Last Train to Clarksville

Archive for the 'Ft. Campbell Express' Category

My Journey in Operation Rising Star

What a wonderful group of 12 contestants we had this year. We all harmonized well together and our talent showed in the sound that everyone heard.  It was a long two weeks but I loved every minute of it…well, until I got sick that is.  I think deep inside when I lost my voice due to a sinus infection that my time was over.  After speaking with Debra Byrd last night, she told me that this had happened to her 3 times and each time she knew that what she was fixing to try out for wasn’t meant to be, otherwise she would have been well.  She felt the same way about me and my getting sick. So she knew my journey was over with the competition also.  Byrd said that when I came on the stage the first time I was on fire and I had it together. She said she knew I had it. As soon as I opened my mouth to sing and the way I performed she knew I had it. I was the only one in the competition that she said she could hear on record. It was a very high compliment for me. It was a comment that had everyone back stage going crazy over, including Victor Hurtado, the man who would interview after we sang. He was so excited.

Speaking with Michael Peterson, he told me that out of the group I was the only one he could see making it in Nashville.  He told me on 3 different occasions that week, that I needed to come to Nashville.  The problem for me is that I have been going to Nashville on and off for 11 years and I know that it is the people you know that get you closer to your dream. This is the closest I have been to meeting the right people and it is in Virginia!  So, I offered to sing any demo or back up for him, free.  He laughed and said I was already working it.  I said yes. So he gave me his email.  Which I plan on contacting him tomorrow.

As a group, we realized that talent and votes got us all this far but it was the votes that got the winner.  After the 3 contestants were revealed, all 12 contestants were told that it really came down to the votes.  We all had the talent. You have to have a big network to get the votes of the people.  Sam, the woman who could belt it out and has so much talent, the one we were all shocked didn’t make the top 3, only had 100 friends to vote for her.  She thought that the public that viewed the show would see her talent and vote for her.  That was obviously not enough for her though. 

I had my city and post voting for me.  I am a Realtor and I was featured on Active Rain, which is a community for Realtors. They were voting for me.  My husband’s unit and our friends were voting and I want to thank everyone for all the clicks on the computer for 2 hours to help get me in the top 3.  I made it to the top 6 and that was a very big achievement for me with it being a national competition.

Let’s see what the future holds for this singer! Until then….

8th Day with Operation Rising Star

Woke up and I am afraid to sing.  I want to wait a little longer before I do it. I am on my 3rd dose of antibiotics and I am hoping for a miracle. We will be doing the show tonight and I might be singing if I made the top 6.  If I do, I am not bowing out of the competition.  I have decided I will sing even if I sound like a frog.  My fans deserve to hear what has happened to me instead of me just not being on.   You all know what I sound like.  It just so happens that during this competition, I get an infection.

So, if I make it and I sound awful, help pull me through to the top 3. I should be 95% better by then. Praying for a miracle from God to touch my throat and heal the infection. Thank you all for voting last night!

Blessings~

7th Day with Operation Rising Star

Woke up and couldn’t sing! OMG!!  I got dressed and headed to the ER on post to ask for a shot or something.  I have a sinus infection and they put me on antibiotics and Mucilex, along with nasal spray.  I was able to get back in time to go eat lunch with the group before heading to the theatre to practice for the next show.  I didn’t talk or sing, just wrote on a pad the whole day.

One of the back ground singers for the Down Range band that is playing our music came up to me and told me to get a garlic clove and eat 1 piece of it.  I had Art go get it and boy did it burn. I thought it was going to burn a hole through my tongue. He said I should be back to my normal self in the morning.

I went to bed early to get some rest.

I ask myself why now? I have waited all my life for this moment and I get a sinus infection!  Well, if I make the top 6, I will sing. It might sound like crap but I will be dressed nicely and my choreography will be right on.

Please if you hear me sound sick, just support me.  You know what I sound like.  I think I will be better though. We will see!

6th Day with Operation Rising Star

It was show time! We had to be at the Wallace Theatre around 8:45 a.m.  It was crazy.  We had to go through our mic checks and find out where we had to be and how it was going to work. Loved it!  Went through the whole show and didn’t have any problems.  We all did great!

What a night.  I had a lot of people there supporting me live. It was a wonderful night to feel like a star. One group of girls with their mother asked to have a picture.  They live in the area and wanted to come and see it. Not here supporting anyone in particular but said I was their favorite.  Even the mom wanted in the picture so she asked the nearest person to take the picture and it so happened to be the producer of the show. Funny.

