KHTS AM-1220, the Santa Clarita Valley’s only local radio station is looking for someone to send to the 2015 Country Showdown, America’s largest and longest running country music talent search.

The 34th annual 2015 Country Showdown invites musicians from all over the country to share their talents for a chance to win a grand prize of $100,000 and the title “Best New Act in Country Music” at the televised final.

They are able to gain experience, recognition and popularity as they advance to different rounds of the competition from coast to coast, according the the Country Showdown’s website.

The Country Showdown begins each spring with over 450 local talent contests sponsored by country music radio stations throughout the United States.

This is the fourth year KHTS hopes to send someone to the Country Showdown. KHTS has an unprecedented track record of sending our local contestant to the finals the last three years in a row.

Poor Man’s Poison, KHTS’ 2012 contestant, won the national championship and the $100,000 prize.

Marie Wise-Hawkins

KHTS’ 2013 entry, Suzanne Harper, came in second place at the national finals.

Marie Wise-Hawkins, KHTS’ 2014 entry, made it to the national finals, “it was an incredible experience. I was honored to be performing at the Ryman Auditorium….Patsy Cline has performed there, Johnny Cash and Carter Cash, Elvis Presley, LeAnn Rimes, all my idols.”

Wise-Hawkins is going to be the headliner at the Santa Clarita Concerts in the Park: Country Showdown 2015, “I’ve been waiting years to headline. It’s been one of my dreams for a long time.”

Click here for the 2015 Country Showdown Entry Form

The deadline to enter the 2015 KHTS Country Showdown local competition will be Wednesday, June 24.

The ten people chosen will have preliminary performances and will be judged on their performances at Keyboard Galleria in Santa Clarita on June 27 at 5 p.m.

Three finalists will be chosen and will perform at Concerts in the Park: Country Showdown 2015 on Saturday July 18 as the opening act to Marie Wise Hawkins.

The winner of that performance moves onto the National level competition at Knott’s Berry Farm on Saturday, August 8.

Wise-Hawkins was the 2014 Country Music Showdown state winner.

National winners will then go to the Western Regional finals in Oregon later in the fall.

The winner from the Western Regional finals will then go to the national championship at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Contestants will be one of five national finalists competing for the grand prize of $100,000 and the title “Best New Act in Country Music.”

Past participants include Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Miranda Lambert, Billy Ray Cyrus, LeAnn Rimes, Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson & hundreds more. The Country Showdown helped jumpstart their dreams.

The 2015 KHTS Country Showdown local competition is sponsored by Reeves Complete Auto Service and Keyboard Galleria Music Center.