USA Network's REAL COUNTRY Adds Celebrity Guests

USA Network announced today that its new music showcase series REAL COUNTRY has added country stars Trace Adkins, Wynonna Judd and Big & Rich as celebrity guests. The network also announced a special appearance by the beloved country icon Willie Nelson, and set Graham Bunn - most recently from Southern California's #1 country station, Go Country 105 - as host.

Each episode will feature one of the special celebrity guests alongside REAL COUNTRY's permanent panel of artists - five-time GRAMMY Award®-winning trailblazer Shania Twain, platinum-selling singer-songwriter Jake Owen and GRAMMY Award®-winning music legend Travis Tritt. From Wilshire Studios, the eight-part series will premiere Tuesday, November 13 at 10/9c, and has Twain, Nicolle Yaron, Stijn Bakkers and Leslie Garvin set to executive produce. Additional celebrity guests will be announced soon.

In each hour-long episode, Twain, Owen and Tritt will hand-select emerging solo artists, duos and groups to perform in showcases that spotlight the rich traditions, songs and themes of country music. The best artists from each showcase will perform in a two-hour grand finale, for the chance to be named one of country music's next breakout acts.

For more information about our host and celebrity guests, please see below.

To learn more about joining the studio audience, please click here:http://www.usanetwork.com/realcountry/join-the-audience

About Graham Bunn:

Most recently, Graham Bunn was country music's favorite drive time radio host on Southern California's #1 country station, Go Country 105. He is charismatic, quick witted, and dripping with southern charm, and used to entertain commuters on their way to work with the right mix of humor and contagious enthusiasm for his show Graham in the Mornings. His unique ability to personally connect with artists gave listeners an insightful and personal take on their favorite country musician, and will resonate in his new role as host of USA Network's REAL COUNTRY. Raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Bunn's love for country music runs long and deep. He played college basketball for Appalachian State University and went on to play professional basketball in Europe before returning to the United States to pursue different projects in television and radio. Based in LA, Bunn is a devout Christian and active supporter of the community. When he isn't working, you can find Bunn hosting a crew at his house in Los Angeles, playing with his bulldog, KD, or hanging at the Troubador.

About Trace Adkins:

Towering baritone Trace Adkins has sold more than 11 million albums and charted more than 20 singles in his 25 years in Nashville, a remarkable run for one of country music's most easily identifiable stars. The Louisiana native recently released his 12th studio album, "Something's Going On," on BBR Music Group / Wheelhouse Records. A three-time GRAMMY Award-nominee, Adkins has won three Academy of Country Music Awards, including the 2009 Single of the Year Award for "You're Gonna Miss This" and Vocal Event of the Year with Blake Shelton for "Hillbilly Bone" in 2010. The Grand Ole Opry member is also an author and spokesman for the Wounded Warrior Project and The American Red Cross, for whom he raised more than $1.5 million dollars as winner of NBC's All-Star Celebrity Apprentice. In recent years, Adkins has performed for our service members across 12 USO Tours. In his 2007 autobiography, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck, Adkins recounted his RISE to fame, brushes with death, and battles with personal demons. Adkins has also acted in multiple films and television shows, playing a tough-as-nails biker in "The Lincoln Lawyer" (starring Matthew McConaughey), a desperate father in "Deepwater Horizon" (starring Mark Wahlberg) and a wise oracle of a tattoo artist in THE FAMILY friendly film "Moms' Night Out" (starring Patricia Heaton, Sean Astin, Sarah Drew). His most recent role was that of MercyMe's real-life manager, Brickell, in the box office smash "I Can Only Imagine." The film was the third biggest selling movie on its opening weekend in America. For tour dates and more information, visit www.traceadkins.com or on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @TraceAdkins.

About Wynonna:

Five-time GRAMMY winner and New York Times bestselling author, Wynonna Judd has always revolved her career around telling stories. Whether performing alongside her mother as one half of the legendary country duo The Judds, or pushing the boundaries on her own mega-successful solo path, Judd's ability to reach the heart of the human spirit through her bold and unflinching honesty, is the entertainer's true gift. Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and undeniable talent, Judd's rich and commanding voice has sold over 30-million albums worldwide spanning her remarkable 33-year career. Once dubbed by Rolling Stone as "the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline," this iconic performer has received over 60 industry awards, with countless charting singles, including 20 No.1 hits such as "Mama He's Crazy," "Why Not me," and "Grandpa, (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ole Days)."

