In Feb. 7-13 issue
By Kim Graham
Times Journal Reporter

Left: Cheyenne Popplewell
and Devin Wilson

JAMESTOWN - Until recently, Cheyenne Popplewell and Devin Wilson's performances were mostly at local events or at home with family and friends.

All that changed January 12th, when Popplewell of Jamestown and Wilson of Russell Springs auditioned at the Wildhorse Saloon in Nashville, TN for a chance to compete on a new CMT series called "Can You Duet?"

The pair joined hundreds of other singing duos from around the country in performing for producers of the new competition.

In the tradition of duos such as George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, and Johnny and June Carter Cash; the producers of American Idol have joined CMT in a search to find the next great duet singers.

Can You Duet? promises to launch the winning musical duo into country music superstar status.

Popplewell and Wilson say they started singing together about a year ago when they performed Johnny and June Carter Cash's song "Jackson" for Denver Wilson's "A Kentucky Salute to our Soldiers" video.

Little did they know their first performance of the song would lead them to perform it again in Nashville for producers of Can You Duet?

After waiting in line with their families behind about 300 other performers for more than seven hours, the Russell County duo was ready for their 45 second audition.

Popplewell said the producers were very complimentary telling the duo that they sang very well and that Wilson's guitar playing was excellent.

At the end of the day, they were not among those chosen to compete in the television series but they say they are not discouraged by the results.

"I may not be famous but I have already done what dreamers dream of doing," Popplewell said. "I am very proud of Devin and I, and I can't wait to do something like this again."

"Next year if Can You Duet competition is held and American Idol and Country Music Television is trying to move country music toward pop music," said Wilson. "This will give me several months to pen a song and you can bet Cheyenne and I will be ready to pop their country."

Cheyenne and Devin's next local performance will be Thursday, February 14th at Loy's Midtown Restaurant's Valentine's Day Dinner.

Cheyenne Popplewell is the daughter of Greg and Jodi Popplewell of Jamestown and Devin Wilson is the grandson of Denver and Claradon Coffey Wilson of Russell Springs.