Miley Cyrus at Colgate Country Showdown To Air On Barbara Walters’ Oscar Special

Miley Cyrus at Colgate Country Showdown To Air On Barbara Walters’ Oscar Special
Submitted By Erin Burr
Feb 19, 2008

NASHVILLE, TENNESEE (February 19, 2008) Before Hannah Montana and emerging into a super stardom, an 11-year-old Miley Cyrus was sharing the stage with her country star – and past Country Showdown participant – dad, Billy Ray Cyrus at the 22nd Annual Colgate Country Showdown National Final. Clips from the event – held at EPCOT in Walt Disney World – will air during ABC’s Oscar edition of “The Barbara Walters Special” on Sunday, February 24th at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Miley will be one of four of Hollywood's hottest megastars spending a revealing hour with Barbara Walters. Academy Award nominee Ellen Page, superstar Harrison Ford and Emmy Award nominee Vanessa Williams will also share their thoughts and successes with Walters. As a teen sensation Miley has had a whirlwind year with a top-selling tour, a hit album and a number one movie. She will talk about her acting aspirations, being a role model, staying grounded, and working with her father. "Life is a little different than the show because I don't have the alter ego that I can escape to anymore," she said. "I think the basis of the show is pretty much life. When I'm at home, it's my friends, it's my family."

The Country Showdown (sponsored by Colgate-Palmolive) is the Nation’s largest and longest running country music talent search. The 26th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National Final took place at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee with Grammy award winner, LeAnn Rimes, hosting the show. Nash Street won the Grand Prize of $100,000 and the title of Best New Act in Country Music. A one-hour television special will air in syndication in March and April, covering 90% of the US population. ABC affiliates in major markets – New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. – have carried the show for the past 15 years. It also airs overseas on the Government Access Channels to military bases, embassies and ships at sea.

About the Showdown: Each spring, 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 500+ live competitions. Local winners then compete at the 48 state and five regional competitions throughout the summer and fall. The Colgate Country Showdown culminates with a national television final competition as the regional winners vie for $100,000 and the title of Best New Act in Country Music. The televised one-hour special has been hosted in the past by country music superstars such as Barbara Mandrell, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, etc. The competition boasts a "who's who" in the Country Music industry with past local and regional winners including Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans and Montgomery Gentry.

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.

For more information on the Colgate Country Showdown and additional air dates, visit www.colgatecountryshowdown.com.