Hi everyone! Melanie Torres here..I hope everyone is having a great easter weekend! I know I am! I went fishing all day but only came back with a sunburn and not a single fish! Ha Ha! Anyway, I just thought I would drop a quick line on the board. I dont read the posts very much but I have had such wonderful fans posting their thoughts and support. So I thought I would say a huge THANKS to all who have supported me! I would just like to say I was so blessed to have had this GREAT experience of Nashville Star. I would not change anything for the world. Monique, Jules, Nicole, and Kristen are wonderful, beautiful, talented women whom I have been honored to meet. The men..well Matt and Jared have been my buds for a while and they know I love them. Not to mention they rock the stage! Shy , Casey and Chris are some of the most vocally talented guys I know. I know they will all succeed. I will be there every week to support everyone til the end. That is really all I wanted to say, just to let people know I apprieciate the support and the great experience to do what I love to do.I will continue to work hard writing and also singing some shows on the road. To all who may not understand,I love Honky Tonks! I just stated I didnt want to make BARTENDING my lifelong career! I have had a blast in the seven years I have done it though! I definitely have some funny stories! Anyway, my experience in Nashville so far has been great. To meet Wynonna was awesome. It was an honor to work next to her. The producers on the show were a pleasure to work with and the hair, wardrobe and make-up crew were amazing. I have worked very hard to make it on my own here just like all of us do. But hard work usually pays off! Hope to meet you all soon! Thanks to all who voted and to my girl Nicole, Girl you hang in there!! Happy Easter everyone! Love Ya Kristen! Post Extras:

Hey Melanie,
What a nice message. I am glad to see you so positive. Yes, you were a favorite to many & I think left before your time but - no doubt you are going to make it!!Your face, name and your singing talents have not been overlooked. Best of luck to you always....

I think there was so much talent this year, more so than I remember from past seasons. I didn't like seeing anyone leave and there have been some surprises for sure.

My number one favorite to date is Casey Rivers. He has an awesome talent that not everyone has seen yet. Have you seen his blogs?

Melanie, don't give up. You have a great sister who has been a real trooper writing to the message board.

You had an awful lots of fans, you and Kristen both. You did good girl!! keep on keeping on

Thanks for taking the time to post. Be sure to let us know where you will be singing. Obviously, if you get some sort of CD to sell, some of us would want to purchase one!

Best of luck!

Melanie,

Thank you for the great post. I am glad you had a nice Easter weekend and it sounds like you are staying busy.

I hope you put a CD out soon. I would definitely purchase it. You were one of the best girls in the competition.

It's great to hear from you Melanie. Thanks for posting and letting us know how you are doing..You are a very talented and beautiful young lady...keep up the hard work because IT WILL pay off..You were great on the show.
Keep us posted on whats going on and I wish you the best.

cg2/kathy

hey Melanie thanks for stopping by and say hi ... its so good to hear from you ... I am sure, there is great thing coming up for you, so be ready for it ... and I will sit in line for that CD too ... you will be a great star ... take care and be blessed ...

Hi All

Gotta say, I've been a huge Nashville Star fan since Season Two. In fact, my wife and I attended two shows last season, flying in from L.A. Each year has spawned tremendous talent and, I believe, leaves AMERICAN IDOL looking like glorified Karaoke...until this year. This year I was extremely disappointed to see two of the most talented candidates in the bunch: Shy Blakeman, and Melanie Torres get voted off so early in the competition. Shy was...and is, hands down, the most unique and talented guy in this year's crop; and Melanie's voice and stage presence put the competition to shame. What happened? I understand people feel like they have to 'be positive' and support the remaining contestants. I'm sure they're nice people...but they just don't belong on that stage.

This year, we've been forced to endure the whims of the 13-year-old girl viewer vote - who're just trying to keep their cute guys on the longest. I can't imagine any of these remaining contestants standing up to the likes of Buddy Jewel, Brad Cotter, George Canyon, Miranda Lambert, Jennifer Hicks, or Jason Meadows. I mean come on! Can you? I can't even bring myself to sit through the show anymore, except to watch my TIVO recording of the last five minutes...just to see who gets booted.

Wish there was a Judges' Choice episode (though it's probably too late now) to bring back one of the great ones...and give the real talent the real shot they deserve. To Shy, and especially Melanie...I wish you both the best in the years to come. You deserve a lot more than what you got on Nashville Star.

Sincerely,

Jim Barrett a.k.a.
JIMNASTIC

Due to my hectic work schedules and hours I don't often get the chance to see Nashville Star. When I have gotten such chance, I have been amazed and awed at Melanie's dynamic voice. I was really shocked that she was voted out. My belief is that everything happens for a reason. Melanie, you are going to get where you want to be. Through your great talent and energy, we will be buying your first cd in no time. I will be in the lines waiting for your concerts and shows because I know that's where you will be. You have true talent, girl, don't stop til you get where you want to be!

