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Miley Cyrus at Colgate Country
Showdown
To Air On Barbara Walters' Oscar Special
NASHVILLE, TENNESEE (February 19, 2008) Before Hannah
Montana and emerging into a super stardom, an 11-year-old
Miley Cyrus was sharing the stage with her country
star - and past Country Showdown participant - dad,
Billy Ray Cyrus at the 22nd Annual Colgate Country
Showdown National Final. Clips from the event -
held at EPCOT in Walt Disney World - will air during
ABC's Oscar edition of "The Barbara Walters
Special" on Sunday, February 24th at 7 p.m.
Eastern.
Miley will be one of four of Hollywood's
hottest megastars spending a revealing hour with
Barbara Walters. Academy Award nominee Ellen Page,
superstar Harrison Ford and Emmy Award nominee Vanessa
Williams will also share their thoughts and successes
with Walters. As a teen sensation Miley has had
a whirlwind year with a top-selling tour, a hit
album and a number one movie. She will talk about
her acting aspirations, being a role model, staying
grounded, and working with her father. "Life
is a little different than the show because I don't
have the alter ego that I can escape to anymore,"
she said. "I think the basis of the show is
pretty much life. When I'm at home, it's my friends,
it's my family."
The Country Showdown (sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive)
is the Nation's largest and longest running country
music talent search. The 26th Annual Colgate Country
Showdown National Final took place at the Ryman
Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee with Grammy award
winner, LeAnn Rimes, hosting the show. Nash Street
won the Grand Prize of $100,000 and the title of
Best New Act in Country Music. A one-hour television
special will air in syndication in March and April,
covering 90% of the US population. ABC affiliates
in major markets - New York, Chicago, Los Angeles,
etc. - have carried the show for the past 15 years.
It also airs overseas on the Government Access Channels
to military bases, embassies and ships at sea.
26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown
National Winner, Nash Street, Performs at the Country
Music Hall of Fame, Tootsies & Nashville Palace
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (February 13, 2008) - After
being crowned the 2007 Colgate Country Showdown
National Winner less than a month ago, Nash Street,
will return to Nashville. On Saturday, February
23rd, they will perform and sign autographs at the
Country Music Hall of Fame as part of the Museum
Store Grand re-opening beginning at 12:30 p.m. Later
that night, Nash Street will play two half-hour
shows - at 3:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. - at the world-famous
Tootsies Orchid Lounge and end the night with a
performance at the Nashville Palace at 7:30 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public.
Nash Street (Southeast winner) - named
for the place they practiced and for it's catchy
sound - consists of Daniel Hare (bass), Hannah Melby
(fiddle), Caroline Melby (mandolin) and Jason Graham
(guitar), who are all under the age of 23. They
play their versions of old time, bluegrass, folk,
country and blues at a variety of events. They have
performed on the Mornin' Show with Kay Bain; the
Legends of Bluegrass and Country Music Festival;
Mississippi's Best Grassroots Entertainment and
at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas.
Nash Street has opened for artists such as Rhonda
Vincent, The Grascals, Jeff Bates, Little Big Town
and at Tim McGraw's "Swampstock" - an
annual concert Tim puts on to benefit his hometown
of Rayville, Louisiana. Nash Street recorded their
second CD this summer at Ricky Skaggs' studio in
Nashville. The CD features instrumental expertise,
tight harmonies, six songs written by the band,
songs from Alison Krauss, Dr. Ralph Stanley, &
the Eagles and their own arrangements of several
pre-1940's instrumentals. Nash Street believes their,
"stage presence and ability to connect with
the audience at such young ages makes them attractive
to the music industry." For more on Nash Street,
visit www.myspace.com/nashstreet.
On January 24th, Nash Street represented
radio station WOKK Meridian, Mississippi, and won
the 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown. LeAnn
Rimes returned to host the televised event, held
at the historic Ryman Auditorium. They were presented
with a $100,000 Grand Prize check and the title,
"Best New Act in Country Music".
About the Showdown: Many of today's
top country artists have competed in the past local,
state, regional and National competitions - including
Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Martina
McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans and Miranda
Lambert. Each year the competition begins in the
spring with more than 450 country radio stations
producing live shows to find the best new talent
in their market. These winners advance to state
and then regional competitions throughout the summer
and fall before competing at the National Final
in January.
