NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Big Machine Records recording artist Jack Ingram already boasts an impressive resume of singer, songwriter and recipient of the 2008 Academy of Country Music’s Best New Male Vocalist award. This fall, he will add celebrity judge to his list of work experience when he provides his personal insights and advice to the six hopeful finalists during the finale of Great American Country’s Next GAC Star talent competition (September 10, 9 pm ET) powered by Music Nation.

“It’s never easy to act as an expert and ‘judge’ someone else whose music style or approach may be different from yours, but I think I can assist these artists by providing feedback they can take into consideration and use to better their music,” says Ingram. “I’m honored GAC asked me to contribute my experiences and that I can help them as they provide aspiring artists an opportunity to receive critiques and national television exposure.”

Ingram, who was called “an incredible talent” by his idol, the late Waylon Jennings, began his career over a decade ago in the hardscrabble honky-tonks and dancehalls of Texas. After signing with Big Machine Records, he was the most played new artist in 2006 (according to Mediabase) and performed over 320 live shows in two years. His current album, This Is It, debuted at #4 on the Billboard country album chart and his hits include the #1 smash “Wherever You Are,” along with “Love You” (Top 10), “Lips of an Angel” (Top 15) and the Top 20 hit “Measure of a Man.”

Ingram is no stranger to being in front of the camera. Earlier this year Ingram co-hosted GAC’s network special 2008 ACM Preview, alongside Miranda Lambert and Nan Kelley. He has also appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and CNN Headline News. Ingram has toured nationally with Brooks & Dunn, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Dierks Bentley, Sheryl Crow, and currently with Martina McBride.

Currently, the network has announced 10 of 16 semi-finalists, five chosen by national voting online and five chosen by music industry insiders. On September 3, the network will present a one-hour special on the six finalists who are vying to win a record deal with Original Signal Recordings, a Gibson Hummingbird Guitar, and a music video, which will air on GAC. Ingram will join Desmond Child and Victoria Shaw during the LIVE 90-minute program on September 10 that will broadcast from Nashville and feature finalist performances and viewer voting to name the Next GAC Star.