Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Last Week, Cassadee Pope announced she was “going country” in Cassadee’s Corner, a sort of advice blog she writes for Alter the Press.

She wasn’t joking.

Today, Republic Nashville announced that they’ve signed the Season 3 winner of The Voice to a record deal.

“Each week Cassadee continued to knock down big country songs by Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban and Faith Hill, and after she won we were thrilled to find out that Cassadee was on the same page with us and wanted to come to Nashville. The BMLG Team is over the top excited about Cassadee Pope,” said Big Machine Label Group President Scott Borchetta.

Added Republic Nashville President/BMLG EVP Jimmy Harnen: “Cassadee simply has it all! Phenomenal singer, incredible stage presence, an endearing and charming personality… she’s a star!”

Republic Nashville also represents Martina McBride, The Band Perry and a number of other country artists. It’s part of the Big Machine Label Group, which also has Taylor Swift, Rascal Flatts and Reba McEntire under its wings.

Now, don’t expect a lot of honky tonk music from Cassadee.

In her blog, Cassadee wrote that her new music will have “a more contemporary feel, but definitely country.”

I’m guessing the combination of Cassadee and Republic Nashville will be a happy union.

For starters, country music has been welcoming to singing show standouts. Witness the past success of folks like Kellie Pickler, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina and Casey James. Not to mention Carrie Underwood.

And not only did Cassadee do well on The Voice, her versions of country songs did well on the iTunes chart. She ended her run on the show with something like six straight top 10 singles. Three — “Over You,” “Cry,” and “Stupid Boy” — hit number one. I ranked “Stupid Boy” as the single best singing show performance of 2012.

What’s more, my guess is that everyone involved will do their best to make sure Cassadee’s post-Voice music is a success.

American Idol has been boasting about being the only star-maker among the singing shows. Those boasts got a whole lot louder as Season 12 approached.

You think the people at The Voice, buoyed by the rating success of Season 3, haven’t heard that?

They need a breakout star. Javier Colon fizzled. Jermaine Paul’s first single didn’t catch on.

And Cassadee Pope is by far the show’s best bet yet.