, actor Richard Grieco (21 Jump Street), and the Godfather of Funk himself-a rainbow haired George Clinton. Ironically Ms.Connor had no clue as to who any of the other contestants were but everyone meshed pretty well after arriving one by one. Before they barely got settled in, a bus arrived to take them to downtown Nashville and the Country Music Hall Of Fame, where they met and were serenaded by the legend George Jones and learned they would be performing live in front of a packed house that very night at The Stage On Broadway.

Naturally, Dane,Clinton and Sheila did their own songs, and Guarnini gave a version of Al Greens "Lets stay Together" that was smooth as butter! Tara will need some vocal coaching but everyone gave their all to their performances.

So if you like reality TV but you are tired of all the skanks on dating shows and stunts on survival shows ,tune in to CMT on Saturday nights to see whos "Gone Country".Reruns air all week on CMT, VH1 and TV Land networks. You do not have to like country western music (not one of my favorites either) to enjoy this reality show.