Winners Announced in ‘Don’t mess with Texas’ Song Search

New musical talent to join roster of musical celebrities in educating
Texans about litter prevention

AUSTIN, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–After beating out dozens of entries from across the state, two musical
artists will realize their dreams of stardom as winners of the Texas
Department of Transportation’s “Don’t mess with Texas” Song Search
Contest. Singer-songwriter Whitney K. Lane of La Porte, Texas and
musical group Papi Chulo (J.J. Moreno and Joffre Correa) of Allen, Texas
will join the roster of musical notables who have represented the iconic
“Don’t mess with Texas” campaign throughout its more than 30-year
history.

“We are thrilled to welcome Whitney, J.J. and Joffre to the musical
legacy of the ‘Don’t mess with Texas’ campaign,” said Jeff Austin III,
Texas Transportation Commissioner. “Their voices and their winning songs
will enhance the campaign’s education message of the importance of
keeping our state clean and beautiful.”

The “Don’t mess with Texas” Song Search Contest invited undiscovered
Texans to compose an original 30-second song, incorporating the
campaign’s anti-litter message. More than 170 Texans submitted entries
in both English and Spanish. Lane is the winner in the contest’s
English-language category, while Papi Chulo is the Spanish-language
winner. The winners now join the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan, George
Strait, Willie Nelson, LeAnn Rimes and Grupo Fantasma who have
represented the campaign. The winners will be featured in the 2019
“Don’t mess with Texas” statewide ad campaign starting later this month.
The winners also will receive a prize package donated by Gibson Brands
and iHeart media, which includes a 2018 Gibson Guitar and an exclusive
performance at an iHeart Live Music Lounge.

Country superstars, the Randy Rogers Band, and Latin pop and norteño
stars, Las Fenix, who were featured in the 2018 “Don’t mess with Texas”
campaign, also lent their time and talent to help discover the
campaign’s newest performers by helping promote the competition.

“Don’t
mess with Texas” has been educating Texans about litter prevention
since 1986. The campaign is the signature initiative for TxDOT’s
litter-prevention initiatives, which include Adopt-a-Highway, a
grassroots partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful, and the community
outreach and statewide cleanup, called the “Don’t Mess with Texas”
Trash-Off.

For media inquiries, contact TxDOT Media Relations at MediaRelations@txdot.gov
or (512) 463-8700.

Don’t mess with Texas® is a registered service mark and trademark owned
by the Texas Department of Transportation. Use of the Don’t mess with
Texas ® trademark is prohibited unless expressly authorized by the Texas
Department of Transportation

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining
80,000 miles of road and for supporting aviation, rail, and public
transportation across the state. Through collaboration and leadership,
we deliver a safe, reliable, and integrated transportation system that
enables the movement of people and goods. Find out more at txdot.gov.

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Contacts

David Glessner
MediaRelations@txdot.gov
512-463-8700