Winner of Late Late Show country music contest initially didn’t feel ‘country enough’ to apply
Patrick Kielty with Late Late Show Opening Act finalists Caitlin Mackin, Jesse Sludds, Ryan Phoenix, Paddy Treacy and Keli-Ann Corcoran of Midnight in Vegas. Picture: Andres Poveda
The has crowned a winner, tipped as the next big thing in the Irish country music scene, and he revealed he almost didn’t enter the contest.
On Friday night, five acts performed live on the inaugural competition to search for Ireland's newest country music star, which sees the winner open for Shania Twain’s stadium gig in Thomond Park this July, as well as featuring on the annual in October.
The overall winner was 19-year-old Jesse Sludds from Co Wexford, who performed by Tracy Chapman with a country twist as popularised in recent years by American singer Luke Combs.
Sludds topped the music industry jury vote and, when combined with votes from the public and from the country music jury, was revealed as the overall winner.
The other acts were Paddy Treacy from Fermanagh, Caitlin Mackin from Armagh, Ryan Phoenix from Cork, and female group Midnight in Vegas, comprising members Keli-Ann Corcoran from Dublin, Phoebe Dipple from Waterford, and Jamie Sullivan from Essex. Mackin was the runner-up.
Sludds comes from a musical family, and he carried a card with his late grandfather’s image on it for good luck while performing.
Upon hearing he won the contest, the teen told host Patrick Kielty he had doubted his country credentials and did not originally feel confident enough to enter the competition.
“I did not expect that at all. To think that I wasn't going to do it because I didn't think I was country enough,” Sludds said, adding he finally entered after many people shared the contest with him online.
Panellist Una Healy noted there are many sub-genres of country that acts like Sludds can fit into.
“Even for Jesse to win, who wouldn't necessarily categorise himself as being country, it doesn't really matter because there's so many sub-genres,” she said.
“There’s country pop, country rock, there's Americana, there's Bluegrass, there's Irish country.”
Country music legend Sandy Kelly agreed: “As long as you've got heart and you've got soul and honesty in your voice when you're singing, and Jesse's got that. He’s got an honesty that almost brought me to tears.”
The in-studio panel comprised of singers Healy and Kelly, The Shires' Ben Earle, and broadcaster, Something Happens frontman, and columnist Tom Dunne, who were blown away by the talent showcased.
Dunne said Sludds is exactly the kind of exciting act to feature on the airwaves.
“When you hear a song like that and somebody manages to do something different with it, you jump on it. That's what radio stations are waiting for. We're waiting for something that catches your attention,” Dunne said.
Healy said Sludds has “a bright future” and tipped him as “the next Damien Rice”. Kelly said: “He’s got heart and he's got soul — he's got everything.”
Earle added Sludds blew him away, as did the other finalists: “There’s so much talent in this country.”
Twain also shared an encouraging message in a video after the winner was revealed.
“I'm so excited for you, and I'm just so excited for you to open my show in Limerick in July,” she said. “You did so well tonight, and I can't wait to see what you bring to the big stage.”
Jesse Sludds will perform at Thomond Park ahead of Shania Twain on July 7, 2026.
