The Next Star is a Canadian reality competition television series that was broadcast on YTV. It was hosted by Adamo Ruggiero (seasons 1–5) and Carlos Bustamante (season 6–7). The series involved a competition to find the most talented singer in Canada who is aged 15 years or younger, with the winner crowned "the next star". Winning contestants were Dunnery Bond (season 1), Tianda Flegal (season 2), Diego Gomes (season 3), Melissa "Charlie" Storwick (season 4), Brooklyn Roebuck (season 5), Alicia Moffet (season 6) and Jory Zechner (season 7).
In addition to host Adamo Ruggiero (2008–2012), the judges for the first 4 seasons (2008–2011) included Suzie McNeil, Steve Cranwell, and Christopher Ward. The subsequent judges (2012–2014) were Keshia Chanté, Mark Spicoluk, and Tara Oram. Season 5 aired on YTV from July 16 to September 23, 2012. The stylists and coaches (2008–2014) were Jasmine Denham-Baird (vocal coach), Michael Riccio (dance and choreography), Peter Papapetrou (clothes and wardrobe), and Dee Daly (hair and makeup stylist).
As of season 6, Carlos Bustamante (host of YTV's The Zone) replaced the show's former host, Adamo Ruggiero, and web host Mark "Suki" Suknanan was added to the cast.
On September 22, 2013, YTV announced that The Next Star was getting a spin-off show, entitled The Next Star – Supergroups. The first episode premiered March 11, 2014. The season one finale premiered April 13, 2014.
On March 5, 2014, the show's Facebook page confirmed that The Next Star would have a seventh and final season. and premiered on July 14 to September 21, 2014. Season 7 has Dan Kanter replacing Keshia Chanté as a judge.
Season 1 (2008)
Top 6 These were the top 100 contestants of season one. It was soon announced that 11-year-old Charlotte Kosc had been diagnosed with viral meningitis and pneumonia in her right lung and therefore couldn't continue in the competition (she had been chosen to proceed as one of the top six). Amanda Rowland was selected as a replacement. Alyssa Reid, then age 15 Briar Gillis, then age 14 Christina LeClair, then age 13, 14 at the finale Dunnery Bond, then age 14 Maranda Thomas, then age 11 Amanda Rowland, then age 14 #ContestantsEliminationsHometown0102 1 Dunnery Bond 1stWONHalifax, Nova Scotia 2Briar Gillis 2ndFINALISTVineland, Ontario 3Charlotte Kosc N/ADropped OutWinnipeg, Manitoba 4Maranda Thomas 3rdFINALISTMississauga, Ontario 5Christina LeClair 4thFINALISTBrantford, Ontario 6Alyssa Reid5thFINALISTBrampton, Ontario 7Amanda Rowland6th Sub for CharlotteMontreal, Quebec8Andrea Macasaet7thWinnipeg, Manitoba9Chloe Lloyd8thMaple Ridge, British Columbia10Moses Duot9thWinnipeg, Manitoba11Kieran Jacobs10thKahnawake, Quebec12Savannah Boyko11thWinnipeg, Manitoba13Teemu Alexander12thWinnipeg, Manitoba
Singles Each of the six finalists also got to record a single, available on iTunes or on the show's season one compilation EP. #SongArtistLength1."Gonna Make You Dance"Alyssa Reid3:262."Stuck in My World"Maranda Thomas3:113."Shy"Dunnery Bond3:024."From the Heart"Amanda Rowland3:195."The Last Word"Briar Gillis3:156."Everyday Crazy"Christina LeClair3:36
Episodes The first three episodes consisted of auditions and narrowing the top 12 down to 6 finalists. EpisodeThemeInfo1Searching the West2Searching the East312 to 64Pop Star EvaluationThe Top Six are after Episode 3.5Own a Song6The Next YouThe Top Six find and create their own unique looks.7Meet the PressThe Top Six are interviewed on The Zone8Giving BackThe Top Six give back to local charities.9The DuetThe Top Six partner up to perform a duet: Alyssa & Amanda, Briar & Christina, and Dunnery & Maranda.10The BuzzThe Top Six will travel across Toronto to attend to some superstar duties and meet Nikki Yanofsky.11The SingleThe Top Six unveil the finished result of their singles.12The Look BackA recap of the entire season.13Live FinaleDunnery Bond is crowned the winner at Canada's Wonderland on September 28, 2008.
