HGTV's "Design Star" Goes Country

After seasons in New York and Las Vegas, HGTV's Design Star has gone country.

The home-design competition, the network's most-watched show, has moved to Nashville and will feature a visit by country singer Sara Evans in the July 6 episode. The designers will hit stores around Music City, and the camera captures downtown scenes as well as Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center during the season.

Hendersonville's "Sparkle" Josh Johnson, who was fourth runner-up in last season's Design Star, will blog regularly about the show on HGTV's Web site.

"I'd like to think they chose Nashville because of me, since I'm so crazy," said Johnson, a freelance designer and consultant. "Maybe they're going for a completely different atmosphere and attitude."

Season three began Sunday when the show introduced nine finalists who will compete in weekly makeover challenges, with the winner getting an HGTV series.

The first two seasons spawned series hosted by the winners, David Bromstad (Color Splash) and Kim Myles (Myles of Style). Last year's final drew more than 3 million viewers.

The exposure from the show has opened doors for Johnson, who has been traveling the country serving as an emcee at various gigs. He will be a guest judge on a new HGTV series, Summer Showdown, that debuts Aug. 3.

As for the popularity of Star, he says, "It involves skill and patience and creativity. It's kind of like American Idol for designers. There is not another show out there like Design Star that focuses around the environment and atmosphere of design."

Star's mix of style, a core interest for HGTV viewers, and reality elements creates a family show that can attract a broader audience, says the network's James Bolosh, who oversees the show.

To reinforce the character element, Star 3 has two fewer contestants than the previous edition, so viewers can get to know them better, he says.

Starting Sunday, each episode will feature a design competition, with the weakest performer being eliminated by the show's judges: architect and interior designer Vern Yip, designer and author Cynthia Rowley and In Style executive editor Martha McCully. When two finalists remain, another viewer vote decides the winner. No finalists were from Tennessee.

Bolosh says design skill is only one factor in winning the show, because a TV series hangs in the balance. Competitors have to be a triple threat, he says. "They have to be great designers, they have to execute the designs and they have to be telegenic."

Thanks to Bill Keveney and Ken Beck