Jason Aldean Hops Aboard for New Reality Singing Competition ‘Opening Act’
Between ‘The Voice’ and ‘Duets,’ country music stars are becoming very well represented on the small screen. And soon, Jason Aldean will be added to the list of crooners doubling as reality TV stars. Aldean will take part in E!’s new show ‘Opening Act,’ which premieres on July 9.
The premise for ‘Opening Act’ is pretty similar to the other popular singing competition shows, like ‘American Idol,’ ‘The Voice,’ and the upcoming show ‘Duets.’ In E!’s version of the concept, ‘Idol’ producer Nigel Lythgoe, Mary J. Blige and a producer will scour the internet to find opening acts who can open for big-time music acts.
Aldean is of course included among those looking for an opener, as is his fellow country star Brad Paisley, rap/R&B diva Mary J. Blige, classic rock legend Rod Stewart, popular electronica band LMFAO and pop star Nicki Minaj. As you can see, ‘Opening Act’ plans to cover almost every musical genre, and a few different eras, as well.
“There is an extraordinary amount of untapped talent out there,” says Lythgoe about the show (quote via Country Weekly). “But if you don’t know the right people or have the right connections, you may never be discovered. With ‘Opening Act,’ we are democratizing a notoriously impossible process.”
With all talented singers and songwriters posting material on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets, it’s true that there is no lack of good talent available — it just has to be found. And if a pop phenom like Justin Bieber can get his start via YouTube, there’s no reason why ‘Opening Act’ can’t find country music’s next Carrie Underwood or Scotty McCreery.