After all of the sweat, tears and hours of practicing, the long road to the 2014 Country Showdown Nationals has come to an end.
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KHTS AM 1220 chose musician and singer Marie Wise-Hawkins and her band to represent the radio station back in June 2014. She made it all the way to the National Finals Wednesday night.
“Played the Ryman (Auditorium) tonight and it was such a magical experience and blessing! Congrats to the Brothers Roberson on your win! I’m so thankful for all my family and friends who came out to my support my band and I, it really
touches my heart,” Wise-Hawkins said in a Facebook post.
Brothers Roberson, a band comprised of brother-duo from Springfield Mo. Rhett Roberson and Brendan Roberson, were crowned the winners of the 2014 Country Showdown Wednesday night.
Wise-Hawkins was one of five finalist out of thousands who auditioned for the 2014 County Showdown back in June.
She first entered the Country Showdown contest when she was 12 years old, she said. She was one of the winners of the local round at the Keyboard Galleria Music Center in June last year.
Wise-Hawkins and her band then moved on to perform, and win, at Concerts in the Park local round, Knott’s Berry Farm state round and the Coos Bay, Ore. regional round.
She was the only female to be performing and competing in the national final round of the 2014 Country Showdown, she said.
“People dream their whole life of performing (at the Ryman). It’s the biggest place in country music to perform,” Wise-Hawkins said in an on-air interview with KHTS AM 1220 Station Manager Kyle Jellings. “It’s the original place of the Grand Ole Opry. Patsy Cline has performed there, Johnny Cash and Carter Cash, Elvis Presley, LeAnn Rimes, all my idols, Martina McBride. Just to be on that stage is already making it. I’m super blessed.”
For more information about Marie Wise-Hawkins and her band, visit her website.
For more information about County Showdown, visit the website.
“I’m super blessed to represent KHTS, my hometown station,” Wise-Hawkins said in a previous interview.. “Being on stage — that’s when I’m the happiest. God gave me a gift of singing and it’s important to use the gift he’s given us.”
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