The winner of the upcoming Late Late Show search for Ireland’s newest country music star will win the chance to be the support act for Shania Twain at her Thomond Park Stadium gig Limerick this July.
Five acts for the Late Late Show Opening Act competition are set to be announced from Monday and will compete to become the first winner of new contest, which airs on Friday 17 April on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
The finalists will perform their favourite country song in front of a studio audience and a judging panel, including Una Healy, and the overall winner will be decided by media and industry juries as well as a public vote.
In a video message aired on tonight’s Late Late Show, Shania Twain announced the competition prize, saying, “I’ll be back performing my headline show in Ireland this summer. I’m so excited to announce that the winner of The Late Late Show Opening Act will be my opening act for my only Irish date in Limerick on July 7.”
Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty said, “Shania Twain is a true country icon and we’re so excited she’s agreed to give our winner the chance to be her opening act in Thomond Park.
“For any country fan, Shania’s gig this summer will be an absolute highlight and for our winner to walk out on stage and perform will be a proper pinch me moment.”
As well as sharing the stage with Twain, the Opening Act winner will also appear on the annual Late Late Show Country Special later this year.
The five finalists will be announced on Today with David McCullagh on RTÉ Radio1 and on RTÉ social accounts from Monday, 13 April.
Shania Twain, whose hits include Any Man of Mine, That Don’t Impress Me Much, You’re Still the One, and Man! I Feel Like A Woman!, will play Thomond Park Stadium, Limerick on 7 July.