Colgate Country Showdown
Encyclopedia
Currently in its 30th year, the Country Showdown is an annual talent contest to find undiscovered country music singers across the United States. As many as 100,000 acts compete in the Country Showdown annually, which is considered to be the largest country music
talent competition in America
.
, Coca-Cola
, and Jimmy Dean
. True Value
was active in the event sponsorship for 14 years, until in 2000, when Colgate
became the event sponsor until 2011.
In 2011 showdown sponsorship shifted again to Texaco
and is currently in its first year as the Texaco Country Showdown
The Showdown begins every Spring with over 50,000 contestants competing at a local level talent contest. The local contests are sponsored by over 450 country music stations nationally. Each radio station selects their local winner to represent them in the state competition. If they progress through the state finals, the contestants proceed to the regional final level. There are 5 regional finals held, with one finalist from the following regions: southwest, southeast, midwest, northeast, and west. The Colgate Country Showdown big finale is held at the Ryman Auditorium
in Nashville, Tennessee
, in January of each year. The National Final is taped in front of a live audience and later televised as a 1-hour-long program, and is broadcast on syndication in March and April. The act which is crowned victorious wins a grand prize of $100,000, along with the title of "Best New Act in Country Music", and a chance at notability which would help them to further their musical career.
The judges for the January 14, 2010, National Final were: Fred Foster, Cris Lacy, Brian Mansfield, Jim Catino, Fletcher Foster, and Rod Essig. The judges are music business executives from Sony Music, Atlantic Records
, Warner Music, and CAA. Brian Mansfield, though not a music executive, is a correspondent from Nashville, who works for the USA Today
. Judges in the past have included Autumn House, Carole Ann Mobley, Patti Page, and Beverly Keel.
who represented radio station WFMS
of Indianapolis, Indiana; Carin Mari who represented radio station KBVC
of Buena Vista, Colorado; Reggie Shaw who represented KRGI
of Grand-Island, Nebraska; Greg Scudder who was representing KNTY
of Sacramento, California; and Jaclyn North who represented KHOZ
of Harrison, Arkansas.
The showdown was hosted by LeAnn Rimes
and held at the Ryman Auditorium
on January 13, 2011. Each contestant gave performances that proved them worthy of being a national contender. The $100,000 winner was Jaclyn North who was representing the Southeast regional.
, Casey Lee Smith, Whisky Row, Terry Lee Spenser, and Karla Davis. The final competition to determine the winner was held at the Ryman Auditorium
, and was hosted by former Country Showdown contestant Leann Rimes (who hosted for the 4th consecutive year). Contestants gave a tribute to past contestant, country music singer Garth Brooks
who himself is a former Country Showdown contestant. The judges crowned Karla Davis the 2010 Showdown Winner.
hosted the finale for the 2009 Showdown. The finalists included: Matt Reeves, LiveWire, Lance Lipinsky, Johnny Bulford, and Korey Blake. In the end, Johnny Bulford took home the grand prize.
, and Eldon Johnson. Regional Finalists were: Veronica Valencia (KUBB Country 96.3),Lesley Valadez, Emily Byers (97.3). The winner of that year's competition was Nash Street.
, Carrie Underwood
, Mark Chesnutt
, Jason Aldean
, Ashton Shephard, Jeff Bates
, Katrina Elam
, Toby Keith
(as an East Money band member), and Brad Paisley
all are contestants who won their local region of the Showdown. State and regional winners that are known in the country music business are Neal McCoy
, Billy Dean
, Sara Evans
, Billy Ray Cyrus
, Chris Young, Erika Jo
, Miranda Lambert
, John Michael Montgomery
, Bobby Pinson
, Chad Brock
, Leann Rimes
, Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry
, and Rick Trevino
. Some other notable contestants include: Garth Brooks
, Tim McGraw
Martina McBride
, and Kate Anderton of Lucy Angel
.
and leave without the American Idol Title, take an attempt at the Country Showdown, due to the similarities between both "talent contests". Some contestants leave the American Idol stage for the Showdown as well. Although the Showdown has less popularity than American Idol, the Showdown is devoted to country music and serves as a radio promotion. The Showdown is won, not by viewers votes, but by the votes of judges alone.
A notable act that went from the Showdown to appear on American Idol is
Shelby Dressel
. After her band earned 5th place at the Showdown, Dressel tried out for season 9 of American Idol and was cut when the top-24 contestants were decided. Another act that appeared with the Country Showdown and also American Idol is Kendall Phillips
, who was a 2010 and 2011 national finalist for the Showdown. Unlike Dressel, Phillips appeared on American Idol before she tried out for the Showdown.
