After receiving a master's degree in the field of information studies from Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York; in 1978 he moved to Nashville for a job with the Country Music Foundation (CMF), where he was in charge of technical services for the organization and its Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
As a freelance contributor, he wrote thousands of articles for national publications including Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Musician, Us, TV Guide, and Country Song Roundup.
[2] He is credited for the liner notes for at least 75 albums, including the recording of the O Brother, Where Art Thou?
[4][5] Oermann also has worked in film, television, and radio, primarily as a writer for documentaries and sometimes as a host.
He was a judge on the USA Network reality TV show Nashville Star for the series' first season which aired in 2003.