‘Real Country’s Contestant Lineup Announced & A Look at Early Standouts
USA Network/CJ Hicks USA Network’s new country music talent show, Real Country, just revealed the 21 up-and-coming artists who will be competing in its inaugural season. Judges Shania Twain, Jake Owen, and Travis Tritt each selected seven artists to showcase. Each week, three contestants will take the stage for a chance to move on to the next round. These singers will then compete for a grand prize of $10,000, a performance slot at the Stagecoach Festival and a chance to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Let’s take a look at the 21 artists and our early favorites!
Shania Twain’s Picks
The Davisson Brothers Band has been hailed as one of Rolling Stone Country’s “10 New Country Artists You Need To Know.” And yes, two members of the band are actually brothers! They are from West Virginia and seem like a lot of fun. Their personalities will definitely help on the show! Plus, the fact that they have over three-quarters of a million views on YouTube can’t hurt either.
The Young Fables are an award-winning country duo from Maryville, Tennessee. They have appeared with country stars Lauren Alaina, Josh Turner, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, and more! The band has also garnered one of the highest YouTube followings on the show, with almost 1,900.
Kylie Frey is a former rodeo queen from Opelousas, Louisiana. She has a nationally recognized single, “Too Bad,” featuring Randy Rogers and produced by award-winning Paul Worley. Kylie decided to hang up her spurs to pursue her dream as a country music artist. From singing the National Anthem at rodeos to now working on an album of original songs, Kylie has what it takes. She also has almost 14,000 followers on Instagram and an amazing voice to boot!
Billie Jo is a singer, songwriter, and recording artist from Emory, Texas. She is a mother of four who has won numerous local singing competitions.
Tiera is from Gardendale, Alabama. She has played at many local festivals and even performed at the iconic Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Her covers on YouTube have earned her over 2,700 subscribers and 230,000 views.
Riley Thompson from Mabank, Texas, is a 15-year-old up-and-coming singer/songwriter. She competed in the Texas Music City Songwriter Competition and finished in the top five!
Micah Woods is a powerhouse vocalist from Murrieta, California. He was performing at a hotel in New York City when Shania heard him and selected him to be on the show! Micah is not only a great vocalist but also a guitarist! He has original songs on YouTube and over 15,900 followers on Instagram.
Jake Owen’s Picks
Jaida Dreyer is one of Nashville’s most sought after co-writers. She has written songs for the television show “Nashville” and co-wrrote Luke Bryan’s “Home Alone Tonight” featuring Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town. She also has an amazing voice herself! Jaida has performed all around Nashville and made a name for herself. Because of this, she has the largest Instagram following of anyone on the show, with over 53,500 followers!
Larry Fleet is a traditional country artist from White Bluff, Tennessee. He played at the world famous Ryman Auditorium at the age of seven! Larry was discovered by Jake while he was out on tour.
Jamie Floyd was signed to a record deal at 11 years old. She now writes music for recording artists, film, and television. Jamie wrote “The Blade,” a duet between Ashley Monroe and Miranda Lambert. The song served as the title track of Monroe’s Grammy nominated album!
Savannah Keyes is a country/pop artist from Sandy, Utah. She appeared on Ellen at 13 years old and now acts as a radio host and correspondent for Radio Disney Country.
Frank Ray from Las Cruces, New Mexico, is a former police office who left the force to pursue his music career. He is a triple-threat singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His YouTube channel is full of original songs, vlogs, and covers. He has over 1,600 subscribers on YouTube!
Adairs Run is a duo that was formed in 2009. They started playing in dive bars and local festivals across West Virginia. But over the years, they have now opened for Brett Michaels, Jason Aldean, and Florida Georgia Line. They’ve even recorded a song with American Idol‘s Chris Daughtry! Adairs Run has over 47,500 Instagram followers and one of the best shots for the groups to make it big.
Regan Stewart has been in music her entire life. She began writing songs at just 8 years old and is part of a female-driven songwriter’s showcase called the Song Suffragettes!
Travis Tritt’s Picks
Bri Bagwell tours with her band “The Banned” over 180 days per year! She is a six-time Texas Regional Radio Female Vocalist of the Year. Bri has the largest following on social of any of Travis’s picks with over 25,000 followers on Instagram. She also has the look and sound of today’s country music. Bri could be one to watch!
Scooter Brown is a singer-songwriter from Littleton, Colorado. After four years in the Marine Corps, he moved to Texas to pursue country music. Scooter now tours across the country, opening for acts like The Charlie Daniels Band and The Mashall Tucker Band. As a father of four children, two who were adopted, Scooter uses his music platform to advocate for veterans and adoption. Between his backstory and his vocal abilities, we could be seeing Scooter around for a while!
Copper Chief is a central Texas band consisting of three country artists. These guys have been touring all around Texas to steadily growing crowds since the release of their debut self-titled album.
Like Scooter, Tony Jackson is also a former Marine. He fell in love with country music after seeing Randy Travis perform on an army base in Spain. Tony is a true singer/songwriter. His original music has gone viral before, including his George Jones tribute, which hit over 38 million views! Because of this, he has the largest YouTube following of all the contestants. He has amassed over 12,000 subscribers on the platform.
Dave Kennedy has been a singer/songwriter for nearly a decade. Dave recently toured with country artist Drake White and is working on a full-length solo album.
Cody Purvis moved to Nashville from Charlorresville, Virginia, when he was 15 years old. He has opened for Trace Adkins and Darius Rucker! Cody has also performed at the historic Ryman Auditorium and is looking to get his big break.
Porter Union is a duo led by a husband and wife who met singing karaoke. They have spent the last decade traveling the country playing their music wherever they can!
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