My husband and friend, Nicki Aylesbury and her two sons, traveled by car all the way up here.  A 12 hour drive! My Mom’s friend since I was 5 or 6, Becky, came to see me sing.  I haven’t seen her since I was 14!  It made me feel like my Mom was here in the audience. A couple that I met on the plane coming here came to support me! My friend Tiffany’s friend came out.  Oh and I can’t forget the Golden family. They will be coming back to our unit soon. They are stationed here and drove over 40 minutes to come view it.  What support!  I can’t thank you all enough.

It was a wonderful night and I was worried about this sinus thing I had going on.  I wasn’t able to sing full because of it but I made the most of it.

Thank you for all your votes!!

5th Day with Operation Rising Star

Yesterday we started off around 10:45 but our van didn’t come until 11:30.  So we had some time in the lobby area of the hotel to visit and talk about our performances with each other.  We can honestly say that whoever wins, we will not be saying, “How did he/she win this?”  Whoever wins we will understand and be thrilled for them.

We went to eat first and I went to the grocery store to get some medicine to get over this sinus drainage cold thing I got going on. I just don’t understand why I come all this way and I get a cold the day before I am to sing! Why? Why? Why?  I am still going to stand up and do my very best and your votes will pull me through, if the judges are pulling too. I can still sing but it might sound a little nasally. I will sound more like Willie Nelson..:) NOT!! Just watch to see what a cold does and then comment!

We got to the COLD theatre around 1 pm and started rehearsing with the whole show. Group 1 singing “Party in the USA” and then the first contestant singing, etc…  Then group 2 (my group) getting up and singing and doing our solo parts.  After 4 hours of doing that, we then went to eat at where?…… VINNY’S and then we went back to the theatre and practice the whole thing on stage.  Went over it a couple of times and one of the men who help cast for America’s Got Talent and our Contest was sitting in the judges seats and watching.  He gave us all good advice.

After that was done we all did some relaxing exercises with Joey, our Vocal Coach, and then came back to the hotel.  It was around 9:30 pm when I put my head on the pillow.  I woke up at 3 a.m. and then fell back to sleep, had some nightmares and now I am up at 7 a.m. filling my nose with Afrin and Salin sprays, trying to clear this out.

Anyway, y’all have a great day and be praying for my voice and performance.  I want to bring this song across to everyone sitting in listening ear shot. I hope you enjoy the performance and vote for me!

Voting begins tomorrow, Sunday, at 8:30 pm-11:30 pm Central for 2 hours. The broadcast can be seen at 7 pm central on the pentagon website: www.pentagonchannel.mil clicking on steaming live or if you see Operation Rising Star, click there. Voting is done on www.oprisingstar.com clicking on VOTE then picking me.

Thank you again!

Day 4 With Operation Rising Star

Yesterday was back to the normal schedule.  We ate the hotels breakfast and headed back to the theatre.  It was another cold, rainy day.  I am sure it didn’t help with what I have now.  A couple of contestants had a fever and some drainage. It went away after two days.  I don’t have the fever but I have the drainage.  I have been real careful with where I put my hands and using sanitizer.  Don’t know if this was something from being in a room with the heat on for the first time the other night.  That is when I woke up with a sore throat. 

Anyway, my day was full of choreography.  It is going to be sooooo good.  We all have great harmony.  We worked on our first group performance on stage all morning until lunch.  After that wonderful italian restaurant we went to Ft. Myers again.  It is something to be inside the building that is home to the Army Band.  You see men and women walking out to go play at a service at Arlington.  While I was sitting in the foyer waiting for my turn to go in and rehearse my song with the band, I could see the cemetary.  I mean, I would only have to walk outside the building and maybe 500 feet and I am there.  That is how close it is.  Arlington takes your breath away. Seeing all the brave men and women who have served our country finishing their time on this earth here. It is just speechless.

I had a good practice to go over a part that Joey and I changed to allow me to sing higher.  This is for the day 2 song if I make the top 6. I will be singing, “How do I live”.  My first song will be what I sang to win the installation, “Just a Dream”. We had to send in that performance. Whatever was sent in for them to judge is what we are singing.  The Band sounds so good.  Now with this first song, this is the song that the judges have already seen and what made them choose the top 12.  So, it won’t be a judgement of why did I pick that song. 

