The top 5 contestants on American Idol got to take a private jet to Nashville to meet with the big wigs at Big Machine Label Group. The winner of Idol gets a deal with Scott Borchetta’s label. In Nashville, the Top 5 got the opportunity to work with Nashville stars Martina McBride and Jay DeMarcus of Rascal Flatts. DeMarcus mentored the guys – Rayvon Owen, Clark Beckham and Nick Fradiani. McBride worked with the girls – Tyanna Jones and Jax.
McBride is a country music veteran who’s watched the industry change over the years. She said she’s not sure how she’d fare if she was a newcomer. (Her current album, Everlasting, is her 11th studio album.) She recently told TasteOfCountry: “I’ve always been about the songs — just finding great songs, and right now the culture isn’t too friendly to females on the radio, so I don’t know.” That said, McBride will keep things on a positive note with Tyanna and Jax. Plus, you can’t perform the song Over the Rainbow without some optimism. American Idol airs Wednesdays at 8pm on Fox.
