Some dreams simply seem out of reach when the limitations of growing up in a small town and the responsibilities of a toddler named Walker, make superstardom seem distant and meant for someone else. But America believed wholeheartedly in what Thompson couldn’t imagine for himself.

Season 20’s American Idol winner embodies the spirt of country music: overcoming adversity and the odds to achieve widespread acclaim and the hearts of millions. This is more than a CinderNoah story; this is the culmination of an “American (Idol) Dream.”

Colin Stough, a horse-loving, motorcycle-riding 18-year-old from Gattman, Mississippi has lived through a lot in his relatively short life. And, every ounce of heartbreak can be heard in his gravelly yet commanding rock-leaning vocal. Dubbed “the Brad Pitt [people.com] of country music” by Katy Perry, the southern-rock, country artist is releasing his single, "I Still Talk to Jesus". The bluesy, rock ballad, written by Francisco Martin and Hank Compton, is about loneliness, loss and addiction, themes Colin is all too familiar with. It is a song about feeling so emotionally alone it's hard not to question “why” yet also feeling a semblance of hope - that you're not truly alone. Tender yet gritty, Colin's striking vocal performance emotes the perfect blend of “I’ve been there too” and “to anyone out there feeling this way, you are not alone”. 

Laid Back Country Picker plays good country music and treats everybody right. He has played and recorded with Grammy winners. He has performed at the fabled Ryman Auditorium, Bonnaroo and at Red Rocks. His show combines 70s country music, classic guitar rock and hillbilly sensibility. Rejecting the modern for the surreal, Laid Back and Honey deliver a unique musical experience.

Rachel Messer, a singer-songwriter raised up a little holler in Fort Gay, WV, draws her inspiration from the country and bluegrass greats before her. She pens her lyrics with a straightforward “say it how you see it” style, true to her Appalachian roots.

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Connor Dale; Alternative Country singer-songwriter, sings letters, stories, and the things he sees happening in the world. Kentucky born and New Orleans raised, he pulls from the life he’s lived in both parts of the country, creating a unique urban-folk writing style.