I posted my opinion on Angela Hacker, and the outcome on the message boards, and have never encountered such rude people in my life. I thought everyone was entitled to their opinion. I am not a professional in the music industry, but have been singing and performing for the past 15 years. Have been in the Colgate Country Showdown 5 times, and other competitions throughout California and Nevada. In my opinion, Joshua was the only contestant to me who truly stood out over all of them. There was definitely other good talent there, but he just really shined consistently through the entire show. He never faltered. Maybe it is just me, but I heard Angela go flat during every song she performed on that show. I just pray for Josh with his unremarkable talent that someone has or will pick him up. I think he's going to surpass and surprise everyone when he comes out with his first cd, and blows everyone away. Miranda Lambert has been very successful, and I thought she should have won that one. I am hoping the same for Josh. The song he wrote for his son and sang on his bio just blew me away--unfortunately, he was voted off, and (somehow) didn't get to perform it on NS. I agree 100% that the show is geared and rigged from beginning to end. Pretty sad, and really discourages me from watching again, much less ever entering myself.

I am defintely buying his CD when it comes out. Joshua is the only one that shined through them all. Of course the others have talant, but Joshua showed the most talent and emotion in songs that he sang. I am sadended that Angela won Nashville Star, but I know Joshua will get signed some day soon. He kicks butt! Good luck Joshua!

I think the problems you had were because:

1. You kind of walked in with pistols blazing at Angela and, less obviously, at Zac, one or both of whom most of the people on this board think are awesome.
2. You weren't the only "new" person who came in around then making strong, negative comments, so there was a cumulative effect.

3. This board is bascially a year-round community, and like moving into any community, it's better to listen and see how it works and introduce yourself before making strong commnts.

4. A few of your facts weren't accurate. eg. Josh has a songwriting contract, as do A and Z.

5. Saying Josh had an "unremarkable talent" was pretty weird. Say what?

6. Most of the people on this board try to be positive about the people they like rather than tearing down the people they don't like. Let's face it, there's room for all kinds of sounds within country music, and we're never going to all agree on which is best.

7. The fact is, when you tear down one person, while comparing him/her to the one you like, the dirt kind of sticks to the person you like and gives a negative aura to them. I voted for Josh, and even I found your posts over the top.

Re Joshua - I agree that he has the potential to be very, very good. And I think he probably learned a great deal from this experience. I think his nerves likely were affecting his stage presence. And I think the whole story-line with his mother was overdone. But this was, after all, reality TV. And finishing fourth was not a bad outcome at all.

I wish Josh all the best and I'll be tuning in to the Muscle Shoals show tomorrow night.

I also wish all the other contestants all the best. I'll be buying quite a few CDs as they come out. (or maybe one of these days, I'll figure out how to buy songs from itunes.