I couldn't agree with you more on the Judges voting. I think there should be a combo of fans w/ 1 vote per phone or internet , then a judges vote (scoring type). No promotional guest judges who are there to promote a new movie or one the network's other shows. Judges who are involved & know music, especially Country Music. I think every contestant on this year's show is talented in their own way but a couple of them, especially Melanie, have the full package for success. However, people are simply voting for their faves & not the talent. I heard way too many teen girls at the show talking about how they switched their vote because someone's eyes were beautiful or didn't like the way they dressed. Image is a big part of it, YES, but it's not the deciding factor. I would like to see Nashville Star be MORE than American Idol. It has more class already, but it still lacks the 'reality' of what it should be...a TALENT contest. Success in the industry relies on an Artist that exudes the talent, the record label & execs that produce the talent, the exhausted behind the scenes creative execs that promote the talent and the fans who buy the talent. The winning Nashville Star should be chosen based on all these factors, not just how many people they can get to call in.

Okay, I didn't really, but a CY fan told me to start my own thread because they didn't like the following post. I put it here because of my NS idea and suggestion. Here's what I've already said:

Last night I fell down at the Chris Young altar and worshipped his rendition of "Folsom Prison Blues." Oh, wait, that was MATT MASON.

Okay, so I'm just starting trouble. I would like to hear Chris sing Charlie Rich's "Behind Closed Doors." I think he should and will win. I posted the following in some other threads. People got mad. I hurt. I cried. But I added some suggestions.

"If opining is whining then give be a Pabst Blue Ribbon. I think some of you missed the boat here. I am not saying Chris Young is not talented, he deserves to win. He is the total package. As for Indie acts not writing hits, you might go back to some of George Strait's early hits written by Dean Dillon. Austin is just as important as Nashville in producing great talent; Radney Foster, Rodney Crowell, Kris Kristofferson, Kelly Willis, Phil Vassar, and many others have all been there and done that."

"A lot of fans didn't like Jody Evans because they felt he was too hooked on the iconography of artists he admired. If you have seen "Always...Patsy Cline," it may be worth a thought that the Buddy Holly play is getting rave reviews, and Evans (who does write some great songs if you check out his website) will bring the appropriate energy to the part."

"As for stupid, take it for what it is. It may sound harsh, but it's simply an observation that there are too many people throwing votes loosely around when their choice hits the bricks. If the game's over, I choose to fold my hand and stick to principle. I still don't think Nicole should be there at this point, I don't think the contest is rigged (I just don't believe Jared and Matt showed the same enthusiasm that Chris and Casey have in playing to the crowd), and I won't buy a Chris Young record for the same reason I won't buy a Chesney, McGraw, or Adkins record. It isn't what I prefer. (Personally, I don't like the Muzik Mafia thing either.)"

"So it is. And, by the way, can you name a song by any of those artists I mentioned? Chris is talented. But I'm an old working man who grew up on the old stuff. I didn't mean to chap anybody's hide."

"Dang."

And, for what it's worth, I don't think a two minute sound byte about Buck Owens qualifies any contestant as a roots musician. I think maybe the show should be written differently. Here's the idea:

All contestants get to sing each week, with voting at the end of the show. They stay until the last episode, which finally reveals the winner and the total number each received through the course of the show.

Episode One: songs of the 40's
Episode Two: songs of the 50's
Episode Three: songs of the 60's
Episode Four: songs of the 70's
Episode Five: songs of the 80's
Episode Six: songs of the 90's
Episode Seven: original song
Episode Eight: current top 40
Episode Nine: reveal three runners-up and the winner, who all get to kisk off the NS tour with a live performance right there.

In all, everyone "wins." Each contestant gets maximum exposure for any record executives tuned in, traditional fans get music they like, young country fans get music they like, and the format keeps viewers tuned in until the final week. I think it will also work to expose an artist's range and weaknesses.

I like it. Jimmie Rodgers likes it. You probably like it. And Eddie Rabbitt likes it. Plus, I get some creative credits.

And we will all get along.

I also think Melanie and Jared should do a duet together when they get record deals.

And I would have dated Melanie if she had asked.

Melanie you know i love you lol i mean my parents loved you first now i do lol i have supported you from the beginning i will never forget the first time my prents told me abotu you and your voice i was liek i wanna meet her! lol i was so happy when i met you too! This show went great i think eversince the first show sitting in that audience i was shaking till i heard you sing i was so nervous for you lol i got compliments on my jeans and two shirts i mean for you lol people that they were cute they mostly thought i was you sister i was like umm i wish haha!! But yeah i know you love honkey tonks but tootsies isnt your future you had some great times i have picturwes to prove a few lol... but yeah your just amazing you have my support and i hope you know that!! I wil be first in line to buy your CD! oh and my mom and dad told me your news! congrats congrats!! soo you have such a bright future ahead i cant wait to see what happens!! o and i will beat every concert you do in the nashville area so you better watch for me! i know you will be a BIG hit!! best wishes to you!!
love,
Katie J.