The 2013 Walworth County Fair hosted the Texaco Country Showdown Wisconsin State Finals ... We are Wisconsin proud of you, Zac Matthews! Wisconsin country star hopeful doesnt win national prize, but relishes Nashville experience By Piet Levy of the Journal Sentinel Jan. 17, 2014 3:56 p.m. Zac Matthews, the 18-year-old country star hopeful from Milton, did not win the $100,000 grand prize at the Texaco Country Showdown finals on Thursday. But what Matthews did receive was priceless. As the Midwest Regional Champion for the 32-year-old country music talent competition, Matthews (birth name Zach Molitor) was one of only five finalists, out of more than 50,000 contestants, who made it to Thursdays finals. He got to perform in front of a sold out crowd at the famed Ryman Auditorium, with Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie McCoy in his band, at an event hosted by Showdown alum and Grammy winner LeAnn Rimes. It was the most unbelievable thing Ive ever done, Matthews said Friday. I experienced every emotion that a person could ever experience. The jitters, happiness, tears, everything. In the end, the judges declared Crystal Yates, a singer-songwriter from McKinney, Texas, the winner. I was really happy for her, Matthews said. She did a good job, everybody did a good job, so it could have gone either way. I consider it a success because I got to make it to the Ryman. Thats fine with me. And before he heads back to Milton, Matthews has a lot of Nashville gigging to do this weekend. Ill be at the Stage, Tootsies, Legends Corner, Honky Tonky Central, Jimmy Buffetts Margaritaville, Matthews said. Im having a great time.
Posted on: Sat, 18 Jan 2014 01:16:11 +0000