Aug 11
9

26th Country Showdown

The vocal talent competition was fierce in Columbia, MS on Friday, August 5, 2011, when WJDR Radio hosted their 26th Annual Texaco Country Showdown at the Sandbar Lounge. Emcees Steve Mercier and Josh Anthony presented the lineup of the top eight performers from previous stages of the competition.

Zac Craven Performs

The judges of the Country Showdown included Roy Adcox, from Bogalusa, who is closely associated with Studio in the Country and has helped produce music for Stevie Wonder, “Dirty Dancing,” Willie Nelson, and many others. Another judge, Sherri Marengo, who started her radio career at WFOR in Hattiesburg in 1979 and became a news anchor at WDAM in the 80′s, does a live morning show on Eagle 99, a midday show on SL-100, and a rock show on Sundays at noon on 103.7 WFFX. The third judge was Donna Alonzo, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Washington Parish and Chairman of the Entertainment Committee of the Washington Parish Free Fair in Franklinton, LA.

Some of the contestants of the Country Showdown included: Zach Foreman from Laurel, Chloe Curtis from Madison, Austin Davis from Monticello, Laken Hanna and Victoria Brewer from Petal, Janie Carney from Foxworth, and Reginald Kyzar from Jayess. The winner of the singing competition was Zac Craven from Hattiesburg, who played guitar and sang his original music. Some Columbia residents may remember Zac performing at the BAWI Fest on Main Street last November.

Zac Craven will advance to the state contest held in Jackson at the Mississippi State Fair, October 14th and will compete for the state title, $1000 in prize money and the opportunity to advance to one of five regional competitions this fall. Regional winners will receive an expense paid trip to the 30th nationally televised final where the grand prize of $100,000, and the coveted national title are at stake.