Watch the video at the end of this article.
Introduction
The “March Man-Ness” contest, hosted by Taste of Country, is an annual bracket-style competition that mirrors the NCAA’s March Madness basketball tournament. Instead of college basketball teams, however, it pits male country music artists against each other, with fans voting for who they consider the “hottest” in country music.
Here are some more details about the 2025 contest:
- Format: The competition is divided into “Old School” and “New School” divisions, with 16 artists in each. The winners of each division then face off in the championship round.
- Voting: Fans are able to vote once per hour per matchup during each round. Tens of thousands of votes are cast throughout the competition.
- Bracket Progression:
- Round 1: March 18-23, 2025
- Round 2: March 24-27, 2025
- Round 3: March 28-30, 2025
- Final Four: March 31-April 3, 2025
- Championship: April 4-7, 2025
- George Strait’s Path to Victory: As the “Old School” champion, George Strait had to defeat formidable artists like Vince Gill, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, and Tim McGraw before facing the “New School” champion.
- Scotty McCreery’s Path: Scotty McCreery, who ultimately lost to Strait in the final, had a challenging road as well, going against artists such as Shaboozey, Morgan Wallen, Warren Zeiders, and Riley Green.
- Significance: While a lighthearted contest, it highlights the enduring popularity and fan devotion to these artists. The fact that a veteran like George Strait, who is 72 years old, could win against younger, highly popular artists demonstrates his iconic status and lasting appeal as a country music sex symbol. It was noted that Scotty McCreery considers George Strait a hero, and even released a song in 2021 called “Damn Strait” that was part tribute to the legend.
The contest culminated on April 8, 2025, with George Strait declared the winner, taking nearly two-thirds of the votes in the championship round against Scotty McCreery.