Cumberland Sisters Win Local Country Showdown

Contestants streamed into Woonsocket from across New England Saturday night for the 30th annual Texaco Country Showdown, to compete in what has become a springboard for some of the most popular country music stars today.

The country music competition's 30th anniversary brought talent from as nearby as Cumberland and Lincoln, to as far as Twin Mountain, NH, to St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center.  At 4 p.m. friends, family, and fans of country music took their seats to witness some of the best local talent in New England. In past years, names such as Garth Brooks, Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Leann Rimes, Billy Rae Cyrus and Brad Paisley have started on their road to fame at the local level of the Texaco Showdown.

The winners of this year's local country showdown will advance to their respective state competitions held at leading fairs and expositions where they will compete for a $1,000 prize, the state title and the opportunity to advance to one of five regional finals. These regional finals are the last step before the prestigious national final held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN.

Although 17 contestants were scheduled to perform on Saturday, three were unable to attend. Dave Richards from WOON 1240 Radio  took the mic promptly at 4 p.m., while the 14 contestants waited backstage for their names to be called, and the audience took their seats.

Richards introduced the contestants as follows: Alexandra Dutremble,Alyssa Surette, Bethany Conway, Brittany Victoria, Emily Mercier, Garrison, Hope Columbo, Sara Rose, Jennifer Branson, Kellie Columbo, Kevin Mohamed, Kim Oakes, Sarah and the Hometown Boys, and Tiffany Lynn. 

The Durango Mango country music band kept the audience in fine country spirits with their live music before and after the competition, as well as during intermission while the judges tallied up the points.

After an impressive display of talent, judges Ken Landry, Dave Lacroix, and John Lacroix, announced the winner and runner up. The two Columbo sisters Kellie and Hope of Cumberland, who performed all original music and lyrics, seemed to have made quite an impression. Kellie was pronounced the winner of the 2011 Texaco Showdown, while her little sister Hope was pronounced runner up. With numerous friends and family in the audience to cheer them on, they performed their original songs flawlessly on guitar, with each note reaching a more beautiful lilting pitch than the last.

Kim Columbo, mother of the girls, said that all five of her daughters sing and practice their instruments daily.

"Their biggest supporter is their grandfather. He's the one who makes them practice every day."  The two girls, Kellie, 15, and Hope, 11, will proceed to the next level of competition which is due to take place in October of this year.

We wish the Columbo sisters all the best of luck on their road to country stardom.