Nashville Star: Career advice from the lowest bidders

"Nashville Star" moves from USA to NBC tonight.

If you're not familiar with the show, it's like country's version of "American Idol."

It's winners include Buddy Jewel, Brad Cotter, Erika Jo, Chris Young and Angela Hacker.

To be fair, it also launched Miranda Lambert's career.

This year, Billy Ray Cyrus will host the show with judges Jewel, Jeffrey Steele and John Rich.

I can only hope Jewel isn't as painful to watch as Naomi Judd is on CMT's "Can You Duet," a show that seeks to find country's next top duo because Brooks and Dunn and Sugarland apparently need new acts to dominate. (The duo category is so week, after these two, that I'm willing to bet whoever wins gets nominated for at least one major award in the next year.)

Anyways, "Nashville Star" looks to find the next big act in country music (wait, am I the only one who thinks this is also what "American Idol" might be for?). Contestants will be at the judge's mercy for the first few rounds before fans get to decide who advances weekly, much like Idol.

While the contestants are singing their hearts out, they will be surrounded by people who have made it in country music.

Let's take a look at the advice the judges may or may not give out on making it in country music.

Host Billy Ray Cyrus

Cyrus's career was made in 1992. Achy Breaky Heart was released in 1992. However, if this was the only release Cyrus made that year, he'd still be looking for work. 1992 was the same year Destiny Hope, who would later become Miley Ray, was born.

Likely advice: Release a huge single and ride its coattails for as long as possible, or at least until your daughter is old enough for her own hit show on Disney, then ride her coattails.

Host turned Judge Jewel

Jewel's first CD sold more than 12 million CDs. Since then, she has released several more that haven't done as well, through all but one of them reached at least gold status. She plays guitar, writes and sings her own songs and even sung the national anthem at a Super Bowl.

In 2007, Jewel turned to reality TV, being a guest judge on Idol, hosting Star and appearing in Fast Cars and Superstars: The Gillette Young Guns Celebrity Race and Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge.

Retired bull rider Murray is Jewel's long-time boyfriend.

In November, she signed with Valory Records, a new country label and released "Stronger Woman" to country radio in January.

Likely advice: Like Billy, have a solid debut CD and keep releasing CDs as long they'll let you before they cut you for not selling enough. Also, date a rodeo star. Then when you stop selling CDs, you can do reality TV with him on CMT and people will associate you with country music. Then, release a country CD that sounds pretty much like all your other stuff, but is sold in the country album section at stores.

Bonus picture: http://earsucker.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/jewel.jpg

Jeffrey Steele

Steele has been around for a while and you probably know his work, you just don't know you know it.

He was in the band Boy Howdy. When the band broke up, he went solo and hasn't had a lot of success. However, the man can write songs better than he sings them.

He has written songs for Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, LeAnn Rimes, Steve Holy and two number one songs for Rascal Flatts.

Likely advice: if you're not a good singer, find something else you're good at and produce music in your free time. Have a back up plan. If you're not very good, don't quit your day job.

John Rich

Rich is the most legit country star on the Nashville Star stage and often on any stage in Nashville.

He got his start in the band Lonestar before going solo and didn't have much success until forming the duo Big and Rich.

Rich has written and produced, and I think even owns part of, Gretchen Willson's CDs and wrote every hit Jason Aldean has released. He is also responsible for Faith Hill's comeback, having penned "Mississippi Girl," "Sunshine and Summertime" and "Like we never loved at all," recorded with husband Tim McGraw.

He has also written for Keith Anderson, Heartland, Aaron Tippen and Wynonna.

Likely advice: Just keep doing your own thing and play by your own rules and success will follow.

Oh, and any excuse to hang out with a midget or a black rapping country artist makes for a good time.