About Big & Rich:

Big & Rich are America's Technicolor cowboys, brothers-in-arms in service to the creed that great music has no boundaries. Individually, John and Big Kenny are first-rate musicians, songwriters, producers, entertainers-and now the creative force behind their own label imprint, Big & Rich Records. Together, they are one of the most truly original musical forces ever unleashed on a welcoming world. Big & Rich have made a career of being relatable and musically relevant since exploding into the public consciousness in 2003 as the rarest of breeds-true country music game changers. With 2004's triple-platinum "Horse of a Different Color," they were able to tap into the best strands of a wide spectrum of popular music, filter them through their pens and voices and produce a sound that is instantly recognizable, if not classifiable.

About Willie Nelson:

With a six-decade career and 200 plus albums, this iconic Texan is the creative genius behind the historic recordings of "Crazy, Red Headed Stranger," and "Stardust." Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new album releases, released a Top 10 New York Times' bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid, an event he co-founded in 1985, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival at his ranch in Luck, TX during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie's Reserve and Willie's Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. In 2015, Nelson published "It's A Long Story: My Life," the unvarnished and complete story of his life that landed him on the New York Times' bestsellers list. He also released a new studio album with Merle Haggard titled "Django And Jimmie," which debuted at #1 on Billboard's Country album chart and #7 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart. In November 2015, the Library of Congress honored him with their GERSHWIN PRIZE for Popular Song for his contributions to popular music. He is the first country artist to receive the distinguished award. The following year began with the release of "Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin," a collection of 11 newly recorded Gershwin classics. The album debuted at #1 on both the Top Current Jazz chart and the Top Traditional Jazz chart, as well as earned him a Grammy Award for the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. In September 2016, came "For the Good Times: A Tribute to Ray Price," an album of newly recorded interpretations of 12 Ray Price songs. In 2017, he released two albums of newly recorded performances: "God's Problem Child," with 13 new songs that debuted at #1 on Billboard's Country album chart and #10 on the Billboard 200, and "Willie Nelson and The Boys (Willie's Stash, Vol. 2)," that includes 11 country classics and one brand-new song performed by Nelson and his sons Lukas and Micah. For 2018, he released "Last Man Standing" in April to celebrate his 85th birthday. It is comprised entirely of songs newly-penned by Nelson (and longtime collaborator and producer Buddy Cannon). September is set to see the release of "My Way," a collection of newly recorded standards and classic originally made famous by Nelson's close friend and musical colleague Frank Sinatra. These new songs and performances add to his classic catalog, and finds Willie Nelson rolling at a creative peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road, which he still travels along performing for fans.

About USA Network:

USA Network, the leader in cable entertainment, offers a powerful stable of dramatic, comedic and unscripted originals in more than 102 million U.S. homes. The network also features spectacular live television, a dynamic portfolio of acquired series and the best in blockbuster theatrical films and entertainment events. A trailblazer in digital innovation and storytelling, USA is defining, driving and setting the industry standard for Social TV. USA is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal. USA's award-winning website is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Watch usa network anywhere: On Demand, online or across mobile and connected TVs.

About Wilshire Studios:

Wilshire Studios develops and produces a diverse slate of original unscripted programming for multiple platforms, aligning with award-winning producers and innovative storytellers to create compelling content that explores reality through a variety of formats. From E!'s signature "Live from the Red Carpet," USA Network's "The Cromarties" and Oxygen's "Mysteries and Scandals," to the upcoming "The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell" for Netflix, "Real Country" for USA, "Unspeakable Crime: THE KILLING of Jessica Chambers" for Oxygen and the debut "People's Choice Awards" on E!, Wilshire Studios produces series that are informative, revealing, thrilling and entertaining. Wilshire Studios is part of the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment portfolio.

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