Aspiring country music artists are preparing for the 31st Annual Texaco Country Showdown at Riverside Park on July 6. WVHL 92.9 Kickin' Country will host America's largest country music talent search and radio promotion, sponsored by Carrington's Cellular, Chick-Fil-A, Benchmark Community Bank, Carwile Auctions, Centra Southside Community Hospital, McDonald's, Mottley Emporium, State Farm Insurance-Agent Crystal Breedlove, Key Wireless, Fourth Street Motor Company, Dairy Queen, Foster Insurance, Simply Divine, Rod & Staff Tire, Buffalo Creek Guitar, and Awesome Party Supplies.

Judges for this year's competition will be Gary Hickman owner of Buffalo Creek Guitar, Chris Gowin, executive director of The Virginia Museum of Radio Entertainment, and Brinn Black, Nashville recording artist.

Acts will compete for prizes including an opportunity to perform at the State Texaco Country Showdown. State winners vie for a $1,000 cash prize and will advance to a regional competition in the fall. The five regional winners are awarded on all-expense paid trip to the national final where they will compete for the $100,000 grand prize and the national title.

The Texaco Country Showdown gives aspiring country music artist in America a chance to launch their professional careers. Audiences may be seeing, hearing, and applauding the next country music star. Open to vocal and/or instrumental performers, the Texaco 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 the local competition. To ensure fairness, a uniform judging system is used on all levels of competition.

A $20 entry fee is required of all acts entering the Texaco Country Showdown competitions produced by participating country music radio stations. Entry forms are available at www.wvhl.net or calling WVHL 92.9 Kickin' Country at 434-392-9393. Entries must be received no later than June 29.