LeAnn Rimes Returns As Host of 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown

LeAnn Rimes Returns As Host of 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown
Submitted By Erin Burr
Nov 19, 2007

National Final Longest-Running Talent Competition

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE -- 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 info rmation 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.

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.

The five National Finalists and judges will be announced in upcoming weeks. For more information on the Colgate Country Showdown visit www.colgatecountryshowdown.com.