Country Songs Wanted
Five sessions. One year-long hunt for the best original country song, ending in a $5,000 grand prize and mentorship with a celebrated country artist. Enter one, or enter them all.
This session’s five categories.
No genre lanes. Every session sets five new categories, and these are Session One’s. Enter as many as fit your song.
A new session opens every two months.
Five sessions across the year, each with its own five categories and its own winners. New categories are revealed the day each session opens, so there’s no reason to sit on a song.
Win your category now. Win the year in July.
- ★ $5,000 cash
- ★ Mentorship with a celebrated country artist
- ★ Editorial coverage
- ★ Premium guitar
- ★ $500 cash
- ★ Feature article on Wide Open Country
- ★ Email feature
- ★ American Songwriter IG story spotlight
- ★ Advances to the year-end Grand Prize round
Heard by the people who cover country music.
Every entry is heard by the Wide Open Country editorial team. No panel to impress, no pay-to-win. A great song recorded on a phone competes with anything.
Questions, answered.
When are the deadlines?
Each session runs about two months. Session One is open now and closes October 10, 2026. A new session opens right after, every two months, through the year. Each session’s exact window is confirmed when it opens.
What should I write to?
The five categories, listed above. That is the whole prompt, and there is nothing else to write to. Each session sets five new ones. Pick whichever fits your song, or enter more than one.
Can I enter more than one session or category?
Yes. Enter as many sessions and categories as you like. Each category entry is priced separately, so the same song entered in two categories counts as two entries. The more you enter, the more chances to become a category winner and advance to the year-end round.
How do winners work, and when are they announced?
Five category winners are named after each session closes, one per category. There is no separate session-wide winner. All 25 category winners across the year advance to the year-end round, where a single $5,000 Grand Prize winner is chosen and announced in July 2027. Session One winners are named in November 2026.
Do I keep ownership of my song?
Always. You retain full ownership of your song and all rights. Full details are in the contest terms and conditions.
Is the contest international?
Yes. The contest is open to anyone in the world.
Your best song
deserves to be heard.
Session One is open now and closes October 10. Get in at the early-bird price and start the year with a win.
Enter Your Song
