Synopsis: USA Network's original grassroots talent search series to find the next country music superstar Nashville Star, is back for a second season.

This season the finalists will once again compete for a recording contract with Sony Music Nashville. Cameras will capture their live performances, as well as the behind-the-scenes drama and humor that develop as they live together in a house in Nashville for the duration of the competition. The show will continue to be broadcast from the BellSouth Acuff Theatre in Nashville.

Nancy O'Dell, co-anchor of the nationally syndicated entertainment news program Access Hollywood, returns to Nashville Star for the second season as host.

Nashville Star launched the career of Columbia Records' Buddy Jewell, who is nominated for the Horizon Award at this year's Country Music Association Awards. His debut CD, titled Buddy Jewell, was produced by Clint Black and entered the Billboard Country Albums chart at #1. His debut single, "Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey's Song)," was a top-5 hit on the Billboard country airplay chart, after making the highest charting debut by a solo country artist in over a decade (since the introduction of the Nielsen BDS system in January 1990).

Contestants:
Anessa Andrews
Eddie Barber
George Canyon
Brad Cotter
Gregory Delang
Heather Green
Austin Hanks
Jennifer Hicks
Richie Jones
Brent Keith
Brennen Leigh
Matthew Lindahl
Sheila Marshall
Sean Patrick McGraw
Stacey Michelle
Lance Miller
Mal Rodgers
Marty Slayton
Laura Sullivan
Rachel Williams

Episodes:
2-1 The Road To Nashville--03/06/2004
In this special 90-minute premiere episode, you'll see the highlights (and lowlights) of the local and regional auditions held all across the USA. 20 semi-finalists will perform, and 10 of them will be chosen by the judges to move into the Nashville Star house on Music Row. America will then be asked to call in or log on and vote for an 11th "Viewer's Choice" contestant who will also move on in the competition. In addition, first-ever "Nashville Star" Buddy Jewell will perform his latest top 10 single, "Sweet Southern Comfort," and be presented with a gold record commemorating sales of his #1 debut album, and there will also be a special appearance by Clint Black.

2-2 Number Ones--03/13/2004
At the beginning of the show, host Nancy O'Dell will reveal the results of the "Viewer's Choice" voting, and the 11th finalist will be added to the field. All 11 contestants will perform a song that has reached #1 on the Billboard country chart. The hour will also feature a performance by special guest stars Montgomery Gentry! After all of the performances are over, the judges will eliminate the person they feel was the evening's weakest performer, live on the air! Then the remaining 10 contestants will be presented to America, and viewers will be given the opportunity to call in or log on and vote for their favorite performer. This week (and from tonight forward), the contestant who receives the least amount of votes will be eliminated.

2-3 Love and Heartache--03/20/2004
At the top of the show, Nancy O'Dell will reveal the results of the latest round of viewer voting, and one contestant will be eliminated. The nine remaining finalists will then all sing songs of love and heartache: songs that make you want to cry in your beer when you've lost that special someone, - or turn the radio up and sing along when you've finally found them. The hour will also feature a performance by special guest star Joe Nichols! Once all of the contestants have performed, the judges will again eliminate the person they feel was the night's the weakest performer, and the remaining eight contestants will be presented to America to call in or log on and vote for their favorite performer.

2-4 Original Songs--03/27/2004
Nancy O'Dell will start the hour off by revealing the results of the latest viewer voting, and another finalist will be eliminated. The seven remaining contestants will then each perform an original song, and the night will also feature an appearance by special guest star Rodney Crowell! Starting tonight, the ability to eliminate contestants will be taken out of the judges' hands - from now on, only America's votes at the end of each episode will determine who stays and who goes.

2-5 Willie Songs--04/03/2004
This week's show will open with a performance by special guest star Willie Nelson. Then Nancy O'Dell will reveal the results of the latest viewer poll, and another contestant will be sent packing. The six remaining finalists will then each perform one of Willie's hits, and at the end of the show, America will again be asked to call in or log on and vote for their favorite performer.

2-6 Southern Rock--04/10/2004
Nancy O'Dell will open the show with the results of the latest viewer poll, and one more finalist will be eliminated. The four remaining contestants will then sing duets with this week's special guest stars, Terri Clark and Trace Adkins! At the end of the hour, America will again be asked to vote for their favorite performer of the evening.

2-7 Duets--04/17/2004
After opening the show with the elimination of one more contestant, we'll be down to the final three! Each of them will be asked to perform a song, be it a cover tune or an original, that they think best shows off their individual talents. For the last time, America will be asked to cast their votes - and this time, the final results will determine the winner!

2-8 My Best Shot--04/24/2004
After opening the show with the elimination of one more contestant, we'll be down to the final three! Each of them will be asked to perform a song, be it a cover tune or an original, that they think best shows off their individual talents. For the last time, America will be asked to cast their votes - and this time, the final results will determine the winner!

2-9 Grand Finale--05/01/2004
It all comes down to this! After our final three contestants perform one last time and appearances by even more special guest stars, our final two contestants will be unveiled. And then, after nine straight weeks of live performances on a national stage, the journey that began almost six months ago will finally come to an end: the 2004 Nashville Star will be revealed! The winner will then perform their first single - the song he or she hopes will go straight to #1 - live on the air for our cheering audience.