Add
Private Notes
Mechelle is the surprise winner who gets ""In"" with Vince Gill. She's a flight attendant who has traveled across the United States to see Gill in concert 24 times. Mechelle is invited to join him backstage of a concert where she first lends a hand to the crew before meeting her idol. Mechelle gets a rare opportunity to interview Gill. They eat lunch together and then Gill makes her dream come true by asking her to join him in singing with his friends, bluegrass group Nickel Creek.
Sarah is a 24-year-old computer programmer from Westland, Mich. Sarah has always been a huge fan of Lonestar and even drove to a concert 12 hours away to see them perform. So imagine Sarah's determination to win a contest held by Detroit's Infinity radio station WYCD. She participated in the contest at Southland Mall, playing games like ""Bobbing for Spam"" and was later surprised at work about her grand prize. Sarah became a production assistant for Lonestar, stamping backstage passes for the meet and greet, assisted running the lighting and sound boards and even rode with the band on their bus. She enjoyed a one-on-one interview with Lonestar and then dressed up as a member of ZZ Top to surprise the band during their rendition of ZZ Top's song, ""Give Me All Your Lovin'.""
24-year-old Denise is a grade school teacher from San Bernardino, Calif. Denise once wrote a paper for a college music class interpreting the Jo Dee classic ""Bye Bye"" and felt that Jo Dee's positive influence on people matched her own influence on nurturing young minds. Denise entered a contest held by Infinity radio station KFRG at the Ontario Mall Saloon. Games included mock roadie chores like separating the green M&Ms and cable wrapping. Denise was surprised at her home with the announcement of her prize. At Jo Dee's show, Denise jumped right in to help the crew, including setting up the drums, stuffing envelopes for the meet and greets and checking merchandising inventory. Denise also had Jo Dee's full attention during their one-on-one interview. Denise got a big surprise when Jo Dee called her up onstage.
Shelly is a 29-year-old accountant from Corinth, Texas. She has been a fan of Gary Allan's from the very beginning and considers herself to be his ""ultimate fan."" Thanks to Infinity radio station KPLX in Dallas, Shelly became a winner of their contest and found out the exciting news while having dinner at a restaurant. She spent New Year's Eve helping prepare for Gary Allan's New Year's Eve concert. She assisted with the soundcheck, the meet and greet, merchandising and guitar teching. Shelly also went boot shopping with Gary, had a one-on-one interview with him, helped introduce his show and assisted Gary on stage as his guitar tech.
Dennis is a 47-year-old employee at a home improvement center in New Port Richey, Fla. Dennis' love for Travis Tritt's music is contagious, and he has turned his entire family and his co-workers into Tritt fans. Nineteen year old Erica is an administrative assistant for state attorney's office. Erica grew up with a love of bluegrass music. Dennis and Erica took part in a contest held by Tampa Infinity radio station WQYK, and each learned about their upcoming adventure with CMT when they were surprised at work. Both flew to Nashville to work behind the scenes of Travis Tritt and Patty Loveless' music video for ""Out of Control Raging Fire."" Erica became Patty's stand-in and Dennis received the honor of cleaning Tritt's bus. Their hard work paid off when they got one-on-one time with Travis and Patty. Erica and Dennis spent time interviewing Loveless and Tritt.
The winner of the Reba McEntire episode is Craig of Lakebay, Wash. On this episode of CMT Got Me In With the Band, Craig works on the set of Reba's new hit television sitcom Reba on the WB network.
Ervin ""Woody"" is a 35-year-old deputy sheriff for the Chesapeake county sheriff's office in Chesapeake, Va. Woody learned about his special day with Willie Nelson during a fake press conference set up by CMT. Woody played golf with Willie and then was backstage at his concert that night. He also went on stage with Willie and played air harmonica.
Rebecca, a 28-year-old human resources manager from Fountain Valley, Calif., gets the total star experience as she prepares for the Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards with Sara Evans. Rebecca joins Sara as she shops for the jewelry she will wear to the awards show and then is treated to a makeover by Evans' personal make-up artist and stylist. Rebecca mingles with the stars as they arrive for the awards.
