John Rich from Big & Rich, schools a motley crew of mainstream celebrities including R&B and reality TV star Bobby Brown, Twisted Sister front man Dee Snider, American Idol finalist and Broadway star Diana DeGarmo, Marsha Brady herself Maureen McCormick and others on the fine art of country crooning and living in the CMT series GONE COUNTRY.

This seven-episode series takes seven established performers from every realm of the entertainment and music industries and immerses them in all things country for a chance to break out as the next big country superstar. GONE COUNTRY premieres with a special one-hour episode on Friday, January 25 at 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Respective episodes will be half-hour shows; with the series finale running one-hour on Friday, March 7.

 

The series features an eclectic cast of performers that includes, Bobby Brown – R&B singer, former member of New Edition; Carnie Wilson – singer/songwriter, author and former member of Wilson Phillips; Dee Snider – radio personality, lead singer Twisted Sister; Diana DeGarmo – recording artist, Broadway actor and American Idol finalist, 2004; Julio Iglesias, Jr. – pop singer; Maureen McCormick – singer/actor, “The Brady Bunch”; and Sisqó – R&B singer, former member of the group Dru Hill.

 

In each episode, the GONE COUNTRY cast competes against one another in challenges that test their ability to adapt musically and physically to a country music lifestyle, both on and off the stage. From performing before a Nashville audience alongside Gretchen Wilson and the MuzikMafia to getting a crash course in southern cooking or learning how to master the art of ATV off-roading, the cast learns the finer points of a country music lifestyle. Each contestant is paired with two Nashville songwriters who guide them in writing lyrics and music for a country single that they will debut in the series finale. At the end of the two weeks, the artist that is most prepared to impress a country audience, as determined by Rich, will record and release their song to country radio.

Gone Country Cast includes:
Host/Judge: John Rich
Bobby Brown – R&B singer, former member of New Edition
Carnie Wilson – singer/songwriter, author and former member of Wilson Phillips
Dee Snider – radio personality, lead singer Twisted Sister
Diana DeGarmo – recording artist, Broadway actor and American Idol finalist 2004
Julio Iglesias, Jr. – pop singer
Maureen McCormick – singer/actor, “The Brady Bunch”
Sisqó – R&B singer, former member of the group Dru Hill.