Last Train to Clarksville

Lady Night Stalker Wins Ft. Campbell Operation Rising Star!

What an exciting night!

September 25, 2009 marked the end of the competition for the final 5 contestants. Some arriving early to have hot water, lemon and honey to help the vocals and some arranging tables to accomidate the crowd they hoped would show to give their support.

I wondered how eliminations would be handled and didn’t have too much confidence in winning, I must admit.  I was worried about the votes from my competitors.  I knew that, this being the end, all contestants would try their best to have as many fans there as they could get.  I sent out a few emails to let others in the community, my family and friends know that it would be starting at 6 p.m. We had enough posters, stars with my name on them and flags for our fans to wave when it was my time to sing and when it was time for the Spirit Award contest to happen.

We were told to always arrive, during the past eight weeks, around 5 pm so that we could do a sound check before everyone else arrived.  I was able to do my sound check, picture to your left, and then go mingle with friends and wonder, with others, who would be eliminated. I knew there was a chance for me to be eliminated since we all had talent.  There was no telling how it was going to go. 

As everyone sat waiting for the night to start, OPR played our performances in the weeks gone by. So, those that couldn’t come out and wondered what we sang or how we did, could see in short clips on the monitors through out the Sportsman Lodge in the competition area just how well we did.

The night began around 6:00 p.m. and it started with all competitors going on stage. The first to be asked to go and have a seat was Wanda Jordan-Barnett. Next was Angela Madison, leaving me, 1st Lt Cindy Kubick-Perez and Sgt. Victor Cole.  I was standing there wondering who was going to be able to sit down. I was standing with two great performers with awesome ranges and styles, so I knew there was a very good chance that I was gone.  Then as our MC, Melissa Schaffner, looked at each of us in the eye around 3 or 4 times, she looked at me and said to go sit down I was in the finals.

There was a short intermission before the start of the top three performers .  When it was time, I was called up first.  I remember thinking, “Oh gosh, I didn’t get to go outside and warm up the vocals and practice.” That is what I was planning on doing but as they played back the week before performance all I could think then was, “what is the first line of my song!”  I got it and was called up front to introduce my song.  Melissa asked me if I wanted to say anything before I sang and I thanked all my fans, family and friends for coming out and supporting me and that I really appreciated them.  Then I wanted to let everyone know that I was singing the song that I chose for the Military Spouses that have lost their loved one and it was my way of honoring them (Not in those exact words).  The song I sang, “Just a Dream” by Carrie Underwood. Last year at the CMA’s our very own Lady Night Stalker Leslie Ponder made her introduction of this song by talking about how music heals and she thanks God for that power. How she wished everyone could have known her husband Tre Ponder who died in 2005 in Afghanistan.  To love and be loved by this man of hers brought tears to everyone’s eyes. She said that love is more than ’Just a Dream’.  When I heard this, I knew this was the song I was meant to sing. 

After the last note on the song was played, I received great comments from the judges and one that stuck out as odd to me, by two judges, was the comment of being glad that my voice cracked.  I was feeling the emotions of the words and music and kind of lost my note. Usually I am my worse critic but I didn’t let this bother me at all.

Then it was time for Angela to sing.  She had a slide show of 9/11 and sang ”Hero” by Mariah Carey.  It was beautiful and strong, as always, and she received great comments also.  (The picture to your right shows my husband closing his eyes feeling the song and me watching the slide show. Amanda Dusenberry, in blue and on the right of my blog, is my favorite lender and a great friend who came out and supported me also, with her family.) Very moving song.

Next was Wanda.  She did a wonderful job with singing the female version of “God Bless the U.S.A.” by Lee Greenwood.  Dressed to the hilt, as she always is, thanks to the talents of Beverly Slocum, who by the way needs to start a clothing line, Wanda did a wonderful job also.  Then there was an intermission with the talents of the judges!

Each judge got up and sang a karaoke song and the contestants were able to sit in the judges seats and give their opinion of the song and vocals and perfomance.  It was so much fun and we were thoroughly entertained! Then it was time for Cindy and Victor to sing their songs that they prepared.

Victor started us off with a beautiful rendition of  our National Anthem.  An awesome job. So much talent in that man.  Then Cindy sang, “Sleeping with the Telephone” by Reba and her vocals were flawless.  She has such great talent! I thought for sure she would be in the top three. 

After their performances it was time to announce the third place winner of $100 dollars in Operation Rising Star….drum roll….(My heart was beating out of my chest)….Wanda Jordan-Barnett.  Next was the second place winner of $150 dollars in Operation Rising Star…drum roll…(I can’t breathe)….(My name will be called…Thea…Thea…Thea)….Angela Madison.  Both hands on my face looking like the boy on “Home Alone” (without the scream) the next thing I know I am being jumped and I felt like I just won Ms. America. (You know how win the winner is announced and all the beauty constestants run and hug on her?)  I couldn’t believe it. I have never won with my singing in anything!  Then they announced the first place winner of $500 dollars and a recording session with Cindy Bell Studios and a chance to compete in the Army Wide Competition at Fort Belvior….drum roll….Thea Agnew.

I enjoyed every bit of this competition and it must have been stressful because I started breaking out at week one, like never before! ;)  My husband then came on the stage and handed my a dozen roses and got the crowd ahhhhhh’ing.   

I have to thank my daughter, Erikka, for helping me with the choice of songs I did. For putting up with me asking her to listen, “one more time”, to make sure I was doing it right. My daughter and son, Debbie and Nick, for texting me before performances, wishing they could be there and to just be myself. Their confidence in me touched me beyond compare.

Lastly and not least, my husband, Art.  Always there to ground me and get me to think about what I was doing here.  To remember to have fun.  To listen to the words. To be myself and just look at him if I was nervous. My rock and a man with a GREAT heart.  Without him I wouldn’t be where I am today. 

To Art: Baby, I know this was a little stressful seeing me up there and worrying about what the judges would say and hoping it wouldn’t crush me.  Thank you for being beside me as I go for this dream and giving me the words I needed to hear before each performance. You helped me grow beyond what you could ever imagine.  I want you there beside me, always.  I love you!

Thank you to the team at MWR Ft. Campbell.  It was a very professional event and I didn’t run into any problems with songs or anything.  Always there to answer questions and get back with me on time.  Thank you for having fun with me when you picked on me that one time when we all thought I was finished, gone, out of the competition!  Thank you to the bartender who always came up to me and asked if I wanted hot water with lemon. To the camera crew who were very nice and complementary. I look forward to many more events and going all the way to the top with Operation Rising Star!

Lady Night Stalkers Don’t Quit! LNSDQ

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