By Stone Martindale Nov 20, 2007, 0:26 GMT
The Donald will be pitting the stars against each other in the latest "Celebrity Apprentice."
Donald Trump EPA/JUSTIN LANE
NBC announced today that multi-platinum country star Trace Adkins will be among an all-star celebrity lineup of candidates when NBC and Donald Trump return to New York City with "The Celebrity Apprentice."
Trace Adkins is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and a multi-platinum selling country artist.
He has been a consistent hit maker and chart mainstay for the country music genre for more than a decade. Trace has enjoyed a remarkable career full of chart-topping success, national TV appearances, and highly successful concert tours, making him one of country music's top headlining performers.
On November 13, Adkins released his first book, A Personal Stand: Observations and Opinions from a Freethinking Roughneck published by Villard Books. His new CD, American Man, Greatest Hits Volume II will follow December 4.
Now in its seventh season, this installment of "The Apprentice" changes the game. "The Celebrity Apprentice" with host Donald Trump begins its latest edition on Thursday, January 3 (9:00PM ET).
Fourteen Contestants including Adkins will be Carol Alt, Stephen Baldwin, Nadia Comaneci, Tiffany Fallon, Jennie Finch, Nely Galan, Marilu Henner, Lennox Lewis, Piers Morgan, Omarosa, Tito Ortiz, Vincent Pastore, and Gene Simmons.
All 14 celebrities will be competing in business driven tasks around New York City, using their fame along with their proven business acumen to win challenges.
Contestants will not be vying for a job with Donald Trump, but the business-savvy celebrity contestants will be working towards a greater goal -- as they raise over a million dollars for their various charities throughout the season.
Not only will the final winner be crowned the first 'Celebrity Apprentice,' but he or she will also have the honor of delivering a two-hundred and fifty thousand dollar bonus check to their designated charity.
Just as in the regular "Apprentice," the celebrities will be subjected to long hours, grueling mental challenges, personality clashes, and intense scrutiny -- all without the help of their regular support system of agents, managers, and personal assistants.
Certain tasks encourage the contestants to reach out to their network of celebrity contacts for assistance or donations -- making for entertaining surprise visits by some of the world's biggest stars along the way.
"This will be the most exciting season of 'The Apprentice' yet - maybe even better than Season One. Our fourteen celebrity contestants are incredible individually, and as a group they will make 'The Celebrity Apprentice' one of the hottest shows on television. I promise you a fantastic new season!" said Donald J. Trump, executive producer of ' The Celebrity Apprentice.'
All of the tasks will be judged by Trump and his advisors in the boardroom. Returning back to the boardroom are Trump's children (and colleagues) Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr., alongside longtime Trump Organization employee and "Apprentice" advisor George Ross.
In a new twist, the boardroom will feature a "rotating seat," allowing a variety of famous business leaders and industry legends to join Trump in spirited judgment on tasks for the first time in the series.
"This season's celebrity version of 'The Apprentice' is going to blow people away," said Craig Plestis Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.
"We have assembled a group of savvy celebrities who are playing their hearts out for their favorite charities, on the streets of New York City."
He added, "You may think you have seen it all, but there will be lots of twists and surprises to sweeten the pot for everyone. We had so much fun shooting this and we know viewers are going to embrace this amped up Apprentice."
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