The local final for the competition was held as part of the Winter Blast '08 festival sponsored by WGH-FM (97.3) The Eagle.
McDonald, who is 21-year-old student at Old Dominion University, triumphed over a field of finalists that also included the Heather Edwards Band, Tailgate Down and Megan Hallman.
"I'm really going to try to concentrate on my music career in 2008 and this is a great way to kick off the year," McDonald said.
Next, McDonald will compete at the Colgate Country Showdown's state finals in Richmond. The prize for that round is $1,000. If he is victorious at both the state and regional rounds, he will get to compete at the national finals for a prize of $100,000 and the title "best new act in country music."
McDonald grew up in King George, just east of Fredericksburg. He started singing in church at the tender age of 4 and by high school, was performing at pep rallies where he came to be known as The King George Cowboy.
For the contest Saturday, he performed two original songs -- "Here We Go" and "Lay With Me Tonight" -- accompanying himself on acoustic guitar.
"I'm very into making acoustic music," he said. "I like to rip it on electric, too ... But with the acoustic, there's so much emotion you can put in a song."
To learn more about McDonald, go to www.myspace.com/kevinmacmusic
