Colgate Country Showdown Grand Prize Winner Johnny Bulford Pays Tribute This Mother's Day to His Mom and Late Granny, Who Passed Away After a Car Accident on Mother's Day, 2008

LOS ANGELES (Top40 Charts/ Luck Media & Marketing) - Representing radio station WWKA Orlando, Johnny Bulford (www.johnnybulford.com) was named 'Best New Act In Country Music' at the 27th Annual Colgate Country Showdown (www.countryshowdown.com), which was hosted by superstar LeAnn Rimes at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium.

Getting set to release his third solo album, Livin' It Up, and currently performing dates with some of the hottest artists in country music, the charismatic Central Florida based singer/songwriter is grateful this Mother's Day for a lifetime of love and support given to him by both his mom and granny.

At a time when Johnny was establishing himself as a songwriter and about to give up his pursuit of being an artist, his mother's encouraging words kept him going. Looking further back, Johnny recalls all the time he would spend singing for his granny. She was the one that put the first guitar in his hand.

Ironically, Granny passed away exactly a year ago, nine days after a car accident she was involved in on Mother's Day, 2008. A longtime cancer survivor, she survived her injuries just long enough to help her family come together, heal longtime rifts, and after she comforted them, to say goodbye.

Bulford honored his Granny on a poignant song from his first album, 'In My Hands'; the single is available on iTunes. In part, the lyrics go: 'My Granny showed me how to love unconditionally/She taught me all about generosity/Give with all your heart to those who will receive...the reason I'm the way that I am It's because she put a Bible in my hands.'

At the tender age of 23, Bulford, who recently scored a highly coveted endorsement deal with manufacturing powerhouse Taylor Guitars, has already opened major shows for Jason Michael Carroll, Collin Raye, The Warren Brothers, Josh Turner, Emerson Drive, Chris Cagle, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, Tanya Tucker and Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night.