From Evanston to Nashville Star

By Julene McCoy in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 25, 2007 5:04PM

Some days it seems like the next time we have to interview for a job that the only way that will happen is on television. Of course, we’re not sure who would watch America’s Next Top Admin Assistant. It also seems like television is the top way for a band to get that next boost forward these days. Nashville Star is no American Idol in terms of ratings, but Evanston native, Meg Allison, has survived two episodes on the country music industry’s answer to AI.

Meg Allison grew up in Evanston and honed her chops in songwriting and performing around Chicagoland before taking a leap of faith and heading down to Nashville last year hoping that the move would invigorate her career. Right after making the move, Meg heard that she had made the cut for USA Network’s reality show, Nashville Star.

Meg describes herself as more Sarah McLachlan than Dolly Parton and has been portrayed on the reality show as a sorority girl trying to find her country voice. The judges have praised her ability to take their critiques and learn from them so far in the series, something that is necessary when trying to grab that brass ring.

We’ll be checking out her voice, described by the Illinois Entertainer as somewhere between Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, for ourselves tonight on Nashville Star. Thursdays, 9:00 p.m., USA.