Country singer Kellie Pickler is no stranger to reality TV. The 29-year-old appeared on the fifth season of American Idol, where she was able to secure a sixth place finish. Her strong performances on the Idol stage led to a record deal with Sony Records back in 2006. She would then go on to release her first album entitled, “Small Town Girl.”
Her fourth album was released in 2013, which featured the song “The Woman I Am” that she wrote with her husband Kyle Jacobs. This is the same year that Pickler would appear on her second reality show. The songstress was a contestant on the 16th cycle of the hit ABC show Dancing with the Stars. She, along with dancing partner Derek Hough, took home the coveted mirror ball trophy.
Earlier this week, Pickler returned to the small screen with the new reality series Knock Knock Live, which teams her up once again with Ryan Seacrest. Pickler took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to us about the series.
Knock Knock Live is a live show, so when Pickler talked with TVOvermind and other news outlets on a conference call, the show had not yet aired. If you were unable to watch Tuesday’s premiere, Pickler was kind enough to explain the concept of the show.
“Anything can happen,” she said. “There are games. There are prizes to be won. And each game will be a little different than the last. We could show up and surprise you with your favorite celebrity or if there’s a dream wish of yours that we can fulfill, then that’s what we’re here to do.”
Pickler will once again be working with Ryan Seacrest, who serves as executive producer and host of Knock Knock Live. She claimed that her experience with Seacrest was not the same this time around.
“It’s a lot different because I was 19 and and [had] never been anywhere and that big,” she explained. “[The] American Idol stage can be a little intimidating, I was chasing dreams. Ryan’s amazing to work with, and he’s just a smart businessman, and I just admire his work ethic. And this is really a fun project for all of us involved.”
Since the show airs live, there is no guarantee that there will be someone on the other side of the door. Luckily, according to Pickler, the prizes will not go to waste.
“Hopefully, they answer the door,” she told us. “If they don’t, I might have to go knock on someone else’s door and give their prize to them. This being live is a little scary, but I think it’s what makes it even more exciting. Bottom line is we are trying to help people’s dreams become a reality, and I’m excited to be a part of that process.”
As we mentioned earlier, Pickler is no stranger to appearing on reality television. However, this is Pickler’s first time acting as a host. We asked her if there was any difference in the preparation between the two.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, which is exciting,” she said. “You never know what you can do unless you try. It is a lot different, but I’m excited to try something new, and I don’t know if I’ll be good at it or not, but we’re going to find out.” (For the record, we think she will do just fine!)
Knock Knock Live will feature many surprise celebrity guests. They will assist Kellie Pickler in knocking on doors all over the country. Some of the celebrities you will get to see this season include Glee‘s Lea Michele, David Beckham, and singers Luke Bryan and Ariana Grande. We asked Pickler who she was most excited to meet.
“I’m excited about meeting everyone,” she said. “We’re all going to be stationed all over the country, so there might be [times] that we don’t even get to meet certain people.”
As we said our goodbyes, Kellie Pickler let her Southern charm out when she referred to me as “Darling.” We think this country sensation is the true darling.
Knock Knock Live airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on FOX.
Photo by Anna Webber/Getty Images for Crown Royal
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Too bad Kellie wasn’t available when she met Derek Hough. They were the real deal, a sincere match, but she rushed into getting married too soon, ya think? She was at that “marrying age”, and when friends are getting married it puts pressure on you. No babies yet? Maybe the one she picked is not the right one for her after all.