Winner of Late Late Show country music contest initially didn’t feel ‘country enough’ to apply

The newly-crowned Opening Act winner will open for Shania Twain this summer in Limerick

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  Late Late Show Opening Act 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  Late Late Show Country Special in October.