We know that incredible country songwriting talent is out there waiting to be discovered and showcased. In fact, Wide Open Country is on a mission to find and spotlight that talent. Therefore, with that exciting goal in mind, Wide Open Country is proud to launch Song Sessions, a year-long songwriting competition designed to pinpoint and spread the word about great original country songs. Your recording budget, career stage, or where you live don't matter at all. Because what really counts with us is your ability to craft wonderful original country music.
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The Grand Prize is a terrific opportunity for one top songwriter in the competition. That person will receive a $5,000 cash prize, a mentorship with a celebrated country artist so you can learn from the best in the business, publicity, and a premium guitar.
If you have ever listened to your favorite country artist and said to yourself, 'I could write a song like that.' then jump into the running in Song Sessions! If being a country songwriter is your dream, maybe we can help you achieve it. Your song just might be the next big hit like "Choosin' Texas"!
We are so excited about this and we hope that you are as well! We can't wait to hear from you.
What Makes Song Sessions Different
The answer is simple. The song comes first. Even if you don't submit a polished studio master, it's the originality and the quality of your songwriting that count. Those elements will emerge to us clearly even of you decide to record your song on a phone. We just want your fantastic songwriting.
Also, there are no fixed genre lanes. With so many categories to pick from, you can easily find the one that fits your song best. Whatever the theme is, there is probably a category that it belongs in.
How It Works
5 Sessions...25 Category Winners...1 Grand Prize Winner
Entering the competition is easy. Actually, there will be a new Song Session approximately every two months. Each session features five categories. Although songwriters can enter one category, they can enter all five if they choose. In fact, you can submit to as many categories as are appropriate for your songs.
One winner will be chosen in each of the five categories when each Song Session concludes.Those five winners then move on to the year-end competition.
At the end of the year, the 25 category winners go on to the final round of the competition. One of those 25 entries will be the Grand Prize winner. The recipent will be announced in July 2027.
What Category Winners Receive
Five category winners will be chosen after each session. They will each receive the following:
- $500 cash prize
- A Feature in Wide Open Country
- Wide Open Country email feature
- American Songwriter Instagram Story spotlight
- Automatic advancement to the Grand Prize round
Session One Is Open Now!
Enter Song Sessions at WideOpenCountry.com/Song-Sessions
Here Are the Categories To Choose From
Full Tank-No Plan Bags in the bed, county line in the windshield. Whatever's next starts with the first hard mile.
Hold My Beer The night nobody planned and everybody's still talking about. Bad ideas make the best stories.
Slow Dance in the Kitchen No music, no reason, still dancing. First kiss or forty years in.
Still Got Your Sweatshirt The leaving the almost, the box you never did mail back. However far down the road you are.
Sunday Comes Around Whatever you got up to Saturday. Sunday coming anyway. Grace, reckoning, or a headache. Your call.
What To Keep in Mind
Deadline: October 10, 2026
Winners Announced: November 2026
Entry fee: $10 early bird for the first two weeks / $15 regular, per song entry
Songwriters may enter multiple categories and multiple sessions. Each category submission counts as a separate paid entry.
Good To Know
Who can enter? Anyone, anywhere in the world.
Can I enter more than once? Yes. Enter as many sessions and categories as you like.
Do I keep my song rights? Yes. Entrants retain full ownership of their songs and rights.
What happens if I win a category? You receive the category prize package and automatically become one of the 25 songs considered for the $5,000 Grand Prize.
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