Lynn, a 34-year old lawyer and mother of two from Bethesda, Md., is the lucky winner who gets to spend the day with reigning ACM top female vocalist Martina McBride before her concert at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va. Martina even brings Lynn up on stage during the concert and dedicates a song to her. Lynn gets a surprise as she also meets Keith Urban as he rehearses in a rather unique backstage location.
Steve Moore, a 31-year-old electrical lineman from Lawrenceburg, Tenn., won the opportunity to hang out with Hank Williams Jr. Steve spent the day backstage with the ""Bama Band"" and sang his favorite Hank Williams Jr. song at soundcheck. Later he presented Hank with a quadruple platinum album for his Greatest Hits album, and then Hank gave Steve a ""special job"" at the concert that night (he caught Hank's fiddle).
Danyel, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wisconsin, was treated to a day of excitement with one of country music's rowdiest acts, Montgomery Gentry. Danyel met motorcycle buffs Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry at the Harley Davidson plant in Milwaukee, Wis., and was given a motorcycle ride by Gentry. Then Danyel attended the duo's concert at Summerfest, a local festival, where she and show host Lance Smith joined the singers on stage.
Ryan is a 24-year-old public relations contractor for the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Denver, Colo. Ryan won a special day with the boys of Rascal Flatts. She went to a Colorado Rockies baseball game with the guys where they sang the national anthem. They also serenaded her in a hummer limo as they drove to the game.
Jaclyn is a 20-year-old student at Belmont University who works at Huntsman Entertainment in Nashville, Tenn. She was thrilled to meet Lee Ann Womack and spent the day in the studio with her in Nashville. Jaclyn helped Lee Ann pick out the cover for her new CD and watched her then-not-yet-released video for ""Something Worth Leaving Behind.""
Amanda from Rydal, Ga., gets the surprise of her life when she meets and spends the day with Phil Vassar. The two fill up the day with a workout at the gym and a Mexican lunch before Amanda hangs out backstage at Vassar's concert, where she has the opportunity to play stagehand and join him on stage for his encore.
Country crooner Terri Clark takes 24-year old Lee from Lakewood, Colo., on a ski run he will never forget at the Eldora Ski Resort in Colorado. After spending the day on the slopes, Lee joins Clark at her concert where he sits in on the soundcheck and works behind the scenes during the concert.
Andy, a 27-year-old auto technician from Arlington, Texas, was surprised at work by CMT's Lance Smith. Andy met Chris Cagle the next day at Cowboys in Arlington, where he helped unload Chris' gear. Chris invited Andy on his bus for a guitar lesson and gave Andy a special gift to remember the day by. Chris then took Andy on a tour of the Fort Worth Stockyards and the places he got his start, specifically the White Elephant Saloon. Andy then got to sing a couple of songs at soundcheck and later that night found himself on stage in front of the crowd as Chris introduced him.
Jennie, a 19-year-old college student, proved that she would do anything to meet her favorite artist, Blake Shelton … including washing her hair with raw eggs and ketchup (because she heard Blake did this). Her efforts were rewarded when Lance Smith showed up at her door pretending to be a pizza deliveryman and announced that she's ""In"" with Blake Shelton. Jennie met Blake the next day in Plymouth, Mass., where they went to the Plimoth Plantation and toured the villages and a replica of the Mayflower. The pilgrim cast at the plantation got Black involved in a ""piking"" demonstration, where Black proved what a good sport he is. The following day, Blake took Jennie to a soundcheck at Plymouth Memorial Concert Hall. Before the show, Jennie sold merchandise, and during the concert, Blake introduced her to the crowd.
Brad Paisley surprised 24-year-old Melissa from Las Vegas, Nev., with a wild day in Sin City. The two took a virtual reality ride on Paramount's Star Trek Experience. Then Paisley gave Clark a private concert before his show where Clark had the best seat in the house -- on stage.