Phillips felt that American Idol prepared her for the Showdown. She said,"My experience on American Idol was good, definitely a learning process. There is so much going on behind the scenes that people don't even know about — numerous auditions before the 'televised judging', late hours, re-taping, interviews ... I really didn't know what to expect at 16, but I learned a lot about what goes in to a reality television show and the music industry. I am still grateful for the doors that Idol opened for me, but it's such a game of luck and it's a very strenuous process. Although, nothing in the music industry is without stress." Phillips competed on American Idol during the 2005 season and competed in the Hollywood rounds. Some other notable contestants who were involved in both programs include: Carrie Joy Andreas, Deanna Freeman,
Jaclyn North, the 2011 winner, also auditioned for Season 9 of American Idol, being cut in the Hollywood rounds.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
talent competition in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History and sponsorship
The annual event was first started in 1982. At the time Wrangler sponsored the event. Wrangler served as sponsor from 1982 - 1986. After 1986 the Showdown switched sponsors to True Value. Various companies co-sponsored the event, including GMC, DodgeDodge
Dodge is a United States-based brand of automobiles, minivans, and sport utility vehicles, manufactured and marketed by Chrysler Group LLC in more than 60 different countries and territories worldwide....
, Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, and Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Dean
Jimmy Ray Dean was an American country music singer, television host, actor and businessman. Although he may be best known today as the creator of the Jimmy Dean sausage brand, he became a national television personality starting in 1957, rising to fame for his 1961 country crossover hit "Big Bad...
. True Value
True Value
True Value Company is a retailer-owned hardware cooperative with over 5,000 independent retail locations worldwide. Members of the True Value cooperative own their individual stores and operate independently of True Value Company....
was active in the event sponsorship for 14 years, until in 2000, when Colgate
Colgate (toothpaste)
Colgate is an oral hygiene product line of toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes and dental floss.-Duraphat:Duraphat is a professional strength paste intended for the treatment and prevention of dental caries....
became the event sponsor until 2011.
In 2011 showdown sponsorship shifted again to Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
and is currently in its first year as the Texaco Country Showdown
The different levels
Each year, acts from all over the country compete in different levels of the competition, including local, state, and regional contests in the hope of making it to the televised national final. Five regional winners compete in the national final trying to win the grand prize of $100,000, named "The Best New Act in Country Music".The Showdown begins every Spring with over 50,000 contestants competing at a local level talent contest. The local contests are sponsored by over 450 country music stations nationally. Each radio station selects their local winner to represent them in the state competition. If they progress through the state finals, the contestants proceed to the regional final level. There are 5 regional finals held, with one finalist from the following regions: southwest, southeast, midwest, northeast, and west. The Colgate Country Showdown big finale is held at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, in January of each year. The National Final is taped in front of a live audience and later televised as a 1-hour-long program, and is broadcast on syndication in March and April. The act which is crowned victorious wins a grand prize of $100,000, along with the title of "Best New Act in Country Music", and a chance at notability which would help them to further their musical career.
Judging
Throughout the competition the same judging criteria are used to ensure a fair competition in each level. There are five different aspects the judges use to decide the winner: marketability, originality of performance, vocal and instrumental abilities, stage presence, and overall charisma. Additional points can be awarded if the contestants perform original music.The judges for the January 14, 2010, National Final were: Fred Foster, Cris Lacy, Brian Mansfield, Jim Catino, Fletcher Foster, and Rod Essig. The judges are music business executives from Sony Music, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, Warner Music, and CAA. Brian Mansfield, though not a music executive, is a correspondent from Nashville, who works for the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
. Judges in the past have included Autumn House, Carole Ann Mobley, Patti Page, and Beverly Keel.
2011 Showdown
The five finalists for the 2011 Texaco Country Showdown were Kendall PhillipsKendall Phillips
Kendall Phillips is an American country singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known for being a 2010 and 2011 National Finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown and for being a contestant on the 2006 season of American Idol....
who represented radio station WFMS
WFMS
WFMS is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. The station has won several awards from the Country Music Association as large market station of the year. It is owned by Cumulus Media.-External links:...
of Indianapolis, Indiana; Carin Mari who represented radio station KBVC
KBVC
KBVC is a radio station broadcasting a country music format. Licensed to Buena Vista, Colorado, USA, the station is currently owned by Three Eagles Communications of Colorado, LLC and features programming from Citadel Media....
of Buena Vista, Colorado; Reggie Shaw who represented KRGI
KRGI-FM
KRGI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a New Country format. Licensed to Grand Island, Nebraska, USA, the station serves the Grand Island-Kearney area. The station is currently owned by Legacy Communications, LLC and features programing from ABC Radio , Premiere Radio Networks and Jones Radio...
of Grand-Island, Nebraska; Greg Scudder who was representing KNTY
KNTY
KNTY is commercial radio station located in Shingle Springs, California, broadcasting to the Sacramento, California, area on 101.9 FM. The station airs a country music format branded as "The Wolf". KNTY is presently owned by Entravision Communications, and is housed with sister stations KHHM,...
of Sacramento, California; and Jaclyn North who represented KHOZ
KHOZ-FM
KHOZ-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Harrison, Arkansas, USA, the station is currently owned by KHOZ, LLC....
of Harrison, Arkansas.
