John Rich is busy railing at the corporate fat cats 'Shuttin' Detroit Down,' in his new single. He's also taking aim at network television big wigs, particularly those at NBC who worked with him on the reality competition show, 'Nashville Star.'

"The folks in New York at NBC -- there's some good folks up there, but I swear to God they don't know jack about country music," Rich said in a recent interview with Sirius XM radio.

"I wouldn't touch 'Nashville Star' with a 40-foot pole," he insisted in another interview, with Nashville's Tennessean newspaper. "NBC completely bastardized what country music is about."

Rich says once NBC began airing the singing competition, they insisted on infusing the show with pop music.

"We've got a guy named Kenny Chesney who's 40 years old, who's an east Tennessee hillbilly who sells 80,000 tickets a show," Rich said. "We don't need the other people's music to make us cool enough to listen to."

Rich also revealed that he's likely to be involved in another season of CMT's 'Gone Country,' and added that 'Nashville Star' was at least responsible for helping to find some talented performers.

"Melissa Lawson [the show's 2008 champ] is over the top and not anywhere close to being out of the ball game. You will be hearing more out of her," he insisted.

Rich is set to release his solo album, 'Son of a Preacher Man,' on Tuesday. Its second single, 'Shuttin' Detroit Down,' is already a Top 15 hit after just seven weeks on the charts.

CountryScene

    Sexy couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban shopping for fragrance in Santa Monica at Fred Segal store Feb23, 2009

    X17

    Jimmy Wayne pays a visit to the set of ABC's 'Extreme Home Makeover,' on location in Montgomery, Ala.

    Courtesy of the Valory Music Co.

    Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift arrives to the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

    Musician Keith Urban, actress Nicole Kidman and musician Paul McCartney in the audience at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

    Larry Busacca, Getty Images

    Lady Antebellum arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

    LeAnn Rimes, left, and Sheryl Crow present the award for best country performance by a duo or group at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles.

    Country singer Trace Adkins arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, on February 8, 2009. Adkins is nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance.

    Musician Jamey Johnson arrives at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards held at the Staples Center on February 8, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.

    Kenny Chesney performs at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles.

    Carrie Underwood holds the Grammy award for the Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Last Name", in the photo room of the 51st annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 8, 2009.

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