The 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown
National Final, one-hour special- will air nationwide,
over syndicated television in April. For local broadcast
information visit the Colgate Country Showdown website
at www.countryshowdown.com.
About Colgate: Colgate-Palmolive is
a leading global consumer products company, tightly
focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and
Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over
200 countries and territories around the world under
such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate,
Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex,
Sorriso, Kolynos, Elmex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline,
and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and
Hill's Prescription Diet pet foods. For more information
about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's
website at www.colgate.com.
About Country Music Hall of Fame:
Accredited by the American Association of Museums,
the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum is operated
by the Country Music Foundation, a not-for-profit
501(c)(3) educational organization chartered by
the state of Tennessee in 1964. The Museum's mission
is the preservation of the history of country and
related vernacular music rooted in southern culture.
With the same educational mission, the Foundation
also operates CMF Records, the Museum's Frist Library
and Archive, CMF Press, Historic RCA Studio B, and
Hatch Show Print. More information about the Country
Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is available
at www.countrymusichalloffame.com
or by calling 615.416.2001.
About Tootsies and Nashville Palace:
Tootsie's Orchid Lounge is a world-famous, live
music venue that has helped launch careers of Kris
Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and others. Live Country
Music, dancing, socializing, great food and drinks
make the Nashville Palace the #1 spot for tour groups
and a perfect place for any special event. Remember
this is the place where the stars hang out... you
never know when you'll see a famous face! For more
information on either venue, visit www.tootsies.net
or www.nashvillepalace.net.
Nash Street Wins the 26th Annual Colgate Country
Showdown
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (January 24, 2008) – Nash
Street, representing radio station WOKK Meridian,
Mississippi, has won the 26th Annual Colgate Country
Showdown. LeAnn Rimes returned to host the televised
event, held at the historic Ryman Auditorium. Nash
Street was presented with a $100,000 Grand Prize check
and the title, "Best New Act in Country Music".
The four other finalists were Eldon Johnson,
Carrie Joy, Trevor Panczak and Christy
Suggett.
Nash Street (Southeast winner) – named for the
place they practiced and for it’s catchy sound
– consists of Daniel Hare (bass), Hannah Melby
(fiddle), Caroline Melby (mandolin) and Jason Graham
(guitar), who are all under the age of 23. They play
their versions of old time, bluegrass, folk, country
and blues at a variety of events. They have performed
on the Mornin' Show with Kay Bain; the Legends of
Bluegrass and Country Music Festival; Mississippi’s
Best Grassroots Entertainment and at the Ozark Folk
Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. Nash Street has
opened for artists such as Rhonda Vincent, The Grascals,
Jeff Bates, Little Big Town and at Tim McGraw's “Swampstock”
– an annual concert Tim puts on to benefit his
hometown of Rayville, Louisiana. Nash Street recorded
their second CD this summer at Ricky Skaggs' studio
in Nashville. The CD features instrumental expertise,
tight harmonies, six songs written by the band, songs
from Alison Krauss, Dr. Ralph Stanley, & the Eagles
and their own arrangements of several pre-1940’s
instrumentals. Nash Street believes their, “stage
presence and ability to connect with the audience
at such young ages makes them attractive to the music
industry.” For more on Nash Street, visit www.myspace.com/nashstreet.
Performing, two original pieces – Carry On and
Widow Maker– in Saturday’s competition,
they displayed their songwriting talents. They represented
WOKK Meridian, Mississippi.
The five contestants were judged on the following
criteria: Vocal/Instrumental Ability, Originality
of Performance, Stage Presence/Charisma and Talent.
Optional bonus points could also be awarded to acts
for with original music in a Songwriting category.
The finalists performed in front of a panel of industry
veterans - Rod Essig (Creative Artist Agency),
Autumn House (Sr. Director of A&R Capitol
Records), Beverly Keel (The Tennessean), Brian
Mansfield (USA Today Nashville Correspondent),
Carole Ann Mobley (Sr. Director of A&R
SonyBMG Nashville) and Patti Page (Artist).
| Trevor Panczak - West Regional
Winner |
|
| Eldon Johnson - Midwest Regional
Winner |
|
| Christy Suggett - Southwest
Regional Winner |
|
| Carrie Joy - Northeast
Regional Winner |
|
WHAT:
26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National
Final event
The Showdown is the Nation's largest and longest-running
country music talent search and radio promotion.
WHEN: Thursday, January 24, 2008.
WHERE: Ryman Auditorium in downtown
Nashville.
