Both Winning Spotlight Accolades Before, During and After the Showcase!
Introducing the outstanding talents from the 2024 Hank Williams Sr. Talent Showcase: get to know the incredible winner and the impressive runner-up. Discover the stories and performances that set them apart.
It was an honor to have Brant McCollough, a 17-year-old from Samson, Alabama, who earned a "golden ticket" to Hollywood on "American Idol," at this year’s Hank Williams Sr. Talent Showcase. Brant, a junior at Kinston High School and the Bulldogs' quarterback, impressed American Idol judges with his rendition of Chris Stapleton’s “Fire Away.” Despite initial nerves and forgetting his guitar pick, he crafted one from a Walmart gift card and delivered a standout performance.
Brant's musical journey began in third grade with a guitar from his parents, and his talent flourished through school talent shows and a popular TikTok account. Dual enrolled at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Brant is still exploring his future but remains passionate about music, acknowledging his God-given talent and family’s musical influence. He may not have advanced to American Idol’s top 24, but their loss was our gain as he went on to win Georgiana Opry House’s annual talent show! We know Brant has a bright future in music.
Brant McCullough was not the only participant in the HWSTS to capture the attention of the American Idol judges. Our Talent Showcase runner-up, University of Alabama student, and incredibly talented, Summer Waters, also auditioned for the hit television show and impressively advanced to the top finalists in her region. We were privileged to have Summer grace the stage at the Georgiana Opry House, where her stunning performances left a lasting impression on everyone.
Summer’s journey in the spotlight began with pageantry, where she’s taken home the trophy as a teen and continues to as a young adult. Her experience and confidence have only grown as she competes, always leveraging her love for singing to outshine her peers in the talent portions of pageants.
Summer and her fiancé are planning to move to Nashville, a city renowned for its vibrant music scene. We are confident that this move will provide Summer with the perfect platform to flourish as an artist, and we eagerly anticipate seeing her shine even brighter in the years to come.
We are deeply grateful to Brant, Summer, and all the contestants who participated, bringing their unique gifts and hard work to the forefront. Your contributions have made this year’s talent show a memorable and enriching experience for everyone involved. We wish Brant and Summer the best of luck in their future endeavors, confident that their journeys are only just beginning, and that they will continue to achieve great success.
As we look ahead, we encourage all aspiring performers to consider auditioning for next year’s talent show. This platform offers a fantastic opportunity to share your talents, gain invaluable experience, and join a vibrant community of artists. We can't wait to see the new wave of talent that will take the stage next year. Keep practicing, stay passionate, and we’ll see you at the auditions!
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