The showdown was hosted by LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
and held at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
on January 13, 2011. Each contestant gave performances that proved them worthy of being a national contender. The $100,000 winner was Jaclyn North who was representing the Southeast regional.
2010 Showdown
The five finalists for the 2010 Showdown consisted of Kendall PhillipsKendall Phillips
Kendall Phillips is an American country singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known for being a 2010 and 2011 National Finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown and for being a contestant on the 2006 season of American Idol....
, Casey Lee Smith, Whisky Row, Terry Lee Spenser, and Karla Davis. The final competition to determine the winner was held at the Ryman Auditorium
Ryman Auditorium
The Ryman Auditorium is a 2,362-seat live performance venue, located at 115 5th Avenue North, in Nashville, Tennessee and is best known as the historic home of the Grand Ole Opry....
, and was hosted by former Country Showdown contestant Leann Rimes (who hosted for the 4th consecutive year). Contestants gave a tribute to past contestant, country music singer Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
who himself is a former Country Showdown contestant. The judges crowned Karla Davis the 2010 Showdown Winner.
2009 Showdown
Leann RimesLeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
hosted the finale for the 2009 Showdown. The finalists included: Matt Reeves, LiveWire, Lance Lipinsky, Johnny Bulford, and Korey Blake. In the end, Johnny Bulford took home the grand prize.
2008 Showdown
Rimes also hosted the 2008 Showdown, which showcased performances by two-time National Finalists: Carrie Joy, Trevor Panczak, Christy Sugget, Nash StreetNash Street
Nash Street is a five piece acoustic country band that comes from the historic garden district of the same name in Starkville, Mississippi....
, and Eldon Johnson. Regional Finalists were: Veronica Valencia (KUBB Country 96.3),Lesley Valadez, Emily Byers (97.3). The winner of that year's competition was Nash Street.
Notable Contestants and Winners
Many contestants of the Showdown have gone on to have music careers, mostly in the country music genre. Tracy Byrd, Tracy LawrenceTracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence is an American country music artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music...
, Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Marie Underwood is an American country singer-songwriter and actress who rose to fame as the winner of the fourth season of American Idol, in 2005...
, Mark Chesnutt
Mark Chesnutt
Mark Nelson Chesnutt is an American country music singer. Chesnutt recorded and released his first album, Doing My Country Thing, in the late-1980s on private independent record label, Axbar Records, with the vinyl album version now a collector's item...
, Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldine Williams is an American country music singer, known professionally as Jason Aldean. Since 2005, Aldean has recorded for Broken Bow Records, an independent record label for which he has released four albums and twelve singles...
, Ashton Shephard, Jeff Bates
Jeff Bates
Jeffery Wayne "Jeff" Bates is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2003, Bates released his debut album Rainbow Man that year. A second album, Leave the Light On, was released in 2005 on RCA. He left RCA in 2006. This album was followed by Jeff Bates in 2008 on the...
, Katrina Elam
Katrina Elam
Katrina Ruth Elam is an American country music singer and songwriter. Signed to Universal South Records in 2004, she released her self-titled debut album that year, charting in the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks with the #29 "No End in Sight" and the #59 "I Want a Cowboy"...
, Toby Keith
Toby Keith
Toby Keith Covel , best known as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. Keith released his first four studio albums — 1993's Toby Keith, 1994's Boomtown, 1996's Blue Moon and 1997's Dream Walkin, plus a Greatest Hits package for various divisions of...
(as an East Money band member), and Brad Paisley
Brad Paisley
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter and musician. His style crosses between traditional country music and Southern rock, and his songs are frequently laced with humor and pop culture references....
all are contestants who won their local region of the Showdown. State and regional winners that are known in the country music business are Neal McCoy
Neal McCoy
Hubert Neal McGaughey, Jr. is an American country music singer of mixed Irish and Filipino descent. Known professionally as Neal McCoy, he has released ten studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio...
, Billy Dean
Billy Dean
William Harold "Billy" Dean, Jr. is an American country music singer and songwriter. Billy Dean first gained national attention after appearing on the television talent competition Star Search...
, Sara Evans
Sara Evans
Sara Lynn Evans is an American country singer and songwriter.Evans was one of the few traditional-styled singers to emerge from Nashville in the late 1990s, according to Allmusic. Since emerging in the late 1990s, Evans has made five No. 1 Country hits and Gold and Platinum-certified albums by...
