Caitlyn Shadbolt wins Nashville Scholarship

PRESS RELEASE:

Pop-country artist and X Factor 2014 Top 5 Finalist Caitlyn Shadbolt has been announced as the winner of the Commercial Radio Australia New Artist to Nashville Scholarship.

The award provides Caitlyn with the opportunity to perform at the Country Music Association’s global artist showcase GlobaLive! at the world’s largest country music festival, the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee, in June 2016.  

Joan Warner, chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, said Caitlyn was a deserving winner of the scholarship, which is provided annually to a country artist by the Australian commercial radio industry in conjunction with the CMA.

“The showcase will provide Caitlyn with a platform to reach and cultivate US music fans, as well as gain attention from the music industry and press,” Ms Warner said.

“We’re delighted to support new music talent and we believe Caitlyn will be a fantastic representative of Australian country music at the event.”

This latest prize follows a successful year for the talented 20-year-old artist from Gympie, who won a strong following on X Factor 2014. Caitlyn then signed her first recording contract with ABC Music in July followed by her debut self-titled EP.

In September, her single, “Shoot Out The Lights”, hit number #1 on the Music Network Country Airplay Chart after just four weeks.

Caitlyn has also recently been nominated for a Golden Guitar Award for Best New Talent, and released her second single from her EP “Pushing Through”.

“It’s been a dream of mine to visit Nashville and I’m thrilled I’ll now get the chance to perform there with country music artists from around the world,” Caitlyn said.

Previous winners of the CRA scholarship include Adam Eckersley Band, Kaylens Rain, Morgan Evans, McAlister Kemp and The McClymonts.