Ashlee Hewitt is eliminated! - VIDEO
It’s the Top 5 tonight! Whee? Next week is the final performance show, and the finale the week after that. Yep, they’re wrapping things up early. The snark has been fun, but I can’t say I’m going to miss re-capping this show.
The 5 remaining contestants perform songs they have written themselves. The contestants rehearse on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. Maybe standing on that hallowed stage will confer some country bonafides on these lightweights?
Recap and Videos after the JUMP…
Coffey - “Southern Man” - Gah. He can’t sing. His original song is full of cliches, but then, so are a lot of successful country songs. He’s much better performing his own songs. He still should be eliminated tonight. Jeff says, “You pulled it off,” although he calls it “kind of novelty.” John doesn’t think it’s good enough to be a hit song on country radio. Coffey kisses John’s ass “I think you’re the Donald Trump of country music.” Jewel says she’s proud of him because he’s stayed true to himself. - VIDEO
Melissa Lawson - “Ready to Stand” - She’s only been writing songs for a few months, but John thinks she’s a natural-born songwriter. John tells her to sing it with confidence. I have to say, the song is pretty good for a novice. There’s a nice melodic hook and the lyrics tell a story. She’s got a few shouty/pitchy moments, nevertheless she delivers well. Jewel thought she did a good job writing a song for her vocal range. Jeff loves this song too, he thinks the lyric is great and she does a great job delivering the melody. John compliments her, but cautions her to stay focused. - VIDEO
Sitting in the audience: Who the hell is “Two Foot Fred” and why is he on my Tee Vee screen? Is he country music’s answer to Verne Troyer?
John, Jeff and Jewel perform a medley of their hits… Jewel, what’s with the wonky vibrato? Holy crap, she hit a really, really bad note. Except for her very recent output, none of her songs are country. Jeff performs “What Hurts the Most” I had no idea he wrote that song, which I always felt was more pop than country. John takes the stage…and sings…I have to admit I haven’t heard these songs, being that I’m not a fan of the country music. OK, “Save A Horse Ride a Cowboy”. I’ve heard that song. Each of them sang a tiny snip of two songs making for a very choppy, disjointed medley. You think they’d parade the contestants out to sing together… - VIDEO
Gabe Garcia - “Lost Weekend” - His original song is also decent. Gabe is hands down the most authentically-sounding country performer out of this entire crew, and if you ask me he should win this whole thing. He’s got to work a bit on his performing skills, but he’s got the chops. Jeff says, “You’re ruining all my notes! Great work, great lyrics.” John liked it as well, he thinks it could be “a big ole’ hit”. He warns him that he’s up against the great performers in country music, and that he still has to work on connecting with the audience. Jewel cautions him on sounding too generic. - VIDEO
OMG There is going to be a Nashville Star concert tour. The show’s ratings are so poor, how do the producers expect to make money on the road with this bunch?
Shawn Mayer and Ashley Hewitt take the stage. One of them will be eliminated tonight, and I’d bet my house it’s Shawn. It should be the horrible Coffey, but I’m sure his big ole’ bucket of tears last week saved his ass.
Ashley Hewitt - “Mike’s Hard Lemonade” - Ashley’s been writing songs since she was 10 years old, and this one has a credible melody and a decent story. I still hate some of the little vocal tics she’s got, but she’s pretty and blonde, and she sings well enough, she’ll do fine if she wins this contest. Jewel really likes her and would like to work with her. Jeff thinks she’s doing really well for someone her age. John says even if she’s gone tonight, she’ll have a career in country music. - VIDEO
Shawn Mayer - “I’m Not Looking Back” - Not a crappy song, at all. But Shawn isn’t quite ready for prime time yet–her performance is a pitchy and uneven, but I still like her better than Coffey, who is living to assault my eardrums for another week. John really likes it, and thinks if she goes tonight, it’s just bad timing. Jewel compares her looks to Priscilla Presley and calls her “dangerous”. She thinks Shawn is best singing her own songs. Jeff gives her a very technical critique and tells her that the song could be recorded by Faith Hill or Martina McBride. - VIDEO
Elimination time! The girls giggle uncontrollably during the pause, and OMG Ashley Hewitt is eliminated. Color me shocked. Pretty, young with vocals that would sound great recorded–I thought she could win. Good thing I didn’t bet…I kinda need a place to live. - VIDEO
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I thought Coffey song sounded 100% better while he was rehearsing. Once he hit the stage and started singing, it just all fell flat.
I have not been watching Nashville, but The Bachelor ended, sooo… LOL.
