"IN THE SPOTLIGHT WITH ROBIN ROBERTS: BRIGHT LIGHTS. BIG STARS. ALL ACCESS NASHVILLE" AIRS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10 ON ABC
Exclusive Access with Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride,
Loretta Lynn, Rosanne Cash and Vince Gill
President Barack Obama, Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Others Share Their Favorite Country Songs
Special Web-Only Content from "In the Spotlight" at ABCNEWS.com
Robin Roberts puts on her cowboy boots and heads to Nashville for an hour-long special airing Tuesday, November 10 on ABC. "In The Spotlight with Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville" gives viewers around the country an unprecedented, all-access pass into the homes and private lives of country music's biggest stars, and introduces America to the up-and-coming singer/songwriters working to become Nashville's next hit sensations.
"In The Spotlight" begins in the small farm community of Checotah, Oklahoma, hometown of Carrie Underwood. The award-winning singer, and former American Idol, takes Roberts on a private tour of Checotah, and, in a surprisingly candid interview with the ABC anchor, Underwood opens up for the first time about the price of her early fame. The hour special also features never before seen home video of Carrie Underwood singing in grade school performances and participating in beauty pageants.
Roberts then shines the spotlight on sexy music and film star Tim McGraw. McGraw invites Roberts to spend time at his private retreat � a family farm outside of Nashville, TN, where he gives Roberts a rare and personal tour of the property, including skeet shooting and horseback riding. In a poignant interview with Roberts, McGraw speaks about the abuse the witnessed as a child and his painful reconciliation with his biological father, famed professional baseball player Tug McGraw. McGraw also speaks emotionally about life as a father of three, and husband to Grammy Award-winning songstress Faith Hill.
"In The Spotlight" continues with one of the first ladies of country music, Martina McBride, who welcomes ABC cameras into her Nashville home for a rare glimpse at the megastar's busy family life. The country music superstar also takes Roberts to Blackbird Recording Studios, the very place where McBride recorded many of her numerous hit records. In a candid interview with Roberts, McBride opens up about the early years of her musical career, the challenges of balancing motherhood and work, competing in an industry now filled with young 20-something female stars, and, about her surprising bikini-clad magazine cover shot that had eyebrows raised and women of all ages asking how the 43-year old mom of three does it all.
The star-power continues on "In The Spotlight", with a report on the next generation of country music royalty... the young singers like Tayla Lynn, grand-daughter of Loretta Lynn, and Jenny Gill, daughter of Vince Gill, who are trying to mix talent and a famous last name as a formula for success in Nashville. Roberts travels to Hurricane Mills, TN for a rare interview with the original coal miner's daughter, Loretta Lynn, and also speaks to country star Rosanne Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash, and inheritor of what is arguably the biggest country music legacy of all time. The report examines both the positive and negative effects of being related to a legend.
Finally, "In The Spotlight" asks Americans to answer the question country music fans have been asking for years. What's the Greatest Country Song of All Time? In this fun, musical trip down memory lane, "In The Spotlight" hears from fans, the biggest stars of country from Taylor Swift to Rascal Flatts, and even from the nation's "Country Music Fan in Chief", President Barack Obama. Viewers around the country will have the chance to go to abcnews.com to cast their vote. The winning song will be revealed the following morning on ABC News' "Good Morning America" (7:00 to 9:00am on ABC)
In addition to the broadcast special, which has been in production for more than six months, more exclusive interview footage, videos, photos and music will be available at a new, special section of abcnews.com. Look for the "In The Spotlight" section on the web site beginning October 30, 2009. And tune in to ABC for "In the Spotlight with Robin Roberts. Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville" Tuesday, November 10 at 10pmET/9CT on ABC.
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