Yesterday after I practiced I got some really good feedback and advice from one of the back up singers with the Down Range band. So, hopefully I will make the top 6 and you can see what I do with it!

Remember, voting begins at 8 pm eastern, November 15th on www.oprisingstar.com and click on VOTE.  You will have 2 hours. You can vote more than once also.  I need your votes.  50% of them will either move me up or out. The other 50% is the judges. You can also go to the Sportsman Lodge to view it on t.v.  They will have the Pentagon Channel there.

Thank you for all you are doing to support your local resident representing Ft. Campbell!!

Day 3 With Operation Rising Star

I woke up to hearing the rain outside and it was cold! What a change in the temperature. We were able to sleep in a little longer because of the day before, which was nice. I did some warm ups in my room and of course was keeping you up to date with how day 2 went. 

Yesterday we started off going straight to rehearsals and singing from 9-11:30.  We went over our group songs, even did a little contest on which group of 6 contestants sold the show for one of the songs we are doing, “Party in the U.S.A.”  It really is going to be entertaining for y’all to watch.  My group didn’t win that time due to the meshing and not really connecting with what we were doing with our movements but we won with the vocals. The second time we did it, my group won.

We then took our lunch break and ate where we will be eating every lunch and dinner, Vinny’s. I believe we will be made of cheese when we leave here.  It is an Italian restaurant. Very good food but it doesn’t help if we are trying to fit in our performance clothes!  It’s funny, one of the girls has a bottomless pit for eating.  She just doesn’t seem to get full. So when I was done with my food and I still had some left on the plate she wanted to know if I wanted it. I gave it to her and she ate and kept eating.  It’s been like this almost every night.  So, last night she said that her clothes felt like they were getting a little tight and I said, “You want some more of my food?” She gasped and asked if we were trying to make her fat by offering her our food. We all laughed.  I wasn’t thinking that. I just thought she was still hungry. Some people can eat like that and still remain thin.  Must be nice! Not so with me!!

Another contestant offered everyone a throat lozenger in rehearsals and Joey, our vocal coach, gasped and said that he doesn’t want to see us singing with that in our mouth because when we take a breath the lozenger could be sucked down and we could choke.  So the joke from then on out was when someone is doing good, “Do you want a throat lozenger?”

After lunch we came back to the hotel and had to get the 6 outfits that we will be performing in.  We went back to the theatre and picked a row to place each outfit on a seat, along with shoes, for the director to see.  He called each person out to go over the outfits.  When he called me, he looked at my clothes and wanted to know what I was singing and then would point to an outfit and say, “You’ll wear that….you’ll wear that.”  So, that was cool being directed on what I would wear for the show if I move on to sing the songs that I am singing.

We then rehearsed from 1-5:00 pm.  It was a long day of singing.  Afterward I needed help with the song I will be singing if I make it to the top 6 and Joey helped me with that for about 10 minutes.  Everyone was waiting in the van to go eat dinner while Joey got the arrangement together.  I recorded it on my iPhone and then we were off to eat and then get back to the hotel.

Every night I come in here and get ready for bed and watch HBO.  Last night I watched some of the CMA’s. Gotta love Taylor Swift and her innocense. She is so refreshing.  It would be good to have an older singer singing songs about “When your 40″.  Us women need songs we can identify to now, in the age we are in and the song being sung by someone that looks like they can experience it. I have had a lot of women coming up to me saying that they cannot relate to a song about them being sung by a 20 year old who probably has never experienced it. They don’t want to look back at 15 and wishing they were there again.  There is life after 15, after 25, after 35, after 50.  Who wants to write a song with me?

Anyway, we are on day 4 now. So be watching for my daily post tomorrow.  Busy day ahead and I gotta get going.  Have a great day.

Remember, voting to get me to the top 6 will begin on the 15th at 8pm eastern for 2 hours.  Go to www.oprisingstar.com and click on VOTE.  You will be able to vote more than once but there is a process that you will have to start over with.  Thank you for taken an active role in achieving my dream! Blessings

My Second Day With ORS

First of all, from this day out I will refer to Operation Rising Star as ORS. Breaking it down a little. Whew! What a day.  It was suppose to rain but it held off and the sun shined through.  We started our day going through some vocal group warm ups, learning different technics.  We were able to get two of our group songs down for the show. We are above the curve, we were told, and so he gave us a little more time this morning to sleep in.  It was a late night.