HOST: Curb Records recording artist
LeAnn Rimes will host the event for the second consecutive
year. Special guest Little Jimmy Dickens will appear
on this special TV taping.
JUDGES: Judges confirmed are Rod
Essig (Creative Artist Agency), Autumn House
(Sr. Director of A&R Capitol Records), Beverly
Keel (The Tennessean), Brian Mansfield
(USA Today Nashville Correspondent), Carole Ann
Mobley (Sr. Director of A&R SonyBMG Nashville)
and Patti Page (Artist).
CONTESTANTS: Five Regional winners
advanced to compete for $100,000 in this year's National
Final. They are Nash Street, Eldon Johnson, Carrie
Joy, Trevor Panczak and Christy Suggett.
Nash Street (Southeast winner) - named for
the place they practiced and for it's catchy sound
- consists of Daniel Hare (bass), Hannah Melby (fiddle),
Caroline Melby (mandolin) and Jason Graham (guitar).
The band, has performed at Tim McGraw's "Swampstock"
and has opened for Rhonda Vincent, The Grascals and
Little Big Town. They believe their, "stage presence
and ability to connect with the audience at such young
ages makes them attractive to the music industry."
They will be representing WOKK Meridian, Mississippi.
Fargo, North Dakota's Eldon Johnson (Midwest
winner) has played throughout the upper Midwest and
formed True North. The duo won the Colgate Country
Showdown ND/SD State Final in 2003. Early success
prompted the release of their debut CD with Johnson's
contributions to lead/harmony vocals, acoustic guitar
and drums & percussion-as well as producing and
writing. He continues to hone his skills and works
as a Contemporary Music Coordinator at Faith Lutheran
Church. At the Colgate Country Showdown National Final,
Johnson will be representing KQLX Lisbon, North Dakota.
Although she grew up singing in church, Edwardsville,
Illinois' Carrie Joy (Northeast winner) didn't
really begin performing until high school. In 2002,
Joy entered the Colgate Country Showdown and earned
a spot at the National Final. She holds the title
of the first ever Branson Idol (now Branson Spotlight)
and has appeared in numerous Branson shows including
the Doug Gabriel and Roy Clark Show, KRZK Live Radio
Show-Grand Country Saturday Night and Late Night with
Joey Riley. Joy will represent WTHI Terre Haute, Indiana.
Trevor Panczak (West winner) is a four-time
Colgate Country Showdown Montana State Winner who
grew up on a farm north of Cutbank. The singer/songwriter
has also excelled in other competitions - the Country
Vocal Spotlight at the C.F.R. and the Calgary Stampede
Youth Talent Showdown. Panczak has opened for Dan
Seals and Keith Urban. Currently he fronts the energetic
five-piece band, Rough Stock. Describing his style,
the "gentle giant" attempts to use, "clever
lyrics and laid back humor to try to capture audiences'
hearts wherever I play my guitar." This year
he will be representing KMON Great Falls, Montana.
Christy Suggett (Southwest winner) grew up
in Pearland, Texas with talented singer/songwriter
parents and by fifteen recorded her first gospel album.
She has traveled as a soloist/drummer and has served
as in several positions at First Church of Pearland.
Suggett also performed the National Anthem at Commissioner
Jerry Eversole's 14th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament
(benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and
the Houston Astros' game and has entertained at various
other charity events. Suggett is representing KKBQ
Houston, Texas at the Colgate Country Showdown National
Final.
26th Annual Colgate
Country Showdown National Finalists Announced
LeAnn Rimes hosting the
show
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (December 12, 2007)
-- The Colgate Country Showdown has announced its
Regional winners who advanced to compete for $100,000
in this year's National Final. They are Nash Street,
Eldon Johnson, Carrie Joy, Trevor Panczak and
Christy Suggett.
Nash Street (Southeast winner) - named for
the place they practiced and for it's catchy sound
- consists of Daniel Hare (bass), Hannah Melby (fiddle),
Caroline Melby (mandolin) and Jason Graham (guitar).
The band, has performed at the Legends of Bluegrass
and Country Music Festival, Tim McGraw's "Swampstock"
and at the Ozark Folk Center and has opened for Rhonda
Vincent, The Grascals and Little Big Town. They recorded
their second CD at Ricky Skaggs' studio in Nashville
and believe their, "stage presence and ability
to connect with the audience at such young ages makes
them attractive to the music industry." They
will be representing WOKK Meridian, Mississippi.
