Today we spotlight an artist who is hoping to move far beyond his current status of being an answer to the trivia question "who was the winner of the final season of American Idol? He hopes to join Scotty McCreery, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood as artists who won the program and used it as a launching pad for a great career in country music.

Manny Pacquiao v Timothy Bradley Jr.
photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images Entertainment
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Immediately after Trent Harmon became the fifteenth and final winner of the legendary television competition, he signed with Big Machine Records, joining Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Rascal Flatts as label mates. But his musical journey started long before being invited to Hollywood. Growing up in Amory, MS, Trent had been taught by his mom to sing "Amazing Grace" in church. He learned about hard work on the family farm and in his family's restaurant, which featured items grown on the farm.

Throughout his school years Harmon sang in choirs and performed in musicals in high school and while attending the University of Arkansas - Monticello. While in college he learned to first play piano, then added guitar and drums to his skill set. His first audition for American Idol was actually the year before his success. In 2014 he traveled to New Orleans on the encouragement of friends. His first audition was successful, as he was selected for the second round and flown to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, judges passed on him and his audition failed to make it to television.

"American Idol" Finale For The Farewell Season at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood, California.at Dolby Theatre on April 7, 2016 in Hollywood
photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images Entertainment
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Undaunted, Harmon returned in 2015, in what had been announced would be American Idol's final season. Trent traveled to Little Rock, AR for his audition and this time he would not be denied. He gained his ticket to Los Angeles as one of the first singers chosen to continue. Harmon was determined to learn from the experience from day 1, as he kept notes of every suggestion or criticism the judges gave to him. But he would suffer a blow to his chances early on, when he was diagnosed with mononucleosis. When he decided to go against the producers suggestion to drop out of the competition, he was sequestered for an entire week in a bathroom to keep him from infecting other competitors.

Harmon would combat his illness, and take in all the critiquing judges offered and turn it around to win the fifteenth and final season. In the final he would go up against soul singer La'Porsha Rene, dueting with his opponent on Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston's "It Takes Two" and rapping it all up with Keith Urban's "Falling". After winning, he was immediately signed to Big Machine Records by president Scott Borchetta, who served as an advisor on the show in its final season. His final song would be released as his debut single, and would peak at #27 on the country chart.

Manny Pacquiao v Timothy Bradley Jr.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
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Harmon is currently in the studio recording his debut album, a project Borchetta has described as "country with heavy R&B influences. It's the kind of country album Justin Timberlake would want to record." The first original single from that project is in our spotlight today. Trent Harmon and "There's A Girl" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.

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