The Twin Counties’ own Meredith Davis Johnson is the winner of Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar’s Battle of the Openers contest. Johnson opened for Barrett Baber and Taylor Goyette at Rocky Mount’s location on September 22.

The contest raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and in total the artists helped to raise over $80,000 for the non-profit organization.

Each Shuckin’ Shack location selected a local artist to submit a recording of one original song and the public could vote on their favorite. After a month of voting, Johnson was declared the winner of the contest with her song “There’s Something about the Way”. When she got the call, “she was grinning ear to ear,” Johnson said.

“Whenever you do a competition, you never expect to win,” Johnson said. Her winning “showed her how much support I have in the place where I was born and raised. That’s what is most special to me.”The Twin Counties’ own Meredith Davis Johnson is the winner of Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar’s Battle of the Openers contest. Johnson opened for Barrett Baber and Taylor Goyette at Rocky Mount’s location on September 22.

The contest raised money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and in total the artists helped to raise over $80,000 for the non-profit organization.

Each Shuckin’ Shack location selected a local artist to submit a recording of one original song and the public could vote on their favorite. After a month of voting, Johnson was declared the winner of the contest with her song “There’s Something about the Way”. When she got the call, “she was grinning ear to ear,” Johnson said.

“Whenever you do a competition, you never expect to win,” Johnson said. Her winning “showed her how much support I have in the place where I was born and raised. That’s what is most special to me.”

She will head to Nashville, TN in January to face off against other singer/songwriters at Grindhouse Nashville’s writer’s round. Each contestant will perform four original songs.

Johnson sees this as an opportunity to try something new and to put herself up against other talented artists in Music City. According to Davis, she looks forward to one day telling her daughters that she didn’t give up on her dreams.

Be sure to check out Johnson’s upcoming shows at one of the venues below!

November 22 | Koi Pond Brewing, Rocky Mount | with Chandler James

November 25 | Red Oak Christmas Parade

December 2 | Mythic Brewing, Rocky Mount

December 7 | Westridge Grill, Rocky Mount

December 9 | Nash County’s Farmers Market

December 22 | Home for the Holidays at Nash County Arts Center | With Chandler James | Benefit concert to support the arts | Donations accepted