Fargo, North Dakota's Eldon Johnson (Midwest
winner) has played throughout the upper Midwest and
formed True North with Jim Ed Hodge. The duo won the
Colgate Country Showdown ND/SD State Final in 2003.
Early success prompted the release of their debut
CD, "Down The Road." Johnson's contributions
include lead & harmony vocals, acoustic guitar
and drums & percussion-as well as producing and
writing 12 of the 14 songs. He continues to hone his
skills and works as a Contemporary Music Coordinator
at Faith Lutheran Church. At the Colgate Country Showdown
National Final, Johnson will be representing KQLX
Lisbon, North Dakota.
Although she grew up singing in church, Edwardsville,
Illinois' Carrie Joy (Northeast winner) didn't
really begin performing until high school. In 2002,
Joy entered the Colgate Country Showdown and earned
a spot at the National Final. She holds the title
of the first ever Branson Idol (now Branson Spotlight)
and has appeared in numerous Branson shows including
the Doug Gabriel and Roy Clark Show, KRZK Live Radio
Show-Grand Country Saturday Night, and Late Night
with Joey Riley. Joy will represent WTHI Terre Haute,
Indiana.
Trevor Panczak (West winner) is a four-time
Colgate Country Showdown Montana State Winner who
grew up on a farm north of Cutbank. He has also excelled
in other competitions - the Country Vocal Spotlight
at the C.F.R. and the Calgary Stampede Youth Talent
Showdown. Panczak has been writing, singing and performing
since age 14 and has opened for Dan Seals and Keith
Urban. Currently he fronts the energetic five-piece
band, Rough Stock. Describing his style, the "gentle
giant" attempts to use, "clever lyrics and
laid back humor to try to capture audiences' hearts
wherever I play my guitar." This year he will
be representing KMON Great Falls, Montana.
Christy Suggett (Southwest winner) grew up
in Pearland, Texas with talented singer/songwriter
parents and by fifteen recorded her first gospel album.
She has traveled as a soloist/drummer and has served
as in several positions at First Church of Pearland.
Suggett also performed the National Anthem at Commissioner
Jerry Eversole's 14th Annual Invitational Golf Tournament
(benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society) and
the Houston Astros' game and has entertained at various
other charity events. Suggett is representing KKBQ
Houston, Texas at the Colgate Country Showdown National
Final.
The Country Showdown (sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive)
is the Nation's largest and longest running country
music talent search. The 26th Annual National Final
will take place at the Ryman Auditorium on Thursday,
January 24, 2008 with Grammy award winner, LeAnn Rimes,
hosting the show for the second consecutive year.
The televised one-hour special is syndicated nationwide
by MG Perin, Inc. and will also air on the GAC (Great
American Country) Network.
LeAnn
Rimes Returns As Host of
26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National Final
Longest-Running Talent Competition
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (November 9, 2007) -- Dean Unkefer,
President of Special Promotions, Inc. and producer
of the Colgate Country Showdown, has announced that
Curb Records recording artist LeAnn Rimes will again
host and perform at the 26th Annual Colgate Country
Showdown National Final on January 24, 2008 at the
Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. The Showdown is the
Nation's largest and longest-running country music
talent search and radio promotion.
Unkefer commented, "The most important thing
is not winning or losing but having the opportunity
to perform in front of live audiences and be exposed
to industry professionals."
Each year the competition begins in the spring with
country radio stations producing live shows to find
the best new talent in their market. These winners
then compete at the state and five regional competitions
throughout the summer and fall. The five finalists
compete for the grand prize of $100,000 at the National
Final. The televised one-hour special is syndicated
nationwide and last year also aired on the GAC (Great
American Country) Network.
In addition to hosting the event, Rimes will perform
two songs from her latest CD, Family. Her first single,
"Nothin' Better to Do," is currently climbing
up Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Rimes has won two Grammy Awards, including the first
Best New Artist accolade ever won by a country artist.
She has sold more than 37 million records, won an
American Music Award, three Academy of Country Music
honors and 12 Billboard Awards. She's scored numerous
hit singles like "One Way Ticket," "I
Need You," "Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense,"
"Probably Wouldn't Be This Way," "Can't
Fight The Moonlight," which was a #1 song in
11 countries, and "How Do I Live," which
was the longest running single ever on the Billboard
Hot 100, spending a record-setting 69 weeks on the
chart. Her 1996 debut Blue catapulted her to superstardom
at just 13 years old and went on to sell more than
8 million copies. For more information about LeAnn
Rimes visit www.leannrimesworld.com.
