Nashville Star Backstage

Believe it or not, the finalists only get about an hour or so to rehearse their songs with the band, which means every second counts. But how do the contestants practice while they're traveling or in their hotel room? In between her practices with the band onstage, Melissa tells the guy sitting behind a laptop which versions of her rehearsals to Rascal Flatts' "My Wish" and Sugarland's "Something More" she wants him to record for her mp3 player. ... more 

Believe it or not, the finalists only get about an hour or so to rehearse their songs with the band, which means every second counts. But how do the contestants practice while they're traveling or in their hotel room? In between her practices with the band onstage, Melissa tells the guy sitting behind a laptop which versions of her rehearsals to Rascal Flatts' "My Wish" and Sugarland's "Something More" she wants him to record for her mp3 player. "They record our rehearsals and stick it onto an mp3 player, so we can remember our edited versions of the song. We'll listen to it over and over for practice until we have to perform it live," Melissa explains. She is all smiles onstage and is so easy-going and professional with the band, you would think that she had been working with a band her whole life and is a veteran country star. "I've worked with a band before and I love it, but obviously this caliber of a band that we work with on the show is whole different story," says Melissa. "These guys are amazing. They play with Keith Urban and other greats. I love it. It's very fun." less