Apple TV+ orders first competition show, with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine

Apple TV+ is expanding its offering by ordering its first competition show, which is being produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and has the showrunner behind ABC’s The Masked Singer attached.

My Kind Of Country is described as “a groundbreaking global search for unconventional and extraordinary country music talent.” Masked Singer showrunner Izzie Pick Ibarra will exec produce alongside Jason Owen, president & CEO of Sandbox Entertainment and manager of country music stars including Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and Faith Hill.

Emmy Award-nominated Adam Blackstone will serve as musical director of the series, which also has US-based Done + Dusted attached to exec produce, in addition to Witherspoon and Hello Sunshine’s head of film & TV Lauren Neustadter. Apple TV+ SVP of unscripted programming Cynthia Stockhammer is also attached.

The tech giant claimed the show would be a “hybrid series” that “will revolutionise the music competition genre with a fresh, new documentary sensibility”.

Apple added that the format would look to “break down cultural and musical barriers in the country music space” by offering contestants the chance “to unleash their authentic voices and take center stage.”

The series will premiere globally on Apple TV+, where it will join fellow Hello Sunshine shows including drama The Morning Show and Truth Be Told.

Apple previously experimented with competition format Planet Of The Apps prior to the launch of its Apple TV+ streaming service, but the show was cancelled after one season.