UNT Students Perform Jingle on “Today Show”

The Walkers compete in "Today Show" jingle contest

It was a busy week for two University of North Texas students who went from attending class to performing live on national television Tuesday morning.

UNT juniors Kayley Walker, a radio, television and film major, and Andrew Walker, a music major, make up the musical duo The Walkers. The musicians were one of three acts to perform live on NBC’s “Today Show” as part of the show’s “Quest for the Best” contest.

The two, who happen to share the same last name but aren’t actually related, wrote a jingle for the show in Tuesday’s “Quest for the Best” installment. The Walkers performed to see whose melody among the three contestants would be named the best.

The Walkers found out their submission had been selected as a finalist around mid-January.

“I called him like a hundred times,” said Kayley Walker, who got the call while Walker was in class.

NBC flew the duo out to New York City on Monday for their Tuesday performance.

"We woke up at four in the morning and then we had to get there at the studio at six,” said Kayley Walker. The two barely got any sleep in anticipation of their performance, Andrew Walker added.

As the two warmed up for their performance, they got a behind the scenes look at the show and got a glimpse of their favorite “Today Show” anchors.

The Walkers took the stage at about 8 a.m., performing second in the contest.

The duo’s original jingle was not picked to win, but they say the experience and exposure was the real reward.

"Now they've seen us, like a lot of people watch the “Today Show,”’ said Andrew Walker.

The Walkers first met back in middle school in Arlington. They became friends during their junior year of high school when they found out both would attend UNT.

“We found out we were both going to UNT and started writing music together freshman year,” said Andrew Walker.

The two continue to play their acoustic sounds at coffee shops and other venues in Denton and Arlington.

The Walkers hope the “Today Show” buzz will help them reach new audiences.

"The Walkers aren't finished yet!” said Kayley Walker.

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