Season 2 (2009) The second season of "The Next Star!" premiered on July 17, 2009. Suzie McNeil, Steve Cranwell and Christopher Ward all returned as judges, and Adamo Ruggiero returned as host.The Next Star on YTV.com
Format This season's format is very similar to the previous one, with the judges and host traveling to 6 different locations throughout Canada to find their top contestants. But, unlike Season 1, the judges chose 16 contestants to move on to the semi-finals, as opposed to Season 1's Top 12. The winner received a grand prize package valued at over $6 million Canadian dollars including studio time at Metalworks Studios, to write and record two additional songs (not including the one performed on the show). These songs were produced by Universal Canada, and released in spring 2010. They will also have their own showcase at the premier annual Canadian Music Week Showcase, where they will debut their songs; as well as receiving a J-45 Standard Acoustic Guitar and an Epiphone Valve Jr. Combo Amp courtesy of Gibson Guitars. The season's compilation EP was released in October 2009.
The September 27 finale, from International Showplace at Canada's Wonderland, featured performances by FeFe Dobson and Justin Bieber, who had recently earned his first hit with "One Time", but not yet released an album.
Top 6 The Top 6 was revealed to Canada on August 7, 2009. Wren Burnett, then age 13 Tianda Flegal, then age 13 Lizz Kellermann, then age 14 Darrelyne Bickel, then age 15 Rayandra Hudson, then age 13 at the audition, then 14 throughout the show and final Brock Zanrosso, then age 14
#ContestantsEliminationsHometown12 1 Tianda Flegal 1stWONFraser Lake, British Columbia 2Brock Zanrosso 2ndFINALISTRichmond, British Columbia 3Lizz Kellermann 3rdFINALISTMississauga, Ontario 4Rayandra Hudson4thFINALISTMississauga, Ontario 5Darrelyne Bickel5thFINALISTThe Pas, Manitoba 6Wren Burnett6thFINALISTHalifax, Nova Scotia 7David Marino16th/7thMontreal, Quebec 8Jordan Bergeron16th/7thBoisbriand, Quebec 9Jonathan Lewis16th/7thOakville, Ontario 10Adriana Lombardo16th/7thBrampton, Ontario 11Cheyenne Duff16th/7thStratford, Ontario 12Brady Chyzyk16th/7thVirden, Manitoba 13Carlyn Graff16th/7thWinnipeg, Manitoba 14Lauren Adamoski16th/7thEdmonton, Alberta 15Kimberly Truong16th/7thPrince Rupert, British Columbia 16Sabrina Duda16th/7thSurrey, British Columbia
Singles Each of the six finalists also got to record a single, which are available on iTunes or on the show's season two compilation EP. #SongArtistProducer1."Without You Here"Tianda FlegalTri Define Records2."One More First Chance"Brock ZanrossoShawn Desman3."If I Fall"Wren BurnettDavor Vulama4."Solitude of Sunday"Darrelyne BickelDave Thompson5."More Perfect than a Doll"Lizz KellermannSimon Wilcox6."What We Need is Love"Rayandra HudsonChin Injeti
Season 3 (2010) The Next Star returns with a third season, which was the most popular season yet, with Host Adamo Ruggiero and Judges Suzie McNeil, Steve Cranwell, and Christopher Ward. This contained the first Christmas themed episode, with the song "All I Want For Christmas Is You" by Mariah Carey.
The Top 6
#ContestantsEliminations12 1 Diego Gomes TOP 6WON 2 Victoria Duffield TOP 6FINALIST 3 Isabelle Stern TOP 6FINALIST 4 Brandon Bizior TOP 6FINALIST 5 Madi Amyotte TOP 6FINALIST 6 Mimoza Duot TOP 6FINALIST 7 Annie OUT 8 Kelsey OUT 9 Sophie OUT 10 Alesandria OUT 11 Brook OUT 12 Evan OUT 13 Anton OUT 14 Sabrina OUT 15 Zaki OUT 16 Annaliese OUT 17 Blake OUT
Singles No.SongArtist1."My Bestfriend's Girl"Diego Gomes2."I've Got A Crush On You"Isabelle Stern3."Front Row"Madi Amyotte4."Insane (Thru With U)"Mimoza Duot5."Better Off Anyway"Brandon Bizior6."Fever"Victoria Duffield
The top six were called back to Toronto once again around December to perform a top 6 group music video of the Christmas song "All I Want For Christmas is You".
