I feel bad Matt didn't continue, but at least he is on the tour. He was one of my favorites. Outlaw is my preference of country music. I don't like the alternative country pop stuff. That's probably why I don't care for Nicole's style, (as a well as a few other contestants, but for other reasons).
I live a little over an hour way from Nicole's neck of the woods. The county she lives in has a population of about half a million, and they are really promoting the heck out of her. Also, that area has a lot of bars and grills, hundreds of franchise stores, luxury car dealerships every 1/4 mile, and restaurants up the butt, and it is heavily congested with traffic. The area also has a lot of expensive neighborhoods. Not your typical small towns in Indiana.
I have friends out that way and they all say it's not only her hometown that's backing her up, but neighboring towns. And they do have quite a music scene with a lot of bands that are a tightknit group who she can count on.
Depending on your reputation and if you fit the mold of that area's status quo, people will back you up 100%.
So it really helps when a contestant lives in a suburb outside of a major city with a heavy population.
I vote for who I feel has the most talent, not because of someone being from the same state.
Cannot fault the contestants who have a strong network.
I believe if Matt town had the population her town has, it would have made a difference. But Matt will do just fine on his own with the title of Mr. NS.
But far as fan base, all I know that CY has a very large one that he built up on his own across the nation. It also looked like Matt was able to build his bigger as the show progressed and I'm sure the others have too.
It's going to be a tough call next week.