CMT's highest rated series ever, "Gone Country," returns with Nashville hitmaker, John Rich, as host for a second season of antics with a brand new cast of characters who are each vying for a chance at country success.

"Gone Country 2" will take seven new celebrities from every realm of the entertainment industries and immerse them in all things country for a chance to break out as a country star. Production for "Gone Country 2," which will premiere in August 2008, is currently underway in Nashville.

The cast for "Gone Country 2" includes:

- Sebastian Bach singer, songwriter, Broadway actor; former lead singer of Skid Row

- Irene Cara GRAMMY and Academy Award winning singer, songwriter; actress, "Fame"

- Mikalah Gordon singer, host, actress; 2005 "American Idol" finalist

- Jermaine Jackson television personality, former lead singer of The Jackson 5

- Chris Kirkpatrick television personality, music producer, member of *NSYNC

- Lorenzo Lamas musical theater actor; actor "Renegade" and "Falcon Crest"

- Sean Young actress, "Blade Runner" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"

This season, the competition is more intense as Rich enlists more help from his Nashville friends to put these seven country music-driven celebrities to the test during this two-week challenge. Each celebrity will again be paired two of Nashville's finest songwriters with whom they write a country single. In addition to meeting with songwriters, in each episode the cast will compete in challenges that test them musically and physically to adapt to a life in country music, both on and off the stage. At the end of the two weeks, the artist that is most prepared to impress a country audience, as determined by Rich, will record and release their single to country radio.

Released by CMT