A little more dish from Nashville...

Via a kind poster at TWoP (thanks, AMac!), here's a fresh and funny snippet from today's The Tennessean:

Speaking of "American Idol," former contestant Bucky Covington told me yesterday that he and fellow booted contestant Kellie Pickler have met individually with a high-powered Nashville record label chief.

The two met with Joe Galante, chief of the Sony BMG record label family, which is home to, among others, last season's "Idol"winner, Carrie Underwood.

Joe's top talent scout, Renee Bell, says the label group absolutely is open to signing more "Idol" contestants.

"That show is huge," Renee said.

And of this season's two country-fied contestants, Bucky and Kellie, Renee says: "They're both intriguing in different ways. We're going to continue to have discussions with them."

Bucky says Mandisa Hundley, Nashville's only contestant this season, took him and Kellie to dinner at Blackstone restaurant and brewery on West End. (You can see all three Aug. 10 at the "Idol" finalists' Nashville tour stop at the GEC. Tix go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.)

But Bucky's fave Nashville restaurant? Loveless Cafe.

"I went out there the first time, chicken and dumplings, lawd have mercy. That was on time," he said.

"And you ain't been to the Loveless unless you've had biscuits. Lawd, lawd."

(Now that's inspiration for a road trip! Bucky on stage, and biscuits at the Loveless Cafe afterward--life would be good, y'all. And those "continued discussions"? Better yet...)

See you soon!