2014 Country Showdown And KHTS Looking For The Next Best Country Singer

Posted by: KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 in Country Showdown 2014 May 14, 2014 - 11:13 am 0 741 Views

The Country Showdown is America’s largest country music talent show. The Showdown is designed for up and coming performers to share their talents in their local areas, and hope to give these performers a chance to launch their professional music careers.

As they travel to different competitions throughout the United States, they have the opportunity to gain experience, recognition, and popularity.

This is the 3rd year KHTS is competing in the 32 year old Country Showdown. In our first two years we had two finalists and one national champion.

Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking Santa Clarita news alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Any vocalist and/or instrumental performer or group of up to seven members that has not performed on a record list of national record charts of Billboard within eighteen months is allowed to enter.

The Country Showdown begins each spring with over 450 local talent contests sponsored by country music radio stations throughout the winners advance to their respective state competitions. The first round of the KHTS Country showdown will take place at Keyboard Galleria on June 21st at five o’clock. Three semi finalists chosen from that group will perform at a special concert featuring last year’s country showdown finalist, and original KHTS winner, Suzanne Harper.

The winner of those three semi finalists will go on to the State Finals at Knott’s Berry Farm, competing for a $1,000 prize and the opportunity to advance to one of five Regional Finals. It’s the last step before the prestigious, televised National Final.

Related: 2014 Country Showdown News

The winner of the showdown will receive $100,000 and the title of “Best New Act in Country Music.” Last year’s finals took place in January at the historical Ryman auditorium, original home of the Grand Ole’ Opry, and was hosted by LeAnne Rimes.

The Country Showdown Songwriting Contest provides a platform for the aspiring writer that gives the chance to be heard and counseled by one of the more prestigious publishing houses in Nashville. In addition to a consultation with Tom Leis Music, the winner also receives a cash prize of $5,000.00 and an all expense paid trip to Nashville.

Many familiar names who have participated in past local, state and regional winners over the years include GarthBrooks, Martina McBride, Sarah Evans, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Neal McCoy, and Billy Ray Cyrus.

The show’s former hosts have included Willie Nelson, LeAnn Rimes, Reba McEntire, Miley Cyrus, Barbara Mandrell, and Loretta Lynn.

Click here to see a list of all those who have participated in the Showdown!

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

Suzanne Harper, KHTS-sponsored contestant for the 32nd annual Country Showdown joined four other finalists at the national final in Nashville, Tennessee. After the Santa Clarita win, the Suzanne went on to win further rounds in the competition at Knott’s Berry Farm, the California state finals, and the regional finals in Oregon, sending her on the way to her trip to Nashville as one of the five finalists.

Poor Man’s Poison, a KHTS-backed band, was the winner of the 31^st Country Showdown. Poor Man’s Poison includes members Ryan Hakker, Dustin Medeiros, Mike Jacobs and Tommy McCarthy, hailing from Hanford, Calif. After the Santa Clarita win, the band continued to win more rounds in the competition at Knott’s Berry Farm, the California state finals, and the regional finals in Oregon on the way to their trip to Nashville as one of the five finalists.

Feel free to checkout the Showdown Blog based on the experiences of a former National Recording artist, aspiring artists are presented with tools and tips for helping interested artists in building their platform.

You can also visit their page on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated. If you have any further questions you may visit their FAQs and rules for the competition.