Here we are. Can You Duet (CYD), second week. We have 20 people in the running, five duos that made it through the initial auditions without being sent home or split up. The remaining ten are singers that either came to the show solo in hopes of finding a partner or were separated by the judges from whomever it was they had originally paired up with.
Tonight, it’s all about the five sets of singers who were successful in staying together. They’ll each do their cover version of others’ songs with the hope that they will perform well enough to continue on in the competition. After all of them do their thing, they hear from each panel member as to what they thought of the performance. Later the judges will confer and two pairs will be sent packing.
The judging panel for this season holds two performers and one music executive. Naomi Judd and Big Kenny both know a thing or two about being part of a country music duo. Ms. Naomi, on top of being a songwriter and author, was one half of the award-winning, multi-platinum selling twosome, The Judds, teaming up with her daughter Wynonna. Big Kenny (BK) partners up with John Rich as recording artists Big & Rich who also have multi-platinum records and the pair have also seen success in writing songs for other singers. As the weeks go on during CYD, I’ll talk more about how their talents have led them to being placed on the panel and what they bring to the table.
For now let’s talk more about Scott Borchetta, the third judge, one with whom many country music fans may not be familiar. His name may not ring a bell, but I’ll bet there’s at least one or two acts on his label, Big Machine Records, that will. As founder, president, and CEO of the company whose roster includes Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood, and Jack Ingram, he has to have a firm grasp of every aspect of the music industry in order for his team to do their job and do it well. A musician himself, he’s worked in radio promotion and at the Dreamworks label. In an interview with Nashville Music Guide, he was asked what his main responsibilities were and his answer was, “We all wear all hats. I just end up steering most of the time…”
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