Sarah Johns

"Country as cornbread" — that's how Sarah Johns, a hot, young talent, describes her music. A true country girl from the rural hills of Kentucky, she discovered her voice after countless hours listening to incredible talents like Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn and Martina McBride. Yet she's cultivated a sound all her own. Johns' songs reflect the full spectrum of her personality — from sassy and spirited to tenderhearted and genuine.

Ashley Monroe

Music has always been a part of Ashley Monroe's life. From piano lessons to singing and clogging, this Knoxville, Tenn., girl loves to entertain. After her father died suddenly in 2000, her music became more than a hobby. With a passion that's rare in a woman so young, she pursued her dream in Nashville. Monroe's voice is as sweet as it is sincere, and part of her soul goes into every performance.

Catherine Britt

At 22, Catherine Britt is already a seasoned performer. Known and loved in her native Australia, this blonde beauty has earned critical acclaim and toured extensively. Now, she's set her sights on the hearts of country fans across the U.S. Her smoky, sensual voice has Nashville's Music Row buzzing and is a welcome addition to the country music landscape. Britt's insightful songwriting continues to earn fans around the globe.

Crystal Shawanda

Raised on a reservation on Canada's Manitoulon Island, Shawanda wrote her first song at age 9. Even at the young age, music became her means of escaping the hard life on the reservation. By eleven, she was making frequent trips to Nashville, singing wherever she could in the city's historic honkytonks. Since then, she's blossomed into a soul-stirring vocalist. "I was born a country music singer," the Native American beauty says, "music is my lifeline."