'Songland' Season 2, Episode 1 Music: Download, Stream Lady Antebellum Songs And More

The NBC music show that focuses not on singers, but songwriters, returned Monday night. “Songland” kicked off with its first musical guest country music group Lady Antebellum.

Each episode of “Songland” gives aspiring songwriters a chance to workshop their lyrics with a team of highly credited industry professionals: Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, songwriter and music producer Shane McAnally and Ester Dean who has worked with artists like Rihanna and Katy Perry, Billboard reported.

The four aspiring songwriters, Steven Battey, Ryan Innes, Tim Halperin and Madeline Merlo, then presented their song to the week’s musical guest: Lady Antebellum.

So, who did Lady Antebellum select as the winner of the Season 2 premiere?

Madeline Merlo was the lucky lady with her song, “Champagne Night,” who performed it in front of an excited Lady Antebellum, singing and swaying along to the lyrics.

For those who missed the episode, you can listen to Lady Antebellum’s own recording of the song, “Champagne Night” by Madeline Merlo.

Merlo is a Canadian country singer and songwriter who had already begun making a name for herself in the music industry before her “Songland” victory. She released her first album, “Free Soul” in 2016, but said her time spent on the show working with McAnally improved her writing skills.

“Songland was such a validating experience as a writer, and I learned so much from my coach,” she told American songwriter. “I feel like I walked out of that experience a better writer.”

The other songwriters from the first episode also performed their workshopped songs to Lady Antebellum. Halperin worked with Tedder and performed his original song “Losing You,” while Innes also worked with Tedder to perform “Long Way Home.” Battey performed his original song, “Feels Good to Me,” but in the end, it was 26-year-old Merlo who took home the win.

The second episode of “Songland” Season 2 premieres April 20.