Season 4 (2011) The fourth season of The Next Star premiered on July 18, 2011. All three judges and host Adamo returned for the season. The season got a new logo – a big star with the show title on it. This season also had a new intro and the theme was slightly modified for the opening title sequence. For the first time since the first season, Calgary, Alberta was one of the 6 audition cities.
The Top 6 were revealed to Canada August 2011. Melissa "Charlie" Storwick, then age 12 Shania Fillmore, then age 15 Milly Benzu, then age 15 April Llave, then age 13 JD Meeboer, then age 15, (deceased May 27, 2021) Parker Schmidt, then age 12
#ContestantsEliminationsHometown12 1Charlie StorwickTOP 6 WINNERCalgary, Alberta 2Shania FillmoreTOP 6 FINALISTSaint-Philippe, New Brunswick 3Milly Benzu TOP 6 FINALIST Longueuil, Quebec 4JD MeeboerTOP 6 FINALISTVineland, Ontario 5April LlaveTOP 6FINALISTWinnipeg, Manitoba 6Parker Schmidt TOP 6 FINALISTDuncan, British Columbia 7 Aiden Shufman OUT Thornhill, Ontario 8 Lexie Tytlandsvik OUT Radville, Saskatchewan 9Dane Bjornson OUT Winnipeg, Manitoba 10 Sydney Delong OUT Oakville, Ontario 11Kristian Paschalis OUT Peterborough, Ontario 12Dylan Mueller OUT Fairview, Alberta 13Bradley Martinez OUT Castleton, Ontario 14Yangxi Wu OUT Scarborough, Ontario 15Andrew Machum OUT Halifax, Nova Scotia 16Angela Apigo OUT Scarborough, Ontario
Singles #PersonSongHometown1.Charlie Storwick"Good As Gone"Calgary, Alberta2.Shania Fillmore"Dreams"Scarborough, Ontario3.JD Meeboer"Sparks Are Gonna Fly"Vineland, Ontario4.Parker Schmidt"It Might Be You"Scarborough, Ontario5.April Llave"Spotlight"Winnipeg, Manitoba6.Milly Benzu"If You Were Mine"Longueuil, Quebec7.Top 6"Turn It Up Up Up"Various
Season 5 (2012) Adamo Ruggiero returned as the host for season 5, with Keshia Chanté, Mark Spicoluk, and Tara Oram as new judges. The season premiered on July 16, 2012. This season the show also hit over 6500 followers on Twitter and 60,000 likes on their Facebook. A new part is "The Wild Card", four people who received a "No" at the auditions are reconsidered and one will get The Wild Card, a chance to continue on. The live finale at Canada's Wonderland was held on September 23, 2012. The 'winners song' for the season was "One Thing" by One Direction. Brooklyn performed the "winners song". In late-September 2012, it was announced that there is going to be another episode of this season titled "48 Hours in the Spotlight". Also, on November 12, 2012, it was announced that there will be a Christmas episode, song and music video with the whole top 6, premiering on December 11, 2012 after Life with Boys: Naughty or Nice with Boys. "48 Hours in the Spotlight" will contain Brooklyn's second single/music video. The 'Winner's Episode' premiered on December 18, 2012. This was the second Christmas episode since Season 3. Pop singer Aleesia performed as a musical guest for the show.
Brooklyn Roebuck, then age 14 Darren Espanto, age 10 at auditions, then 11 during the show and final Ryan Hawken, age 14 at auditions, then 15 during the show and final Amer Dhaliwal, then age 15 Grace Johnston, then age 15 Issy Dahl, age 14 at auditions, then 15 during the show and final
Choosing the Wild Card The judges picked 4 contestants who at first received a "No" at the auditions. Issy then received the Wild Card.
#ContestantsEliminationsHometown0102 1 Issy Dahl NominatedWON AS WILD CARDWinnipeg, Manitoba 2 Jonah Berens NominatedOUTWinnipeg, Manitoba 3Rebecca LappaNominatedOUTEdmonton, Alberta 4 Maria NominatedOUTMaple Ridge, British Columbia
Top 6