At the Texaco Country Showdown finals on Thursday evening in Nashville, Tenn., Crystal Yates of Paris, Texas, was named “Best New Act in Country Music.” Although KHTS’ contestant Suzanne Harper didn’t win, she’s not going to let that slow down her career.

Five contestants competed at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn. on Thursday for the title “Best New Act in Country Music,” among them KHTS-sponsored singer Suzanne Harper.

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The winner of the 2013 Texaco Country Showdown was Crystal Yates of Paris, Texas, the Southwest Region contestant.

Although Harper didn’t win, she said that the next step in her career is to continue writing songs and pursuing some of the relationships in the music industry that she has made over the last couple of years.

Harper, 31, said that the whole competition was an amazing experience.

“Even stepping on that stage was amazing…” she told Kyle Jellings and Jesse McClure on the “Jesse and the Jellyman Morning Show.” “You could just feel the ghosts of the past and the legends that have been through that hall.”

Concerts in the Park summer series

Harper’s journey to Nashville began when she won the local competition at Central Park during Santa Clarita’s 2013 Concerts in the Park summer series.

She then went on to win the state competition at Knotts Berry Farm in August and the Western Regional Final in Florence, Ore. in November.

Related Article: Suzanne Harper Prepares To Compete In Texaco Country Showdown Final

Harper said that she felt like she did her best during the national final, but there was a strong showing from all the competitors.

“At this level, you’re splitting hairs to find differences between all the artists,” she said. “…It just didn’t fall my way this time, but just being able to be there and sing on that stage in that circle was pretty amazing.”

KHTS co-owner Carl Goldman, who attended the competition, agreed that the prize could have gone to any one of the contestants.

“Any one of those five performers deserved to win,” he said. “They all will become stars someday.”

Goldman said that Harper gave an excellent performance.

“She did a great job, and she had the tough position of being first,” he said, “but she knocked everybody over.”

Harper still publicizes her music through her two Facebook pages, “The Harpers” and “Suzanne Harper and Talk Like June.”

More Information: 2013 Texaco Country Showdown

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