CMT has added yet another singing competition show to its network.  CMT's Next Superstar takes 10 unknowns, well, 8 unknowns, I'll explain shortly, and these contestants will compete for a chance to record an album and to take part in a CMT summer tour.  Viewers will decide who will win the competition and a contestant is eliminated each week.  It just so happens this new show is the brainchild of American Idol producer, Nigel Lythgoe, who is working on the show with his son Simon.

Now I mentioned 8 unknowns, the ones you may know are Adrienne Beasley, who did make it to "Hollywood Week" on this season's Idol, but did not make the finals.  A native of Wickliffe, KY,  Beasley was very strong, but now, probably thanks to Lythgoe, she'll get a second chance and she should be a lot more comfortable with the genre.  The other contestant you may or may not know is songwriter Wynn Varble (pictured above).  He's been in the business for more than 30 years, but he's never gotten a big break as a performer in Nashville.  Some songs you may know of Varble's, Darryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten", Brad Paisley's "Waitin' on a Woman" and more recently, Easton Corbin's first hit, "I'm a Little More Country", not a bad resume'.

CMT's Next Superstar debuts April 8th at 8pm (Central) with tv journalist and actress Thea Andrews as host.

I'm sure you'll hear more about this in the coming weeks...stay tuned!

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