Suzanne Harper was the 2015 Country Showdown KHTS AM-1220 local competition winner from Saturday night’s Santa Clarita Concerts in the Park.

Harper, along with Kylie Mac and Jarett James, were the three Country Showdown KHTS AM-1220 local competition finalists competing at Concerts in the Park on July 25.

The three were competing for a chance to move on to the 2015 Country Showdown California State finals at Knott’s Berry Farm on Aug. 8, 2015 and Harper emerged victorious.

The three were originally going to perform at the Santa Clarita Concerts in the Park as opening acts for Marie Wise-Hawkins on July 18, however it was cancelled due to the weather.

Marie Wise-Hawkins will be performing as the headliner, along with Three Bad Jacks at the Concerts in the Park on Aug. 15.

Harper competed at the 2013 Texaco Country Showdown and made it all the way to the national championship at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and came in second place.

“(The Concerts in the Park) stage is one of my favorites to play and this event is always really fun,” said Harper. “It’s weird being back, but it’s really fun.”

Harper played two original songs at Concerts in the Park Saturday, “Tractors in the Fast Lane,” and “Redneck.”

Harper played “Redneck” at the Texaco Country Showdown State finals at Knott’s Berry Farm two years ago as well.

If Harper wins at the State level competition, she will 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.”

About Suzanne Harper

Suzanne Harper competed in the Country Showdown two years ago and made it all the way to the finals at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee where she came in second place.

Harper is from San Diego and was born and raised there as well. San Diego is about two and a half hours south of Santa Clarita.

Other than the Country Showdown, Harper also performed with Sugarland in front of about 15,000 people.

Harper opened for Journey in Provo, Utah in front of approximately 50,000 people on July 4, 2015 as well.

Suzanne Harper plays guitar and sings and also has a full band which include her husband, Ross Harper who plays the banjo and the mandolin, her brother-in-law John Harper who is the drummer, her son Eric Bird who plays the electric guitar and Marsha Staub who is the bass player.

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.