BULL'S
INFORMATION
UPDATE
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
COLGATE COUNTRY SHOWDOWN NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LeAnn Rimes Returns As Host of
27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National TV Final
Where Five Regional Winners Compete for $100,000
Longest-Running Talent Competition
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (December 3, 2008) – For the third consecutive year, Curb Records recording artist LeAnn Rimes will host and perform at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown National Final on January 15, 2009 at the Ryman Auditorium. For free tickets call 615.458.8781. The Showdown is the Nation's largest and longest-running country music talent search and radio promotion. The televised one-hour special is syndicated nationwide. Colgate-Palmolive has been involved since 2000 and recently committed for the 28th Annual Showdown with acts competing throughout 2009.
Dean Unkefer, President of Special Promotions, Inc. and producer of the Colgate Country Showdown, commented, “Colgate has been dedicated to helping give aspiring artists the opportunity to perform in front of live audiences and be exposed to industry professionals. We are all excited to have LeAnn join us again at the National Final and look forward to finding the best talent in the nation. Regional winners and judges will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Her critically acclaimed current album, Family, was entirely co-written by Rimes. With the lead single, the GRAMMY nominated “Nothin’ Better to Do,” Rimes became the first artist to have a song on Billboard’s Country, Adult Contemporary and Dance charts simultaneously. The album features collaborations with Reba McEntire, Bon Jovi and Marc Broussard.
LeAnn Rimes has sold more than 37 million albums, won two GRAMMY Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards and 12 Billboard Music Awards. Rimes is the youngest GRAMMY Award-winner ever and was the first country recording artist to win the GRAMMY’s “Best New Artist” category.
Rimes has scored numerous hit singles in her career, including “Blue,” “One Way Ticket,” “I Need You,” “Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense,” “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way,” “Can’t Fight The Moonlight,” which went #1 in 11 countries and "How Do I Live," which holds the record for the longest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at 69 weeks. Rimes has acted in film and television and as an accomplished author, is also the creator of two children’s books Jag and Jag’s New Friend, as well as Holiday In Your Heart which was later adapted into an ABC special starring Rimes. LeAnn has long-supported a variety of charity organizations including The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, Children’s Miracle Network and the ‘Stop Hiding. Start Living’ psoriasis advocacy campaign For more information about LeAnn Rimes visit www.leannrimesworld.com.
About the Showdown: Annually, more than 50,000 artists compete in the Colgate-sponsored local spring competitions with 450 radio stations throughout the U.S. and over $300,000 in cash prizes are awarded throughout 550+ live shows. 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. 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 and Miranda Lambert. For more information on the Colgate Country Showdown visit www.colgatecountryshowdown.com.
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.