Submitted photo Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. will be the headline performer for the 2026 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash in Buckhannon.

BUCKHANNON – Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr., who won “America’s Got Talent,” will be the headline performer for the 2026 Almost Heaven BBQ Bash.

Murphy will perform a free concert on Saturday, June 20 at 6 p.m. on the main stage at Jawbone Park in downtown Buckhannon. The public is invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket, sit back and relax to the smooth, soulful sounds of this popular native West Virginia performer.

Murphy, originally from southern West Virginia, is the soul-and-Sinatra singing sensation who first rose to national attention as the season six winner of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”

The proud West Virginia-based car washer-turned-crooner’s debut album, “That’s Life” on Columbia Records, recorded at the legendary Capitol Records studios in Los Angeles, spent several weeks atop the Billboard Jazz charts and in the Top 40 overall.

He has since released four additional well-received albums (two with Grammy-winning producers), penned an Amazon No. 1 best-selling memoir titled “From Washing Cars to Hollywood Star,” appeared on multiple network TV shows, had a featured role in a film, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award, named “Reality TV Star of the Year,” and was named one of the Top 10 Outstanding Young Americans by the United States Jaycees.

Landau has toured extensively around the world, headlining concerts in New York City, Shanghai, Las Vegas, Dubai, Atlantic City, Hollywood, Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry stage, for American troops stationed in Europe and more.

His latest release, “I’m Not Messing Around,” is Landau’s first-ever album of all original material.

During the COVID-19 pandemic and his forced time off the road, Murphy turned his attention to his education, went back to school online, and received his high school equivalency diploma three decades after dropping out, proving it’s never too late to graduate. He is now a spokesperson and advocate for adult learning nationwide.

Each Christmas season since winning America’s Got Talent, Murphy travels from coast to coast with his annual Home for the Holidays Tour. He always commits several of his performances to his home state of West Virginia, where he has helped raise millions of dollars for Mountain State charities.

Each tour stop in West Virginia also serves as a drop-off location for Landau’s Kids Joy Toy Drive. Murphy and wife Peyton have personally distributed thousands of toys across West Virginia to children in need of a little extra Christmas cheer.

During the BBQ Bash, officials will be collecting toys, stuffed animals, etc. for Landau’s Kids Joy Toy Drive, and the public is encouraged to bring unwrapped items (up to $20 value) any time during the weekend. Officials will donate those items to Landau’s program to help provide even more smiles to kids across West Virginia this Christmas.

This year’s Bash will feature delicious BBQ and other foods, several free family activities, including Lego-based fun, and Murphy’s free concert.

Also included will be food vendors, arts & crafts, games and other family activities, and live entertainment, featuring Blue Steele (gospel and bluegrass) on Thursday, June 18; and Rick K’s Road Trip on Friday, June 19. All shows begin at 6 p.m.

For more information, call toll-free to 866-710-7600. Almost Heaven BBQ Bash, Inc. is a registered 501c3 non-profit organization.