After our practices on the group numbers we went to eat and then left for Ft. Myers.  On the way there we passed the Pentagon and saw the Airforce memorial, the Washington memorial (from afar) and the Arlington Cemetary.  I also got a call from Mayor Piper’s office saying the Mr. Piper requested me by name to sing the National Anthem for the Volunteer ceremony that will be going on November 19th, my birthday.  I am in VA so I wouldn’t be able to make it. I told her to please keep my name for any future events. She said she would. Anyway, when we arrived at the home of the Army Band, we went into a room with the band that will be playing for our competition.  They are DR, short for Down Range.  Great group of talented individuals.  You have to be, to be in this band!

We went over our solo numbers if we make the top 6.  This song was broken down to 90 seconds.  All of our songs that we sing alone will have to be broken down except for the winner.  I was given my song and it is “How do I live”.  There is still some tweaking we need to do but all in all I think it will sound good.  I want to add some brass or horns into the music, so I will see if that can be done on Thursday.  I will only be singing this song if I get enough votes from Ft. Campbell, Clarksville , fans, friends and family around the world.  If not, then I will still be here but only do group numbers.  But we aren’t going to focus on the “if not”! I know you will all come through for me with your votes.  You believe in me or I wouldn’t be here!

By the time we all finished our numbers it was about 5 pm and the 6 contestants that still needed to tape their accapella version had not been done.  So we waited for them to finish their tapings.  Once that was done it was around 7 and we headed to the restaurant to eat.  We were all tired and acting crazy.  Some laughing uncontrolably and some just laying their head down trying to sleep. 

Today we are going to be going over the two songs and working on the 3rd one.  So, I am going to go ahead and end now and start listening to some music, getting more familiar with it. 

Please remember that you need to vote on the 15th at 8 pm eastern and you only have two hours to do so.  If you want to vote more than once you can but you have to go through the whole process of voting again. I don’t think there is an easier way.  Voting will be on this website and you can also view the show at www.oprisingstar.com  or if you would like to see it on t.v. the Sportsman Lodge will be having a viewing there with a buffet.

“I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about it every night and day!”  Thank you for your support and helping me reach the stars. I have always felt that what ever you do, when done with the right heart, it will come back to you. Plus just doing something to help another smile is very rewarding in itself.  Blessings…

First Day with Operation Rising Star

It turned out to be a beautiful morning yesterday when we all left the hotel for Ft. Belvoir’s Wallace Theatre at 8:45. This is the home of the Army’s Soldier Show. We weren’t suppose to leave until 8:50, so while we were almost a couple of minutes away, someone counted heads and realized we were missing someone.  So we turned around and got Sarah.  Poor thing. She was standing on the steps looking at the schedule when we drove up.  I would have freaked out! So, we were now all together and on our way.  When we arrived we were given a tour of the stage and was able to walk on it.  It is at an angle, so it will be something to get use to when it is time to do our choreography. The reason for the design is to let the audience get a wider view.   The set looks awesome and it is a beautiful theatre. 

After our tour, we all sat in our chairs and started with our morning group vocal warm up.  It was then that we were told not to sing in the morning before we did our warm up.  To let our voices rest.  Also, not to talk in the evening after our vocals have been used. (So thankful for texting) It was a pleasant surprise to me how well we sounded as a group!  We sound awesome. It is going to be a great show! Our practice lasted until noon and then we went to have lunch at Vinny’s restaurant. It was a great time of fellowship with each other.  I can see all of us getting close and wanting nothing but the best for the other.  Personally, Andrea Griffith and I have been hanging together. She has been in the military for 14 months and a proud mother of a gifted daughter who will be graduating high school at the age of 16!  She also has a son and other children, I believe.  Still learning about each other.  I have memorized everyones names to faces.  That is something that always seem to be a challenge for me.  Not so in this competition.

