Local couple vying for Christian record deal

ASHEBORO — Brittnee and Doyle Hinkle are entered into a contest that could jumpstart their Christian music careers. But they need help from the local community.

At one point on April 27, they had moved into the top spot, above 235 other artists in the You, God’s Music Showcase. But there’s a long way to go in the competition that will land the winner a recording and video, shot in Nashville. 

“We have to be in the top 50 to advance to Round 2,” Brittnee Hinkle said. “Round 1 ends Sunday, May 7.” The top 50 are determined by popular votes from the public.

Voting for Round 2 will be from May 20-June 4. The top 25 advance to Round 3, with voting from June 17-July 2. The top 5 vote-getters will go to Round 4, the finals, where they will perform live at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts in San Antonio, Texas. The winner will be determined by popular vote (40 percent) and the vote of the judges (60 percent).

Votes cost $1 each with a minimum of five per vote cast. Hinkle said 20 percent of the proceeds go to a beneficiary of the artists’ choosing and 20 percent to the artists. The remainder goes to the You, God’s Music organization, which is a nonprofit.

“I’m feeling really excited about it,” Hinkle said. “We were not in the top 50 one day then started going up. The community is really rallying together for us. It means so much to us.

“But I won’t be surprised to see (the vote totals) go back and forth for a while,” she said. “What matters is we’ve been given a good opportunity to meet other Christian bands. Some of them reach out to us and comment on the updates, supporting us. It’s a unique experience to befriend other bands in the competition.”

Brittnee and Doyle have chosen as their beneficiary the Journey Church, where they are part of the music ministry. She said the money is needed to buy equipment to make music.

Hinkle said the chance to go to San Antonio to perform is heightened by the fact that the News Boys, a top Christian music group, will be headlining the show. Jason Crabb will host the event and judges will be other musicians — Jordan Smith, Jordan Feliz and Blanca.

The winning artists will record a single and do a video at the Nashville home of Michael Tait of the News Boys. There will also be a recording package and promotions for the winners.

Rod Corder, who has acted as manager while drumming up support for the Hinkles, revealed that Brittnee is an accomplished yodeler.

“I had said I’ll yodel for votes,” Hinkle joked. She said she once was part of a western swing band and had trained her voice to perfect her yodeling. Later at Journey Church, a popular song was reworded as Christian music so that she could take advantage of her yodeling skill. It’s been suggested that she use yodeling in the contest.

To vote in the You, God’s Music Showcase, go to the website, https://yougodsmusic.org/showcase, click on the menu and find the 2023 Showcase. The contestants should then pop up and you can watch videos of their music. Each contestant has a Vote Now! box to click on.