The 34th Annual Haley Auto Mall Country Showdown is coming to The Five County Fair, Friday Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. in the Varner Building. WVHL “Kickin’ Country” will once again host America’s largest country music talent search and radio promotion. Approximately $200,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded nationwide including the Grand Prize of $100,000 cash to the national winner to be presented at the National Final televised special.

Designed to find the most promising country music talent in the United States for the past 30 years, the Country Showdown gives aspiring artists a chance to launch their professional careers. Thousands of performers compete annually for the Country Showdown title.

Each year hometown talent contests sponsored by over 500 local radio stations across the country pave the road to stardom. Local winners advance to over 40 state contests where the prizes include $1,000 in cash and the opportunity to compete at one of the five regional contests in the fall. The five regional winners receive an expense-paid to the National Final to compete for $100,000 and the coveted National Title.

“We consider the Haley Auto Mall Country Showdown one of the most anticipated events in country music each year,” said Larry Armes, operations manager at WVHL. “It is an exciting community event that provides aspiring artists in our area an opportunity for state, regional, and national exposure while promoting a greater appreciation of country music”.

Open to vocal and/or instrumental performers, the Haley Auto Mall Country Showdown welcomes individual acts or groups with up to seven members to compete. Acts also must not have performed on a record charted in the top 100 country format of Billboard, Radio and Records or the Gavin Report within 18 months preceding local competition. A $20 entry fee is required of all contestants entering the Country Showdown competitions produced by participating country music radio stations. To ensure fairness, a uniform judging system is used on all levels of competition. Entry forms are available on line at www.wvhl.net or by calling WVHL at (434) 392-9393.