Shania Twain and Jake Owen to host country music competition series for USA Network
A star search for fresh country music talent in solo artists, duos, and groups will bow this fall on USA Network with hosts Shania Twain and singer-songwriter Jake Owen.
Titled Real Country, the serieshas been picked up for eight parts that will film this summer in Nashville. The show is produced by Wilshire Studios, with Twain, Nicolle Yaron, Stijn Bakkers and Leslie Garvin set to executive produce.
It marks USA’s return to the competition reality space where the network made its mark with another country music-themed series, Nashville Star, which ran on the cable network for five seasons from 2002-07.
In each hour-long episode, Twain and Owen hand-select emerging solo artists, duos and groups to perform in showcases that spotlight the traditions, songs and themes of specific country genres. The best artists from each showcase will perform in a grand finale for a chance to be named one of country music’s next breakout acts.
“Real Country celebrates everything we love about country music while providing a unique platform for emerging artists to showcase their talent,” said Heather Olander, SVP alternative development and production, USA Network. “We are extremely lucky to work with both Shania and Jake. Shania is a true international icon who remains the best-selling female country artist of all time and whose music broke barriers across genres, and Jake is an ACM Award-winner who consistently dominates the country charts with some of today’s biggest hits.”
Twain, who was recently in the headlines after professing that she would have voted for President Trump (she can’t – she’s Canadian), was equally effusive. “It’s been an incredible year for me, releasing my new album and coming back to country music. I feel it’s time for me to add my own support in finding our greatest undiscovered talent. It’s beyond thrilling to be leading the charge with Real Country, and I’m on a mission to find artists who will keep country music diverse and dynamic. The kind of diversity that inspired all of us.”
Owen said the show will help young talent. “Country music truly seems to be the healing factor in a lot of people’s lives. I will always be grateful for music, whether I’m performing or listening, and I want to encourage up-and-coming artists to tell their stories, find their audiences and make their mark in country music with the same guidance that artists have given to me throughout my journey.”
The show is now accepting performance applications at realcountry.castingcrane.com or via email at RealCountry@castingduo.com.
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