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Exclusive: Country music star Hardy is teaming up with Grammy-nominated songwriter Ben Johnson and writer/producer Dave Alan Johnson to executive produce the new docuseries Music Row, currently in production in Nashville.

The indie project follows successful songwriters and artists in country music today like Cody Johnson, Ashley Cooke, Hunter Phelps and Ashley Gorley. Set inside the world of the genre and modern Nashville, Music Row will offer audiences a view into how the hits are made and the inner workings behind the genre’s biggest hits.

Through Exceleration Studio, Susana Zepeda produces the unscripted series with showrunner Dave Alan Johnson. On behalf of the Studio, CEO Steve McBeth and Zepeda are handling sales for the series.

“This show celebrates those who walk into a room with nothing and walk out with a piece of art, a song, that can move people around the world for generations,” said Dave Alan Johnson.

Jackson ran through her hits, from 'Pleasure Principle' to 'Together Again,' which featured a photo montage of brother Michael.

By Shaheem Reid

Janet Jackson performs at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans on Friday

Photo: MTV News

Essence magazine is celebrating two very special anniversaries this weekend in New Orleans. It's been 40 years since the publication started and 16 years since they began what has become their Fourth of July holiday weekend staple: the Essence Music Festival.

This year, three of the biggest names in music — iconic figures, especially for the black community and women — are the headliners. Alicia Keys highlights the bill on Saturday, Mary J. Blige closes out the weekend on Sunday, and on Friday night, the 2010 Essence Fest was honored with pop-culture royalty. Janet Jackson brought the crowd in the New Orleans Superdome to their feet with an onslaught of timeless music from her globally cherished catalog.

Janet Jackson performed 'Nothing' & Nasty Boys on American Idol. R&B/pop icon Janet Jackson took to the "American Idol" stage earlier tonight on the season 9 finale show,and turned out the house by performing her latest song "Nothing" in a beautiful black,elegant dress (video below). Then once she got done singing that song,she walked to the back of the stage to do a silhouette change of clothing so she could perform her more uptempo classic hit, "Nasty Boys." It was an awesome performance. "American Idol" contestant Siobhan Magnus said that the whole crew didn't even know Janet was going to show up until she arrived for rehearsals earlier today.

Being that this is "American Idol," the results show — which could legitimately be only five minutes long — will run well over two hours. And being that this is Simon Cowell's final "Idol" episode ever, expect lots of celebrity cameos. (And when I say "celebrity," I mean Blake Lewis and Normund Gentle.)

Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias are scheduled to perform (in honor of 1999, the year Simon first got his flat-top haircut), as well as our reigning Idol, Kris "Not Adam Lambert, The Straight One" Allen. There are plenty of rumored appearances, too, ranging from Janet Jackson to Hall and Oates. (Those greatest hits albums aren't going to sell themselves, now will they?)

But wait! There's more!

"Idol" finales bring back the entire Top 12 of the season, and often the singers get paired up with established acts, so congratulations random dude who hoped to see Paige Miles and Insane Clown Posse perform together.

Multiplatform horror-thriller network FearNet has partnered with music video director Mary Lambert for a music-driven vampire-themed series, "The Dark Path Chronicles."

Lambert, whose credits including directing videos for Madonna ("Like a Virgin," "Material Girl") and Janet Jackson ("Control," "Nasty Boys") as well as projects with Sting and Mariah Carey, wrote and directed the series. It revolves around a young vampire just awakened from hibernation and a teenage girl who hears voices who together explore a parallel reality.

"Dark Path" debuts Nov. 6 on FearNet.com and FearNet's VOD network. Jim Burns, who co-created MTV's "Unplugged" franchise, exec produces. Lambert produces with Elizabeth Stanley and Mark Lieber.

Music will play a big role in the series, featuring up-and-coming Goth-metal-influenced bands including Zombi, Junius, Jesu, Watch Me Burn and Prophet 7:13.

"The vampire genre is hotter than ever," FearNet president Diane Robina said. "There is no better way to marry the culture of...