Tate Stevens

This week's race for No. 1 was between three singers with reality show competitions on their resumes. Videos from Chris Young and Tate Stevens challenged mulit-week champion Carrie Underwood, with the winner not decided until the final minutes of the week-long poll.

'X Factor' winner Tate Stevens is off and running with his self-titled debut album, and the 38-year-old country singer should be proud of his big debut on Billboard Top Country Chart.

The debut effort from Tate Stevens is about as straight-forward of a country album as you'll find. 'Tate Stevens' is an end cap-at-Walmart sort of record that proves the 'X Factor' winner can compete with the big names in Nashville.

Tate Stevens says he's had six or seven days off since Dec. 20, 2012, the day he won the second season of 'X Factor' on Fox. That includes a break for Christmas. The 38-year-old is amongst the oldest reality singing competition winners ever, and that could be his advantage. However it's unlikely he's thought about that.

Winning Season 2 of 'X Factor' has helped Tate Stevens reach his goals, with a record deal, the hot new single 'Power of a Love Song' on country radio, and an upcoming full-length album release. With all of his success, he never forgot about the small town he grew up in -- and now Belton, Mo. is giving back to him by honoring Stevens on their water tower.

The new single from Pistol Annies was no match for Scotty McCreery's 'See You Tonight.' The 'American Idol' winner's latest song thumped 'Hush Hush' this week, taking almost 85 percent of the Showdown vote in the two-day battle of new songs. Today, McCreery's competition will be another popular country singer from reality television.

The first song on Tate Stevens' self-titled debut album showcases a different side of the singer's personality. The single 'Power of a Love Song' is slow and sensitive, but 'I Got This' is rowdy and rebellious. It's a blue-collar country song that sets the tone for the 10 that follow. Listen to the new track (the next single, perhaps?) in its entirety right here on Taste of Country.

Tate Stevens' video for his big ballad 'Power of a Love Song' not only shows off the emotive and twangy voice that won the second season of 'X Factor' last December. It also captures the spirit of young love, which develops into a lifelong romance.

Just days after being announced as the second single from 'Based on a True Story ...,' Blake Shelton's new song 'Boys 'Round Here' will face quite a test. The track is set to go up against three-night Showdown winner Tate Stevens today and tonight on Taste of Country Nights radio. It's a battle between country singers -- and fans of their respective reality shows.

'X Factor' winner Tate Stevens is a two-night champion after topping the latest from Tracy Lawrence on Monday night. The deep-voiced country "newcomer" is impressing fans, readers and listeners of Taste of Country Nights radio with his new song 'Power of a Love Song.' It will be a battle of contrasting styles on today's and tonight's Showdown.