About

Country singer/songwriter Sharon Whitcroft hails from the townland of Derrynoose in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Although singing from a young age in school choirs and churches, Sharon only tested her singing talents in 2000 when she won the County Armagh Karaoke Final, then went on to become runner-up in the Ulster Karaoke Championships and, as a result, was awarded a recording contract with C.P.R. Studios.

It was only when the three-piece country band ‘Bakersfield’ invited Sharon to join them later that year that her passion for Country & Gospel music was ignited, a music partnership that would eventually take them to Bakersfield in California, meeting & being personally invited to perform on stage by the one and only Buck Owens at his legendary Crystal Palace music venue.

With an increase in performances and Gospel concerts all over Northern Ireland, Sharon was soon nicknamed 'The Cowboy's Sweetheart' by those within the music industry and was tipped to be one of the best female country singers in Ireland. This fact was confirmed in 2002 when she was awarded the title 'Most Outstanding Female Solo Artist' at the Close Contact Music Awards and commended for her dedication and contribution to country music.

Sharon appeared alongside many of the best-known names within the Irish country music scene at the time, and with her harmonizing ability, she also performed backing vocals for various artists both in the recording studio and in live performances, including ‘The Galaxy Show Band ('Do ya Come Here Often Show’.)

In 2007, Sharon hit Ireland by storm when she won her place on TG4's Glor Tire (Search for a Country Star) and was partnered with singing legend Gene Stewart as her mentor. Sharon eventually reached (joint) fifth place with (X-Factor contestant) Philip Magee from Larne. The judges praised Sharon for her clear vocals, calming tone, vocal diversity, and yodelling ability and encouraged her to pursue this avenue of country music fully.

Unfortunately, due to the sudden and untimely death of her Mother Margaret that same year, Sharon took a step back from the music industry and for over 15 years has only appeared at a few select country venues. Thankfully, through encouragement from her family and friends, Sharon has fully injected herself back into the country music scene by releasing her brand new country album ‘Just In Case’. (January 2025).

To promote the album Sharon will be releasing a series of singles from her album starting with the title track ‘Just in Case’, and will be closely followed by one of two self-penned collaborations with the late Crawford Bell ‘When Two Hearts stop beating as one’.

The album is available from Stuarts Music Shop/ Sharpe Music, Dungannon, and will also be available to stream and download from all major digital platforms from Friday 24th January, 2025