About the Showdown: Annually, more than 50,000 artists
compete in the Colgate-sponsored local competitions
with 450 radio stations throughout the U.S. and over
$300,000 in cash prizes are awarded throughout 550+
live competitions. All participants are consistently
judged on five core criteria: Marketability in Country
Music, Vocal/Instrumental Ability, Originality of
Performance, Stage Presence/Charisma and Talent. Optional
bonus points can be awarded to acts with original
music in the Songwriting category. The competition
boasts a "who's who" in the Country Music
industry with past local, state and regional winners
including Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw,
Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Miranda
Lambert and Carrie Underwood.
Advertising Age Names Colgate Country Showdown
in Top 10 Leading Brand Events
(Nashville, Tennessee -- March 21, 2007) The Colgate
Country Showdown is among the Top 10 Leading Brand
Events in Advertising Age's March 19th issue. Advertising
Age is at trade publication of the communication,
advertising, and marketing industries. Dean Unkefer,
President of Special Promotions, Inc. and producer
of the Colgate Country Showdown stated, "The
advertising and marketing executives at Colgate and
I are delighted to be recognized with national promotions
such as NASCAR, Harley-Davidson Reunion, etc."
The Colgate Country Showdown is the nation's largest
and longest running country music talent search. Each
year, more than 50,000 artists compete in local competitions
throughout the U.S. All participants are judged on
the following criteria: vocal/instrumental ability,
originality of performance, stage presence/charisma
and talent.
Past winners include Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks,
Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus and Sara Evans. The
2007 National Final event took place at the Ryman
Auditorium with Grammy award winning LeAnn Rimes hosting
the show. The winner Megan Peeler, representing WKSK
West Jefferson, North Carolina received the $100,000
check at this year's competition.
Megan
Peeler Wins the 25th Anniversary
Colgate Country Showdown
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 26, 2007) -Megan Peeler,
representing radio station WKSK (West Jefferson, North
Carolina), has won the 25th Annual Colgate Country
Showdown. The televised event, held at the historic
Ryman Auditorium, was hosted by LeAnn Rimes. The winner
was presented with a $100,000 Grand Prize check and
the title, "Best New Act in Country Music".
Megan Peeler began studying music at the age of 7
and went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Appalachian
State University, earning her Bachelor of Music in
Music Therapy. The singer/songwriter is trained in
classical piano, guitar and voice. Peeler rediscovered
her love of performing while working as a Board-Certified
Music Therapist in various hospitals, assisted living
facilities and skilled nursing homes in North Carolina
and Ohio. She has entertained audiences at Cheeseburger
in Paradise in Ashville, North Carolina and Howl At
the Moon Piano Improvisation Bar in Cleveland, Ohio.
Currently, Peeler is performing with the band Out
of the Blue at Coyote Joe's in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The five contestants were judged on the following
criteria: vocal/instrumental ability, originality
of performance, stage presence/charisma and talent.
The finalists performed in front of a panel of industry
veterans -Fletcher Foster (Sr. VP and GM of Universal
South), Brian Mansfield (USA Today Nashville Correspondent),
Tracy Gershon (VP of A&R Warner Bros. Nashville).
Rod Essig (Creative Artist Agency) and Beverly Keel
(Tennessean).
Many of today's top country artists have competed
in the past local, state, regional and National competitions,
including Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw,
Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Montgomery
Gentry.
Each year the competition begins in the spring with
more than 450 country radio stations producing live
shows to find the best new talent in their market.
These winners advance to state and then regional competitions
throughout the summer and fall.
The 25th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National
Final, one-hour special-will air nationwide, over
syndicated television in April, with a second airing
to follow on Great American Country (GAC) in May.
For local broadcast information visit the Colgate
Country Showdown website at www.countryshowdown.com.
About Colgate:
Colgate-Palmolive is the national sponsor and leading
global consumer-products company tightly focused on
Oral Care, Personal Care, Household Surface care,
Fabric Care and Pet Nutrition. In the U.S., Colgate
sells its quality products under such nationally recognized
brands such as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Ajax, Irish
Spring, Softsoap, Murphy Oil Soap, Ultra Brite and
Fab.
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