jesse sludds late late show is set to be one of the night’s defining storylines as the Wexford musician takes part in the live finale of a nationwide competition. His path to Friday’s stage began with a video application, boosted by fans on social media, and now ends with a public text vote that will help decide whether he earns the chance to open for Shania Twain later this year.
Live finale puts Jesse Sludds late late show spotlight on Wexford
The competition is down to five finalists, each performing live in studio on Friday night with the same goal: to become Ireland’s new Opening Act. Jesse Sludds, who has roots in country music, is among the acts selected after a strong national contest. The format gives the evening a clear edge, because the result will not rest solely with industry judges. Viewers at home will also have their say, turning the jesse sludds late late show performance into both a live showcase and a public test of support.
For Sludds, the stakes are unusually high. The winner will secure the opportunity to perform before Shania Twain at her only Irish date this July, and will also go on to perform on the Late Late Show Country Music Special next October. That combination of immediate visibility and longer-term exposure explains why the finale matters well beyond one television appearance.
How the competition was narrowed to five finalists
Sludds made it to the final after submitting a video application, encouraged by fans on social media. While his background is rooted in country music, his performances are described as blending different genres, which may help explain why he advanced in a field that drew strong competition from across the country. The finalists are Paddy Treacy from Fermanagh, Jesse Sludds from Wexford, Caitlin Mackin from Armagh, Midnight in Vegas, a girlband with members from Dublin, Waterford and Essex, and Ryan Phoenix from Cork.
That mix gives the contest a broad geographic spread and a varied musical profile. It also signals the scale of the opportunity: this is not simply a talent segment, but a route to a high-profile opening slot before a global star. In that sense, jesse sludds late late show is part performance, part public referendum, and part career gateway.
Expert panel, audience vote and the wider music scene
Patrick Kielty will be joined by a panel of special guests offering insights from across the country music scene. The panel features Una Healy, Sandy Kelly, Ben Earle and Tom Dunne. Judging will be carried out by two juries made up of leading music industry and country music experts, while public voting lines will open live during the show. Cliona Hagan will deliver the public vote as it comes in.
That structure matters because it balances professional assessment with audience choice. In practical terms, the final outcome will reflect both artistic judgment and viewer response. For the finalists, including Jesse Sludds, the live format removes distance: every performance, reaction and vote becomes part of the result in real time.
What this means beyond Friday night
The broader significance of the event extends beyond one prize. The winner will appear before Shania Twain at a unique Irish date this July and later return for a country music special in October. For the losing finalists, the exposure still comes with national attention and a platform on a major broadcast stage. The night will also include a tribute to the late Moya Brennan, honouring her legacy and influence on Irish music, alongside a performance from The Shires.
In a single broadcast, the programme is combining competition, tribute and live performance, which gives the evening unusual depth. But for readers tracking jesse sludds late late show, the central question remains simple: will the Wexford musician turn fan support into the vote that sends him on to Shania Twain’s stage?
