Goin' Country
Encyclopedia
Goin' Country is a reality show
, produced by Wes Whatley with Orion Multimedia, that began airing Sunday mornings at nine in August 2010 on the Versus channel
. It follows former American Idol
contestant Kristy Lee Cook
and is centered around hunting
and her search for a new recording contract. Eight episodes were shot for the first season.
which started after Cook was shown wearing a Browning hat during an American Idol segment. Browning is a sponsor of the show.
The pilot episode of the show first aired May 22, 2010 and featured Cook hunting Texas white-tail deer and writing a new song in Nashville.
Cook was joined on the show by family, friends and celebrity guests, including fellow former American Idol contestant Blake Lewis
, and country music
singers Jake Owen
and Aaron Tippin
.
who issued a statement referring to it as her "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" and suggesting she should instead follow in the footsteps of fellow American Idol alumni Kellie Pickler
, Carrie Underwood
and Simon Cowell
who PETA says have used their fame and talent to speak up for animals. Cook responded to PETA's comments with positive statements about hunting and pointed out that the show also highlights her animal-related charity, "Kristy Lee's Horse Heaven Foundation", which rescues abused or neglected horses. News of the show has also provoked a negative reaction from some of her fans.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
, produced by Wes Whatley with Orion Multimedia, that began airing Sunday mornings at nine in August 2010 on the Versus channel
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
. It follows former American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
contestant Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy Lee Cook
Kristy Lee Cook is an American country singer who was born in Seattle, Washington and was the seventh place finalist on the seventh season of American Idol. In 2005 Cook released her debut album called Devoted. In June 2008, Cook signed to 19 Recordings and Arista Nashville. She released her...
and is centered around hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and her search for a new recording contract. Eight episodes were shot for the first season.
Production
The show grew out of a relationship between Cook and firearms and outdoor equipment manufacturer BrowningBrowning Arms Company
Browning Arms Company is a maker of firearms, bows and fishing gear. Founded in Utah in 1927, it offers a wide variety of firearms, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and rimfire firearms and sport bows, as well as fishing rods and reels....
which started after Cook was shown wearing a Browning hat during an American Idol segment. Browning is a sponsor of the show.
The pilot episode of the show first aired May 22, 2010 and featured Cook hunting Texas white-tail deer and writing a new song in Nashville.
Cook was joined on the show by family, friends and celebrity guests, including fellow former American Idol contestant Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis
Blake Colin Lewis is an American singer-songwriter and beatboxer who was the runner-up on the sixth season of American Idol. His major label debut album A.D.D. was released on December 4, 2007 through 19 Recordings/Arista Records. On October 30, 2007, his first single "Break Anotha" was released....
, and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singers Jake Owen
Jake Owen
Joshua Ryan "Jake" Owen is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records Nashville in 2005, he released his debut album Startin' with Me that year. The album produced three singles, all of which reached Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: "Yee Haw", "Startin' with Me", and...
and Aaron Tippin
Aaron Tippin
Aaron Dupree Tippin is an American country music artist and record producer. Initially a songwriter for Acuff-Rose Music, he gained a recording contract with RCA Records in 1990...
.
Controversy
The show has drawn the ire of PETAPeta
Peta can refer to:* peta-, an SI prefix denoting a factor of 1015* Peta, Greece, a town in Greece* Peta, the Pāli word for a Preta, or hungry ghost in Buddhism* Peta Wilson, an Australian actress and model* Peta Todd, English glamour model...
who issued a statement referring to it as her "Fifteen Minutes of Shame" and suggesting she should instead follow in the footsteps of fellow American Idol alumni Kellie Pickler
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Dawn Pickler is an American country music artist and television personality. She gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of the Fox reality show American Idol, eventually finishing in sixth place. In 2006, she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records as a recording artist, releasing...
, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
and Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell
Simon Phillip Cowell is an English A&R executive, television producer, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known in the United Kingdom and United States for his role as a talent judge on TV shows such as Pop Idol, The X Factor, Britain's Got Talent and American Idol...
who PETA says have used their fame and talent to speak up for animals. Cook responded to PETA's comments with positive statements about hunting and pointed out that the show also highlights her animal-related charity, "Kristy Lee's Horse Heaven Foundation", which rescues abused or neglected horses. News of the show has also provoked a negative reaction from some of her fans.