They also get an opportunity to tour and sing at iconic Nashville Honky Tonks and walk in the footsteps of past artists.
The Country Showdown is structured as a four-round, single-elimination tournament, with each round representing a larger geographic area than the one before it.
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.
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.
[6] Judges in the past have included Autumn House, Carole Ann Mobley, Patti Page, and Beverly Keel.
[7] The Five Finalists in the 2015 Texaco Country Showdown were Eli Tellor, Nate Kenyon, Marie Wise Hawkins, The Brothers Roberson, and JB Aaron.
The five finalists in the 2012 Texaco Country Showdown were Poor Man's Poison, Kate and Corey, The Brothers Roberson, Deidre Thornell, and Kassie and Ben.
[10] Rimes also hosted the 2008 Showdown, which showcased performances by two-time National Finalists: Carrie Joy, Trevor Panczak, Christy Sugget, Nash Street, and Eldon Johnson.
Tracy Byrd, Tracy Lawrence, Carrie Underwood, Mark Chesnutt, Jason Aldean, Ashton Shepherd, Jeff Bates, Katrina Elam, Toby Keith (as an Easy 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,[12] Erika Jo,[citation needed] Miranda Lambert,[13] John Michael Montgomery, Bobby Pinson, Chad Brock, LeAnn Rimes,[14] Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry, Wayne Hancock, and Rick Trevino.
American Idol season 4 winner Carrie Underwood had previously won a local contest in the Country Showdown.
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.
[1] Some other notable contestants who were involved in both programs include: Carrie Joy Andreas, Deanna Freeman, Jaclyn North, the 2011 Country Showdown winner, also auditioned for Season 9 of American Idol, being cut in the Hollywood rounds.