NBC has announced country singer Billy Ray Cyrus will serve as Nashville Star's sixth-season host when the reality series makes its NBC debut this summer.
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The former Dancing with the Stars fourth-season celebrity participant made the announcement during a Wednesday night appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
"This year it is all about the dream, about the music, about persistence and never giving up faith. Putting the music first," said Cyrus. "You know I've been to the fair and I've seen the bear and I am really excited."
"That is so embarrassing. I don't know what that means," Cyrus' daughter -- Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus -- commented after Cyrus made the statement during their joint Leno appearance.
Cyrus also presumably embarrassed his daughter during his appearance on last spring's fourth edition of Dancing with the Stars, where Cyrus and partner Karina Smirnoff were best remembered for their unconventional "Bubba Chicken" jive and "Hillbilly Waltz" performances. Cyrus and Smirnoff were the seventh couple eliminated from the ABC ballroom dancing competition.
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Cyrus is the latest in a string of hosts for the former USA Network series (NBC plucked Nashville Star from USA in January after the cable network decided not to renew the series for a fifth season).
Jewel and Troy "Cowboy Troy" Coleman served as the co-hosts of the show's most recent 2007 edition. Coleman also co-hosted Nashville Star's 2006 fourth season with Wynonna Judd. The pair had replaced LeAnn Rimes, who had hosted the show's 2005 edition. Nashville Star's first two editions had been hosted by Access Hollywood co-host Nancy O'Dell.
Nashville Star's sixth-season will air early this summer prior to NBC's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, which will commence August 8.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio