{alltv} Kristy Lee Cook tackles great outdoors in new show

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The idea is simple but ingenious, really: Take a winsome country singer, give her a hunting show that features exotic locales and throw in a couple of celebrities.

That's the premise behind Versus' "Goin' Country," which features former "American Idol" contestant Kristy Lee Cook in a reality show based on her life and her love of hunting.

"I know a lot of people who watch hunting shows and they get kind of bored with them, you know, with the same old thing, in the stand doing this and that," Cook said. "So we tried to make it a little more real life with my music life in Nashville, trying to make it as a singer, and my life at home with the horses and barrel racing and my foundation for rescuing horses, and then hunting as well."

This will be the third outdoor-themed show Cook has hosted since her "Idol" stint in 2008.

The folks at Browning took notice of the singer when she wore a hat with the hunting company's distinitive deer silhouette logo during one performance.

"American Idol" contestants aren't supposed to wear company logos, but Cook was able to sneak the Browning hat past those city slickers in Los Angeles.

"They were like, 'Is that a deer head?' 'Sure!'" Cook said.

The show, which begins Sunday, highlights hunts from Texas to Wisconsin to Nashville. Country singer Aaron Tippin takes her turkey hunting on his land near Music City, fellow "Idol" finalist Blake Lewis joins her on a deer hunt in Texas and singer Jake Owen and his twin brother, Jarrod, go after exotic deer in Missouri.

Jake Owen proved his country toughness when he split open his forehead while sighting in his rifle. He filled the cut with Super Glue and went about his hunt.

He was left with a scar and a lot of great memories after bringing down a fallow deer.

"It's pretty wild," Owen said. "She's just like one of the guys, really. She gets out there, whether she's killing deer, riding a four-wheeler or cleaning a deer. Every time I see her she's showing me a picture of some bear she shot out on her farm out in Oregon."

The 26-year-old Cook released a record with Arista Nashville in 2008, but is no longer with the label. She's looking for a record deal and has been working with Dean Sams of Lonestar, writing and recording songs she's been shopping around Nashville.

"I know it will happen," Cook said. "It's just a matter of time."