Anyone else watching High School Musical tryouts? That’s been interesting so far.
So I’m guessing this means Shawn is a goner. Sigh. I wanted Coffey gone.
Melissa. The song was good, but she got so shrieky through most of it. Is this the best Nashville Star has to offer? It’s almost like the musically poor country cousin of AI.
Ugh. I would MUCH rather keep Shawn than Coffey. Boo.
Make that unanimous. I was hoping Coffey would go home too. Now, that means one of the 3 left will sent packing. Who is voting for this non talent? I actually liked Melissa’s song.
The fecking weather report keeps coming on so I am missing Nashville Star - should be illegal. Why can’t it take up the commercial time?
Humphf, I thought Gabe connected well with the audience tonight. What in the world is John talking about?
Who the heck keeps voting for Coffey? He should’ve been gone a while back, IMO. So its down to Shawn and Ashlee, I’m guessing its buh-bye Shawn.
I liked Gabe’s song very much but I think what Jewel was hinting at may be correct, its somewhat generic. Still, I liked it, I liked his voice and I thought he was the best so far.
The judges medley…yeah, wtf. That did not show them in a good light, especially Jewel, she sounded worse than I ever heard her.
Gabe was ok. I thought Ashlee’s was the best song so far. Kinda corny but a really catchy song darn it, lol.
I liked Ashlee’s song too. This is great that they have a songwriter night.
Wow, Ashlee’s song was my second favorite tonight. Shawn’s was my top even though her vocal’s were not perfect.
My order from tonight only:
Shawn
Ashlee (too bad)
Gabe
Melissa
Coffey (why is he still here?????)
ETA.. When they did the recap I heard Melissa’s song again. It sounds exactly like another song from the radio recently which name escapes me for now, but I will think of it, lol.
I had 3 of the top 4 right. Coffey took Ashlee’s well-deserved spot in the top 4. Boo, Hiss!
Thanks goodness! I would have like Coffey to go, but I really think Shawn is hella more genuine than Ashlee. I like her voice better, too.
Gabe FTMFW!
ETA: Yes, I would love AI to have an originals night. I thought all the songs tonight were a bit generic, but that sells. I thought Shawn brought the most emotion to her song. I just hate that Melissa feels the need to do what I term the “country bug eye.”
Melissa has a great voice, but I also feel the affectation (like I did with Ashlee).
I’m hoping for a Shawn/Gabe top two.
…country bug Eye with head snaps>>>Annoy me
I am still on the Gabe Train…Gabe is the real deal with a cup of cutey pie.
Whoa, I did not see this coming, I really thought Ashlee was going to stick around tonight. Its a shame, I think Coffey took her spot in the top 4. But apparently America doesn’t share my opinion, lol.
Even if the judges didn’t call her on it, I think a lot of us did. Ashlee was MORE than a little fake. You can sing country without the twang in the voice if the music is country. She sounds like she’s been imitating country singers her whole life. I think the voters saw through her vocal affectations. BUT, why is Coffey still there?
Gabe is totally my favorite, but did anyone else think that his song sounded a lot like “Baby Girl” by Sugarland?
I loved Ashlee’s song. It was very catchy, and my favorite of the night. I actually thought everyone’s songs were great tonight with the sorry exception of Coffey’s. WTH was that supposed to be?
I liked Gabe and Shawn next. I liked Melissa’s song better than her singing it, if that makes sense. She was very screamy in parts.
I voted for Gabe and Shawn tonight and, for the first time on Nashville Star this season, I got multiple busy signals when I was voting, but only on calls for Shawn. I think she picked up Ashlee’s votes. I also thinks folks are pissed
and figure the bottom two to be Shawn and Coffey next week, and they want to make sure it’s finally Coffey FTMFL. 
i dont know how coffey made it this far PLEASE
he should have gone instead of ashlee .. i loved her song so funny
alot of the songs sounded “familiar” to me
and i was switching back and forth between nashville and cdn idol and managed to switch just in time to go WTF JEWEL omg she sounded horrid i dont remember her sounding like that UGH
lol
i’d love for shawn to pull out ahead and win this thing lol
I watched for the first time last night although I did the 2 min. recaps at hulu. I didn’t think this was the best top 5 and wish the girl trio (can’t remember their name) was still there. I agree about Coffey but did like his song last night. I don’t particularly like either of the girls but wanted Shawn to go instead of Ashlee.
I’m not a country fan but could see either Gabe or Melissa doing well. Her biggest problem is whether the country fans will get behind someone who’s not a cute young thing. I’m hoping that the 2 of them are the f2.