DEIDRE THORNELL WINS SOUTHEAST REGIONAL FINAL OF THE TEXACO COUNTRY SHOWDOWN
Nashville, Tennessee– Deidre Thornell, the East Texas State Winner, walked away with the Southeast Regional Title, as well as an all-expense paid trip to the National Final of the 31st Annual Texaco Country Showdown in Nashville, Tennessee. The Louisiana State Fair hosted the event and showcased 7 other acts, which had won their local and state competitions.
She's cute, she's cool, she's country. This singer/songwriter from Texas, barely 20 years old, with bountiful long red hair and a four octave range can certainly take command of any stage, and she has! Whether it’s a gut wrenching ballad that brings tears to the eyes and chills up the spine, or a high energy southern rock anthem complete with choreography, Deidre delivers this and more everytime she takes the stage. She began performing in local talent shows at the age of 5, then made her way through the opry circuit around Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. At 16, she was hired at Six Flags Over Texas, and designated the lead vocal in the show “Country is My Rock". She graduated to both the Chevy Main Stage and the Bud Light Stage opening for such artists as Wade Bowen, Josh Abbott, and Gretchen Wilson. Through the years, she has sung the National Anthem at many venues, but singing it in front of 80,000 people for the 2011 Dallas Cowboys/San Diego Chargers game was an experience she will never forget. Rising to the next level, she entered the Texaco Country Showdown, a national contest, and at 17, was the youngest winner for the state competition in Texas, and runner-up at the regional show. Now, three years after her first Texaco Showdown State Final win, she has gone to the next level. Deidre is the Southeast Regional winner, and will join 4 other regional finalists in Nashville, to compete for $100,000 and the title of “best new act in country music”. She will have earned her place alongside the other legends who participated in this competition, namely Garth Brooks, Martina McBride, Sara Evans and Miranda Lambert. She has had the privilege to work with such talented writers and producers as Scott Sean White (Nashville songwriter), Jeff Jacobs (Foreigner and Billy Joel), Tim and Angela Lauer (keyboard, producer, songwriter), and Josh Goode (multi-Emmy award winning songwriter and producer), and Ron Grimes (multi platinum songwriter with Leann Rimes). Every song she sings or writes, represents in some way, who she is both as an artist and a person. She has clear-headed determination and a willingness to challenge herself. Her resolve is to sing like the best in the business, write songs that weave a story into melodies thread with infectious hooks, work with legendary producers, and to be in control of her fate. The Texaco Country Showdown which has been an unbelievable avenue for her, and has now provided her with an opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to appear on stage at the Ryman Auditorium where so many great artists have performed, was a dream that has now become a reality. Without sponsors like Texaco, who have the vision to provide venues for aspiring country artists, many would not have been given the chance to become who they are today. Thank you Texaco!!!
"Destination Unknown" lyrics
Destination Unknown- Song Lyrics
I don't know where I'm goin
Wide open road in front of me
Gonna rip off that rearview mirror
Maybe then I won't see
The place I don't wanna be...
Cause it's time for a new life
Break these chains be set free
Faith will guide me
To my destiny
Looking for a place to call home
Destination Unknown
I found out a long time ago
That you can't change the past
Gonna make new memories
The kind that I want to last
It can't happen to fast
Cause it's time for a new life
Break these chains be set free
Faith will guide me
to my destiny
Looking for a place to call home
Destination Unknown
I know that there's a purpose
A reason for my life
I'm just search for the answers
I know I'm gonna find
And it's time for a new life
Break these chains be set free
No more looking back now
It's all in front of me
Headed to a place to call home
Destination Unknown
Destination Unknown......
Deidre Thornell - Showdown Hall of Fame Member
2009 State Winner, 2010 Local Winner and 2012 National Finalist! That's Deidre Thornell's Showdown resume and we can only speculate just how high her star will continue to rise with the Showdown and her career in general!
