>>> I just want to thank you for
giving me someone to look up to,
and -- I told myself I wasn't
going to cry.
I'm a strong independent woman
because that's who you taught me
to be.
>> Wow!
>> It's endless.
Cma entertainer of the year,
five-time grammy winner, albums
in a row and she happens to be
the best-selling female country
artist in the world and the
nicest person in the world.
Her new us music show case
called real country.
Scott was on set with you and
came back raving about this.
>> So fun.
>> What do you get out of this
competition show?
What does it do for you?
>> You know, I was sharing my
it makes all of the years I've
been in this industry so much
more worthwhile -- first of all,
to be respected and appreciated
for everything I've experienced,
and to -- so that the experience
is taken seriously by people up
and coming.
It means so much.
And I mean, it's great to be the
performer and to be the
entertainer and the giving back
>> What I love about the show in
particular is that you guys are
not judges.
Yes.
Good point.
You were very clear in your
intention that we are not here
to judge you.
We are here to amplify what you
do.
You wouldn't be here if you
weren't great.
>> You are getting right to the
>> You've got the whole thing
all wrapped up and that's
exactly that.
The drama is all in the emotion
of the one performance.
There's nothing else.
They come talented and they've
already evolved and developed as
artists and they're professional
in their own right already.
They belong there.
They deserve this shot.
They're not amateurs and our
role is to support them, to give
this platform to say here is
your shot.
Take it.
And then the fans are the true
judge.
Isn't that the way it should be?
>> So how does it work then?
Are the fans then voting who
stays on in the competition?
What do they win?
>> They're in the space.
>> They're right there with us.
So it's very exciting and I just
love handing that over to the
fans.
>> What do they win at end,
whoever wins?
>> There's a lot of money
involved.
So 10,000 for every individual
winner throughout the season
plus a performance and stage
coach.
>> Wow!
>> And the finalist, these are
the semifinalists and the
finalist gets $100,000 and a
spot on the grand ole opry.
>> Shania, what makes a great
country artist?
What is the one "It" thing that
will single it out.
>> I want to clarify what a
country artist is.
There's something about country
music for everyone no matter
where you're from, whether
you're a city person or a
country person or from another
country.
The reality is this is about
real story telling, about
everyday lives and the lives we
live every day whether it's our
family lives or our emotional
lives and a song like "I will
always love you," look how that
song transcended beyond what we
would stereotype country music
to be, and Whitney Houston had
the biggest hit ever with that
song all over the world.
It's important for me to be able
to share what real country is.
It's for everyone.
>> You shared a story with me
about walking, I think it was
into a hotel lobby and hearing a
guy sing and you brought him on
the show.
What happened?
Because he's not your typical,
we're talking about real
country.
Looking at him you wouldn't
think he was your typical
country artist.
>> No.
And I love everything about
typical.
I love things to be different
and unique and standout because
we're looking for stars, you
know, people that can really
carry the success torch all the
way and not just to be around
for a minute.
I was in the lobby and I'm still
on tour -- I'm still on that
same tour!
>> I'm still on that same tour!
But I heard an artist in the
lobby from the elevator and I
didn't even see the artist and
we were so blown away by the
voice.
What did he say when he met you?
>> Well, I didn't introduce
myself.
I sent my husband over and
said --
>> You sent your husband?
>> Yeah.
>> He odd igszed and didn't even
realize it.
>> I got off the elevator and I
heard this voice and thought
that woman is killing it.
That woman is killing it and it
was a full grown black man
singing.
>> I love that.
>> Yeah!
>> It was no one I was
expecting!
And I love that, the element of
surprise.
We need to be surprised.
This is entertainment.
I don't want predictable.
I want surprise.