GAC, Katie Armiger and the Sound Kitchen Bring Major Prize to West Virginian

March 18, 2009 — Stephen Shumacher, a 56-year-old country music fan from Charleston, W.Va., has the chance of a lifetime next week when he heads to Nashville to write a love song with Katie Armiger.

Stephen was one of more than 50,000 fans who took part in GAC’s February contest, Kapturing A Love Song With Katie Armiger, and he’ll co-write his piece with Katie and Love And Theft, a new band that will also produce a final version of the song at the Legendary Sound Kitchen Studios in Franklin, TN.

"I have always wanted the opportunity to be a part of writing a song, so this is truly a dream come true for me," Stephen says. "I sincerely want to thank Katie and GAC for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As both a singer and songwriter, Katie has a combination that makes her a truly gifted talent whose music belies her age. I still can’t believe that I won and get to write with her."

Katie, Stephen and Love And Theft will all write and record their song at the Sound Kitchen Studios in Franklin, Tenn., where such artists as Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, Lonestar and the Dixie Chicks have recorded their major albums. In the meantime, Katie has other moments worthy of celebration. She makes her network television debut Saturday on the "CBS Early Show." And her "Trail Of Lies" video is currently ranked No. 12 on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.