Hamilton native guest host on GAC show

Locals may tune in to a video countdown television show all next week to see a Hamilton native as co-host.

Greg Hutson, a 1997 graduate of Hamilton High School, will appear March 4-8 on "GAC Daily Countdown" on the Great American Country television channel. He is a fill-in for host Suzanne Alexander.

Hutson’s shows air at noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, March 4-8. They were filmed on set in Nashville, Tenn.

On Wednesday's broadcast he interviews singer-songwriter Maggie Rose, whose debut album is set to be released March 26.

Hutson said he got the opportunity to be on the nationally televised show through his agent, who is in Los Angeles. Hosting started for him in 2001 after finding an online job listing to be a social host for Carnival cruise line.

“It just sounded fun, so I researched it,” Hutson said in a phone interview with the Hamilton JournalNews. “I never went to school for broadcasting.”

He was hired and stayed with Carnival for about five years, having made his way up to cruise director at the age of 24. While in that position, a San Antonio television show producer approached him about guest hosting on “Great Day S.A.”

Hutson said that’s when “the lucky star sort of fell.” About a month later, the same producer invited Hutson to audition to host permanently.

He was awarded the gig and his co-host at the time was Kristina Guerrero, who is now on "E! News." More than a year later, Hutson became host of "American Idol Experience," a live stage version of the hit Fox show "American Idol" on stage at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

“The stage is a replica of the stage from Season 7,” Hutson said of the Orlando site, where he’ll return after his stint in Nashville.

The winners of “Experience” get a dream ticket straight to the front of the line for “American Idol” auditions.

Hutson said it’s an honor to be from Hamilton and he strives to positively represent his hometown.

“I’m proud to be from there,” he said.

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