, Billy Ray Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
William "Billy" Ray Cyrus is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and philanthropist, who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon...
, Chris Young, Erika Jo
Erika Jo
Erika Jo Heriges , known simply by the stage name Erika Jo, is an American country music recording artist who was declared winner of the 2005 season of the Nashville Star television program. Eighteen years old at the time, Erika Jo is both the youngest person to win the competition and the first...
, Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert
Miranda Lambert is an American country music artist who gained fame as a finalist on the 2003 season of Nashville Star, where she finished in third place and later signed to Epic Records. Lambert made her debut with the release of "Me and Charlie Talking", the first single from her 2005 debut...
, John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery
John Michael Montgomery is an American country music artist. He has produced more than thirty singles on the Billboard country charts, including two of Billboard’s Number One country singles of the year: "I Swear" and "Sold "...
, Bobby Pinson
Bobby Pinson
Bobby Olen Pinson is an American country music artist. Signed to RCA Records in 2005, Pinson made his debut that year with his album Man Like Me. Its lead-off single, "Don't Ask Me How I Know", peaked at #16 on the Hot Country Songs charts, and was his only Top 40 country hit...
, Chad Brock
Chad Brock
Chad Brock is an American country music artist and disc jockey. Before beginning his musical career in the late 1990s, he was a professional wrestler in World Championship Wrestling , until an injury forced him to retire....
, Leann Rimes
LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon version of Star Search, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her...
, Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo composed of vocalists Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry. The two began performing in the 1990s as part of a band which also included Eddie Montgomery's brother John Michael Montgomery, and founded the existing duo in 1999.Signed to Columbia Records,...
, and Rick Trevino
Rick Trevino
Ricardo Treviño, Jr. , known professionally as Rick Trevino, is a Mexican American country music artist. Signed to Columbia Records in 1993, Trevino began his career that year with the release of his debut single, "Just Enough Rope", the first mainstream country music single to feature separate...
. Some other notable contestants include: Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
, Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
Martina McBride
Martina McBride
Martina McBride is an American country music singer and songwriter. McBride has been called the "Céline Dion of Country Music" for her big-voiced ballads and soprano range....
, and Kate Anderton of Lucy Angel
Lucy Angel
Lucy Angel is an American country music family trio consisting of mother Kate Anderton and her two daughters, Lindsay and Emily. They have released an eponymous EP as well as two singles, “Only Woman Left” and “Serious." The group has released a holiday single, "Mr...
.
Country Showdown and American Idol ties
Some acts who try out for American IdolAmerican Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
and leave without the American Idol Title, take an attempt at the Country Showdown, due to the similarities between both "talent contests". Some contestants leave the American Idol stage for the Showdown as well. Although the Showdown has less popularity than American Idol, the Showdown is devoted to country music and serves as a radio promotion. The Showdown is won, not by viewers votes, but by the votes of judges alone.
A notable act that went from the Showdown to appear on American Idol is
Shelby Dressel
Shelby Dressel
Shelby Kathleen Dressel is an American Country Singer-Songwriter from Avon Park, Florida, who made the top 50 on the ninth season of American Idol. In describing Dressel's ambitions, Rachel Pleasant Chambliss of Lakeland, Florida's "The Ledger" wrote, "At 19, Shelby Dressel still has a lot of...
. After her band earned 5th place at the Showdown, Dressel tried out for season 9 of American Idol and was cut when the top-24 contestants were decided. Another act that appeared with the Country Showdown and also American Idol is Kendall Phillips
Kendall Phillips
Kendall Phillips is an American country singer-songwriter, and actress. She is best known for being a 2010 and 2011 National Finalist in the Colgate Country Showdown and for being a contestant on the 2006 season of American Idol....
, who was a 2010 and 2011 national finalist for the Showdown. Unlike Dressel, Phillips appeared on American Idol before she tried out for the Showdown.
Phillips felt that American Idol prepared her for the Showdown. She said,"My experience on American Idol was good, definitely a learning process. There is so much going on behind the scenes that people don't even know about — numerous auditions before the 'televised judging', late hours, re-taping, interviews ... I really didn't know what to expect at 16, but I learned a lot about what goes in to a reality television show and the music industry. I am still grateful for the doors that Idol opened for me, but it's such a game of luck and it's a very strenuous process. Although, nothing in the music industry is without stress." Phillips competed on American Idol during the 2005 season and competed in the Hollywood rounds. Some other notable contestants who were involved in both programs include: Carrie Joy Andreas, Deanna Freeman,
Jaclyn North, the 2011 winner, also auditioned for Season 9 of American Idol, being cut in the Hollywood rounds.
External links
- Official Page
- Colgate Country Showdown on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...