After lunch, it was time for the interviews for the 6 contestants that were chosen to go first.  I was one of them. My time didn’t come till the end.  They didn’t want to keep moving the camera up and down, so they did two short people first and then when the next 2 were tall, they switched me to be last so they wouldn’t have to readjust.  I totally understand.  I was pretty nervous with the interview.  But all in all, when they edit it, it will look and sound good.  Once that was done, it was time for the accapella songs of the 6.  I went ahead and sung one of my favorite songs by Martina McBride.  During this time, the vocal coach wanted to hear what we sounded like without music and to get our range.  He would give us tips that we needed to use to become better.  With my audition he said that I was very smart with my vocals.  Everyone that has heard me knows I have this thing I do at the end of my notes.  I don’t know what you would call it. He said he loved that and when he would be wanting to hear it, it was like a teaser and I would give it to him when he would start thinking about it.  He also said that hearing my voice I have no pitch problems, that the songs I picked to sing are the right choice. That I was smart in my song selection.  The only thing he heard was when I hit the high note. He didn’t want me to look like I was straining. So I need to watch myself and practice dropping my jaw.  Not bad.  I was a nervous wreck wondering what he was going to say.  If it was going to be a lot of bad things wrong. 

While we were waiting for everyone to get finished with their interview and song, it was a time to get off by yourself and listen to music or gather around each other and play the guitar and hear talent!  It was awesome.  Like I said earlier, everyone is talented in their own way and to be honest, we are all winners here.  What did the vocal coach say? We could very well be the Daughtrey’s of the world. (Not in those exact words) Remember him from American Idol? He didn’t win but he is living his dream in a big way now!

It was a very productive day and I can’t wait for this morning to start!  The other 6 will be doing their interviews and song, while we read, practice or whatever is in store for us.  This is one of the BEST things that has ever happened to me and like my Momma said in a text to me this morning quoting Richard Bach:

“No matter how qualified or deserving we are, we will never reach a better life until we can imagine it for ourselves and allow ourselves to have it.”

Remember, voting is done at www.oprisingstar.com and you click on VOTE starting November 15th at 8pm eastern for two hours.  You can vote more than once but remember, you have to go through the whole process to vote each time. Thank you for believing in me and my dream! I do!!

News Release from Ft. Campbell

NEWS RELEASE 101st AIRBORNE DIVISION (AIR ASSAULT) FORT CAMPBELL, KY MORALE, WELFARE, AND RECREATION NEWS RELEASE NUMBER PR – 10029 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PUBLIC RELATIONS AT (270) 798-7535

Come Show Support for Operation Rising Star Finalist: Thea Agnew

FORT CAMPBELL, KY, (November 5, 2009) – Sportsman’s Lodge will open their doors to show support for Fort Campbell’s Operation Rising Star winner, Thea Agnew, on Sunday, November 15 at 7 p.m. Thea has advanced to the Army-wide semi-finals, round 1, of Operation Rising Star in Fort Belvoir, Virginia! Watch Thea on the Pentagon channel on all of the TV’s at Sportsman’s while you enjoy your food in the Lounge. Sportsman’s Lodge will have food and beverages available for purchase to all patrons who wish to come out and support Thea. Viewing parties will continue at 7 p.m. on November 17, 19, and 21, as long as Thea remains in the competition. Most importantly, don’t forget to vote! Your votes will help keep Thea in the competition. Only patrons 18 years and older will be admitted for the viewing parties. Agnew is among 12 competitors who will perform for a panel of judges during the show airing at 7 p.m. CST on the Pentagon Channel. For two hours following the broadcast, people can vote online at http://www.oprisingstar.comfor their favorite performer. If she is among the six semi-finalists chosen, Thea will have the opportunity to perform again on November 17; viewers will learn which 6 performers will continue and which six were eliminated by the combined judges/audience votes. The remaining six will perform Tuesday, Nov. 17th, airing on the Pentagon Channel at 7 p.m. Once again, there will be a 2 hour voting block on the website. The final round will take place November 19th, with the winner being revealed during a live show on the Pentagon Channel, on November 21st. There will be internet rebroadcasts of all the shows. The winner of the competition will be announced during the “reveal” show on Saturday, November 21st, at 7 p.m. All 12 performers will return for the reveal show and there will be a guest appearance by last year’s winner, Joyce Dodson. Tune in at Sportsman’s Lodge and show your support Fort Campbell; vote for Thea Agnew! The Operation Rising Star competition is one more way that Fort Campbell MWR implements the values of the Army Family Covenant by supporting Soldiers and their Families. For more information on the viewing parties for Thea Agnew at Sportsman’s Lodge, please contact the MWR Public Relations Office at (270) 798-7535.