Jessi is a field service representative with General Electric. Lance Smith arrived at her home in Henderson, Nev., to surprise her with the news that she's ‘In"" with Trick Pony. To celebrate, Lance and Jessi sang Trick Pony karaoke songs. The next day, Lance took Jessi to KWNR radio where they did a quick interview with the Waking Crew before heading to Mandalay Bay where Jessi met Trick Pony. Everyone loaded into the CMT truck and drove to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway where they learned to drive Indy cars at Driving 101. After a day of racing, everyone went to dinner in Las Vegas. The Ponies all gave Jessi a gift to commemorate their exciting day.
Margaret, a legal assistant from Albuquerque, N.M., was surprised when CMT's Lance Smith arrived at her home. Margaret taught Lance how to waltz to Deana Carter's song, ""Strawberry Wine."" Lance took Margaret in the CMT truck to meet Deana at the Journal Pavilion, where Deana gave Margaret a tour of her bus. Deana's drummer was hiding in one of the bunks and gave Margaret a little scare. The fun continued backstage with some ""girlie stuff"" as Deana gave Margaret a glass of wine and a pedicure, and Margaret also enjoyed a makeover. Deana then put Lance and Margaret to work on gluing rhinestones on her mic stand, and Margaret changed out Deana's guitars during the show.
Tara of Nashville got the surprise of her life when CMT host Lance Smith invited her to attend the CMT Flameworthy 2003 Video Music Awards with her favorite artist, Trace Adkins. Tara got superstar treatment with a makeover and shopping spree to prepare for the hottest night in country music before meeting Trace and joining him at rehearsal, where she rubbed elbows with other artists involved in the show. Then, Trace and Tara walked the CMT red carpet and headed inside where they watched the show from the best seats in the house.
Dustin just returned home from Iraq with the 10th Mtn. Division at Fort Drum, N.Y. As his entire company was going for their morning run, CMT's Lance Smith surprised Dustin to let him know that he gets to hang out with Darryl Worley. That day, Dustin showed Lance around the base, and the 10th Mtn. Division band gave their rendition of Darryl's song ""Have You Forgotten?"" The next day, Lance took Dustin to meet Darryl at the Watertown Fairgrounds, where Darryl was scheduled to perform that evening. But first, Dustin helped load in gear. Lance introduced Dustin to Darryl, and Dustin gave Darryl some gifts from his company. Darryl told Dustin to get his friends to come to the fairgrounds so he could meet them, too. Dustin sat in on the soundcheck and then was backstage at Darryl's concert that evening.
Juliette of Southern California had one of her dreams come true when CMT's Lance Smith showed up at her office, along with all her co-workers and her Mom and Dad, to invite her to attend the rehearsal and taping of Dwight Yoakam's performance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Lance gave Juliette a copy of Dwight's CD, Population Me, which at the time hadn't been released yet. Ryan sat in during Yoakam's pre-show rehearsal before the country superstar gave her an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of NBC Studios and The Tonight Show set. Yoakam's personal make-up artist gave Ryan the star treatment with a beauty makeover. Dwight and Juliette also ran into Jay Leno backstage.
Jessie works as a dog groomer, and CMT's Lance Smith surprised her at work with the news that she is ""In"" with Joe Nichols. Jessie took Lance to her home where he met her ferrets -- especially her ferret named ""Joe"", after Joe Nichols. The next day Lance picked up Jessie and took her to Country Thunder USA in Twin Lakes, Wis., to meet Joe and spend the day with him. Jessie was with Joe when he did a radio interview and helped out at the meet and greet, but the highlight of her day was when Joe brought her out on stage to help him sing a song. But the fun didn't stop there. After the concert, Joe and Jessie crashed a campsite for a little impromptu sing-a-long around the campfire.
One lucky fan will be chosen from a nationwide pool of entries to spend the day with Marty Stuart at the Houston Rodeo.
Joe Cordova of Austin, Texas, gets a huge surprise when CMT host Lance Smith reveals that Cordova's wife, Bonnie, has entered him for CMT Got Me In With the Band. Cordova and Bentley bonded over military stories from family members, ate lunch and had some fun before Bentley's concert performance. Bentley also gave Cordova and his wife a firsthand look at his life on the road, complete with a ride on his tour bus and front row seats to his concert.
