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A Hartland man is hoping his vocal talents will pay-off for him this weekend with an appearance on Country Music Television (CMT).

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PHOTO BY SHAWN MERRITHEW

Hartland Potato Festival organizer Brigid Williams presents amateur singer Jason Shaw with a cheque. The festival committee is sponsoring him in his audition for Country Music Television's Chevy Karaoke Star 2008, which takes place in Halifax on Saturday and Sunday.

Jason Shaw is heading to Halifax on Friday, May 16, to audition for CMT's Chevy Karaoke Star 2008.

The 10-episode show, which is slated to begin airing on July 31, allows for 18 contestants to compete to be crowned the next big Karaoke champion.

Shaw said he is excited about the contest, which he first heard about last year from an advertisement on CMT. He wanted to participate last year, he said, but was unable to attend the auditions.

"But as soon as I saw it commercialized again this year, I said there is no way I'm not going to miss this year's," explained Shaw.

So he filled out the registration form, and the rest is history.

"I think I'm still in a little bit of awe that I'm able to go this year," he added.

Shaw's audition gets underway on Saturday afternoon at the Rodeo Lounge in Halifax. From there, he said, judges will select the top 10 to perform again on Sunday.

"From there the judges pick one person to go to Toronto to the finals," he explained. "Also, if a person does make it to the final 10 and doesn't get picked by the judges – when it is aired on television – people can call in a vote for a wildcard entry. So that is another way a person can get to the finals."

The 33-year-old said he loves to sing and is hoping to make it to the finals.

Shaw won Carleton County Idol in 2004, but this is a big step for him, performing before the top people in the country music scene.

"It is quite big for me," Shaw said. "I have done the idol competitions around here, and we do draw a lot of people. But this is going to be the head honchos (from CMT) down there."

Hartland Potato Festival organizer Brigid Williams said she is happy for Shaw. She was there when he took home the Carleton County Idol title, and she feels he will do his hometown proud.

"I think it is very cool," she said. "I just can't believe he is going, and I think it is awesome."

Williams noted area fans will have the opportunity to see Shaw perform when he opens for local band Escape at the Potato Festival later this summer.

Should Shaw make the cut, Williams urges all of Carleton County to tune in and support him.