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By Bret Federigan
MSN TV
The sixth season of "Nashville Star" culminates with a live finale, pitting the final three contestants: Gabe Garcia, Shawn Mayer and Melissa Lawson. The finale airs Monday, Aug. 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
More: Latest recap
The final three will each perform and be reunited with previously eliminated contestants for a special performance by show host Billy Ray Cyrus, who will announce the competition's winner. Capping the show will be a performance of the winner's debut single, which will be produced by judge and mentor John Rich and then released to country radio the next morning. Additionally, the winner will earn a recording contract with Warner Bros. Records and will perform at the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 12.
Here's a breakdown of the finalists:
Gabe Garcia
Age: 28
Hometown: Lyle, Texas
Current home:
Dickson, Tenn.
Will sing: "Celebrity" by Brad Paisley
Lowdown: Considered the front-runner by many, this Tex-Mex
cowboy wields the most authentically country sound. With his easy manner and
aw-shucks delivery, he's endeared himself to the judges who think his particular
brand of country music -- a sound that is both throwback and
dance-oriented -- has potential for success with Spanish-speaking
audiences. Although Gabe has delivered strong performances all season, he lacks
the charisma of other contestants -- a potential drawback. However, if
you're looking for a contestant who bleeds country music, this is your guy.
Melissa Lawson
Age: 32
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Current
home: Dalworthington Gardens, Texas
Will sing: "My
Wish" by Rascal Flatts
Lowdown: This mother of five got off
to a slow start when the competition kicked off, but she's battled her way up
from the bottom two in the premiere episode to be the finalist to beat. With a
huge voice and a compelling story of personal self-discovery, she just might be
the singer who producers are secretly pulling for. As the oldest contestant this
season, Melissa's brought marked maturity to her performances, demonstrating
wistfulness in both her up-tempo and ballad-type renditions. And with the
strongest vocal talent of the final three, she's perhaps the most likely to find
crossover success.
Shawn Mayer
Age: 21
Hometown: May
City, Iowa
Current home: Madison, Tenn.
Will
sing: "Gun Powder and Lead" by Miranda
Lambert
Lowdown: This Iowa native has weathered quite a
roller-coaster ride to the final three, after having battled her original mentor
John Rich before eventually dumping him in favor of Jeffrey Steele. In recent weeks, she's demonstrated the most
improvement in her on-stage performances, growing more self-assured in her vocal
talents and in how she connects with live audiences. As the youngest remaining
finalist, she brings unmatched youthful vitality. But her performances have
still been generally uneven. She may need a few more years of seasoning before
she's country radio-ready.
Who Should Win
Gabe's been the guy to beat since Week 1
when he immediately set himself apart with his twangy, old-school country sound.
The judges and fellow contestants took notice and quickly pronounced his style
"authentic country." If he had owned the live audiences the way Coffey did, this
competition would have been over weeks ago.
Who Will Win
Suspicion tells me Melissa will deliver an
upset. She's definitely got the vocal ability, and in previous episodes, she's
grown considerably confident both behind the mic and in front of the cameras.
What's more, as a mother of five who has battled self-image issues, Melissa's
the type of feel-good story that just might connect with country audiences
and that might make for the most poignant songwriting material.
More: "Nashville Star" hub
Sound Off: "Nashville Star" message board
The season finale of "Nashville Star" airs Monday, Aug. 4, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on NBC.
