Home » Santa Clarita News » KHTS Local Artist Spotlight: Marie Wise-Hawkins

KHTS Local Artist Spotlight: Marie Wise-Hawkins

Marie Wise-Hawkins, a Canyon Country local artist and alumni from California Institute of the Arts, is a country music artist who is vocally versatile and performs music ranging from country to opera to world music. 


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She performs with her band which includes William Herrington, Aaron Rudin, Steve Shook, Jesse Olema and Daniel Roberts.

Marie Wise-Hawkins and Band, Bourbon County and Suzanne Harper were selected by judges, recruited by KHTS AM 1220,  at the Keyboard Galleria to advance to the local level finals of the Texaco Country Showdown which will be held at the Concerts in the Park event on July 13.

The Texaco Country Showdown is the biggest annual country music talent search that gives country hopefuls an opportunity to gain exposure and stardom.

The contest starts off with local level competitions that are sponsored through local radio stations, including our very own KHTS AM 1220.  One of the three local finalists, including Marie Wise-Hawkins and Band, will advance to the regional finals level competition. 

 The local finals competition of the Texaco Country Showdown is expected to take place at the Concerts in the Park event on July 13. If they win the state-level competition, the contestants are expected to proceed to the regional finals level. If they win the regional finals, they are expected to succeed to the national, televised competition that will be hosted by country sensation and grammy nominee Jewel. Previous local regional winners include Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley. 

“It’s wonderful that country artists have a vehicle like the Texaco Country Showdown to show what they are made of,” said Wise-Hawkins. 

“Win or lose, we have great expectations and will have been striving to write and record great music for people to enjoy,” according to her statement. 

Wise-Hawkins is an active member of a variety of Santa Clarita organizations such as the Canyon Theater Guild to the City of Santa Clarita’s Cowboy Poetry and Music in the Schools Program.

 She depicted country legend Patsy Cline in the Canyon Theater Guild production of “Always… Patsy Cline”  for which she was the recipient of a 2012 CTG Goldie.  Her participation in the production demonstrates her natural passion for country music. 

  “We have fun making great country music. We are really excited for this wonderful opportunity to perform and do what we love,” according to her statement.

In March, Marie Wise-Hawkins won the $25,000 grand prize in a national singing competition staged by the Dallas-based Romano’s Macaroni Grill restaurant chain. 

Wise-Hawkins was additionally recognized as “Female Vocalist of the Year” by the North American Country Music Association. 

The songs she crafts are emotionally accessible and heart rendering and are reminiscent of acclaimed country great Reba McEntire.  A song she performed at the local preliminary round of the Texaco Country Showdown, “You’re All I Need,” featured a captivating and vulnerable chorus and demonstrated why she was a strong contender in the competition. Her powerful vocals exhibited a precocious vocal talent.

Her stage presence is as engaging as her songs are emotionally arresting. Wise-Hawkins describes her bond with the audience at the local preliminary round of the Texaco Country Showdown: 

Everyone was there because they love country music, and they were truly interested in listening to every musician on stage.”

To hear more of Wise-Hawkins’ music, visit http://www.reverbnation.com/mariewisehawkins



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


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KHTS Local Artist Spotlight: Marie Wise-Hawkins

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About KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, along with your favorite adult contemporary hits by artists such as Rob Thomas, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Maroon 5. We are vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community. Our broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. We stream our talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience.