The Country Music Highway Road to Fame competition officially kicked off at a press conference held Wednesday at the U.S. 23 Country Music Highway Museum in Paintsville, Kentucky, with the help of the Kentucky natives Montgomery Gentry and Tom T. Hall. (Click here for that exclusive article.)
Details of the upcoming competition were revealed. The competition is designed to discover and assist the next generation of talent along the famed Country Music Highway (U.S. Route 23). The east Kentucky highway has blossomed the talents of Dwight Yoakam, Loretta Lynn, Ricky Skaggs, The Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Patty Loveless and many more.
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of the duo Montgomery Gentry, whose hometown-proud hit “Where I Come From” is currently headed to the top of the music charts, showed support for the Road to Fame competition through an exclusive video message supporting the competition.
“That guy that we went to see at the local honky tonks…Man! That was your hero - local celebrities like Greg Austin, Larry Redmon, Patty Loveless, Bill Monroe, Opry member John Connolly, Keith Whitley and Billy Ray Cyrus,” reminisced Montgomery Gentry.
“Charlie Crow that played with Brooks & Dunn, a couple of our buddies that played with the Oak Ridge Boys; there were a lot of musicians as well (not just entertainers, as far as the singing aspect of it) around the Kentucky area that came down here and were able to pick up jobs playing with other artists in Nashville,” stated Eddie Montgomery.
“We had a lot of entertainment and a lot of people to go see that we looked up to and chased down to see if we can get up on stage,” added Troy Gentry.
“Now, going back home and driving around, it seems like a lot of those opportunities aren’t there anymore. A lot of those clubs moved to line dancing which pushed a lot of those musicians and entertainers and bands out. We support The Country Music Highway Road to Fame and you should too,” added the duo.
Country Music Hall of Fame member Tom T. Hall, who was born and began his career as a singer and songwriter along the Country Music Highway, also showed support through a written message and prerecorded video after previously helping to launch both the Country Music Highway “Road to Fame” competition and “Arts Education Fund” with Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear on January 31st.
Representatives from the Allen Central Middle School and South Floyd Middle School music programs were each presented with checks of $500, marking the first of four Road to Fame Arts Education Fund donations to be made to provide monetary support to struggling music and arts programs in Eastern Kentucky schools.
“The fact that the Road to Fame Arts Education Fund is already supporting music programs in Eastern Kentucky schools, prior to the beginning of the Road to Fame competition, which will generate additional funds, shows great promise for both initiatives,” said Bernard Porter, Road to Fame Developer. “I look forward to seeing what opportunities in the area will arise because both of these programs are being put into place.”
After two weeks of waiting, aspiring artists and country fans were advised that the competition will be open to contestants ages 13-35 who grew up in the 15 counties surrounding U.S. Route 23. Those counties include Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Boyd, Greenup, Harlan, Perry, Knott, Magoffin, Morgan, Elliott, Carter and Lewis. Contestants will begin their journey down the Road to Fame competition by entering one of four qualifying rounds. Registration will begin two hours prior to the start of each audition.
“The fact that the Road to Fame Arts Education Fund is already supporting music programs in Eastern Kentucky schools, prior to the beginning of the Road to Fame competition, which will generate additional funds, shows great promise for both initiatives,” said Bernard Porter, Road to Fame Developer. “I look forward to seeing what opportunities in the area will arise because both of these programs are being put into place.”
After two weeks of waiting, aspiring artists and country fans were advised that the competition will be open to contestants ages 13-35 who grew up in the 15 counties surrounding U.S. Route 23. Those counties include Letcher, Pike, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, Boyd, Greenup, Harlan, Perry, Knott, Magoffin, Morgan, Elliott, Carter and Lewis. Contestants will begin their journey down the Road to Fame competition by entering one of four qualifying rounds. Registration will begin two hours prior to the start of each audition.
Dates of the competition:
Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 1:00 P.M.
Expo Center [Ballroom]
126 Main Street
Pikeville, KY 41501
Expo Center [Ballroom]
126 Main Street
Pikeville, KY 41501
Friday, March 16, 2012 at 1:00 P.M.
Mountain Arts Center[Band Room]
50 Hal Rogers Drive
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:00 A.M.
Paramount Arts Center
1300 Winchester Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101
Sunday, March 18 at 1:00 P.M.
Sipp Theater
336 Main Street,
Paintsville, KY41240
The grand prize winner will receive a scholarship to participate in a course of career development and coaching under the direction of PCG Nashville (valued at $25,000.00). They will act as an ambassador representing the “Country Music Highway” at various events throughout the year and will help promote the 2013 Road to Fame competition.
Mountain Arts Center[Band Room]
50 Hal Rogers Drive
Prestonsburg, KY 41653
Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 10:00 A.M.
Paramount Arts Center
1300 Winchester Avenue
Ashland, KY 41101
Sunday, March 18 at 1:00 P.M.
Sipp Theater
336 Main Street,
Paintsville, KY41240
The grand prize winner will receive a scholarship to participate in a course of career development and coaching under the direction of PCG Nashville (valued at $25,000.00). They will act as an ambassador representing the “Country Music Highway” at various events throughout the year and will help promote the 2013 Road to Fame competition.
Contestants will be judged by Music Row executives Bernard Porter, Molly Smith and Mike Harris. They have over 50 years collective entertainment experience in career development, creative consulting, and vocal consulting.
Details of the competition and registration information are available online at www.cmhRoadToFame.com.
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