KHTS AM-1220, the Santa Clarita Valley’s only local radio station, is looking for someone to send to the 2016 Country Showdown, the largest and longest running country music talent search in the country.

The contestant chosen will compete nationally for a chance to win a grand prize of $100,000 and the title “Best New Act in Country Music” for 2016.

According to Forbes, four out of five of the highest paid country musicians are previous participants in the Country Showdown.

Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan all performed in the competition in previous years, starting their rise to fame.

The local sponsors for the competition this year are Keyboard Galleria and Reeves Complete Auto Repair and Service Center, who will support the search for the KHTS competitor through the selection process.

The applicants will be narrowed down to 10 competitors, who will compete at Keyboard Galleria on Sunday, June 26 at 2 p.m.

The city of Santa Clarita is a large supporter of the competition, allowing semifinalists to take the stage at Concerts in the Park for a performance in front of a live crowd of over 10,000 people.

From the winners at Keyboard Galleria, the judges will select 3 finalists, who will perform at Concerts in the Park on Saturday, July 16. The winner of that competition will move on to the finals at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Over 450 radio stations across the country participate in the competition every year, sending contestants to battle for the top prize: $100,000 in cash and a professional studio session to record an EP.

Over the four previous years, KHTS has sent a finalist every year to the championship in Nashville Tennessee.

“We broke the whole system when we did it two years in a row. And doing it three years in a row completely baffled everybody. And having done it now four years in a row is beyond incredible. It’s like winning the lottery every year,” said KHTS Co-Owner Carl Goldman. “I would be humbled if we won it again this year. I would be very humbled. With that said, we have an incredible amount of talent here in southern California, and around the Santa Clarita area we have been able to attract some really great talent.”

In 2012, the first KHTS contestant, Poor Man’s Poison, made it to the final competition. KHTS’ 2014 entry, Marie Wise-Hawkins, also made it to the national finals in her year. And in both 2013 and 2015, Suzanne Harper made it to the finals, taking second place in 2015.

“Even though we didn’t take home the win, we got to play in one of the finest venues in the country at the Ryman,” Harper said on her Facebook page. “Thank you so, so, SO much to all of our family and friends who came out to support us. It really meant the world to us to have you all there cheering us on.”

Download the entry form here and send to [email protected]!