Chance McKinney (until 2010)

Country musician and winner of CMT's Music City Madness Competition

What is Chance McKinney (until 2010) known for?

Chance McKinney, born in Lolo, Montana, is an accomplished country music artist and a pride of Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington where he taught mathematics. Chance's diverse musical genre spans Country, Southern rock, and Desert rock. He is best known for winning CMT's Music City Madness competition for unsigned artists while still serving as a teacher.

Prior to his musical career, Chance exhibited an impressive array of talents and achievements in his youth. He was a three-time National Champion in javelin throwing and an All-state basketball player, achieving a commendable 4.0 GPA in high school. He continued to excel in academics and athletics, becoming a Division I All-American javelin thrower in college and graduating summa cum laude from Washington State University with a degree in Mathematics and teaching.

While firmly rooted as a math teacher, Chance's love for music saw him as a member of the band Nathan Chance before it disbanded in 2009. Subsequently, he became a founding member of the now disbanded group Timeless Soul. His dedication to his musical pursuit came to fruition when he entered and won CMT's Music City Madness competition for unsigned artists with his single, "Be Real," in 2009. The song earned over one million votes, granting him the opportunity to audition for a record company in Nashville, Tennessee.

Following his Music City Madness victory, Chance McKinney's musical career skyrocketed. He has toured with various country music stars like Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan, and Dierks Bentley, playing at popular festivals such as Watershed Music Festival and Oregon Jamboree.

In his personal life, Chance married his wife Lisa in 2009, and they currently have one daughter. Prior to his country career, he taught trigonometry at various Seattle area schools and was a University of Washington track coach. He splits his time between Seattle and Hendersonville, Tennessee. McKinney's discography includes hits like "Be Real" (2010), "Think About That" (2013), "Down To Get Up" (2016), "I, Chance McKinney" (2018), and "I-Squared" (2018).