LeAnn Rimes Hosts Country Showdown Talent Search

LeAnn Rimes received her big break when she was just 13 years old, and now she'll pay it forward to country music hopefuls. The newly engaged LeAnn will host the 29th Annual Country Showdown National Final, the country's longest-running and largest country music talent search, on January 13 at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. It's the singing star's third consecutive year to host the event.

One of five regional winners will receive a grand prize of $100,000 in the National Final. This year's judges are scheduled to include Lisa Ramsey-Perkins of Sony, Rod Essig of Creative Artist Agency, John Ozier of Curb Records, B.J. Hill of Warner/Chappell and music journalist Brian Mansfield.

Past local, state, and regional contestants in the Country Showdown have included Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Sara Evans, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert.

Curb Records executives discovered LeAnn after they heard her sing 'Blue,' which went on to become a No. 1 hit in 1996.

"I know that the success that I've had, and am having, is rare for anyone, but especially anyone who started as a kid," says LeAnn. "I have been very blessed."

The showdown will be taped and broadcast on syndicated television sometime this spring. For more information, including how to get free tickets to the event, click here.