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….

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~

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!

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!!

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!

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!!

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

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…

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!!

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.

Yesterday I arrived at Washington Dulles Airport to start my journey.  We waited for everyone elses flight that is competiting before heading to our hotel.  We were told last night that we are not only representing our installation where we won, but we are also representing the Army and Army Entertainment.  Which to me, is a high honor.  We had a briefing in the hotel conference room and learned what our next few weeks will be like.  Introductions were made and new relationships have begun.  Everyone in this competition is very talented in their own way.  Two of the judges were in the panel that helped pick out who would be in the twelve, out of the 35, to come to Ft. Belvoir.

This will be a lot like American Idol.  I will be singing and I ask for your votes on the 15th at 8p.m. eastern.  Anyone who has facebook and would like to be my friend, just ask, and you will see when it is time to vote there.  How the production is conducting this event will keep you on the edge of your seat.  As they said last night in the briefing, 50% of me moving to the top 6 is up to the voting public.  You can vote more than once, but there is a process to voting, so you will have to go through all the steps again. You can’t just click, click, click. 

This morning, I got up and did my workout.  I got locked out of my room, again.  Everytime I leave the room, the key doesn’t work, so the hotel is going to fix that today.  They have a continental breakfast and I just ate.  All dressed and ready to go.  We were told last night which six contestants will be having their interview today that will be played right before we perform live.  So, mine is in the first 6.  Tomorrow will be the other six.

Funny thing. When we got here to check in the hotel, we all lined up and there was a camera crew setting up to tape us checking in.  After that me and two others were told to stay back while the others went to their room.  We were then assigned to a camera man to follow us around last night.  It was really weird but cool to have someone following you around everywhere: through the door, in the elevator, to your room, in your room, shut the door. hahaha. I felt like a star! I can’t help but sing, “I’m your biggest fan, I’ll follow you until you love me, papa, paparazzi”  Gotta love Lady Gaga.

So, this morning is a full morning of seeing the stage and getting the feel of the floor they have put down.  I might have to go get new shoes if the floor is grated where my heels will go through. yikes! We will be doing a group warm up every morning and then the vocal coach wants to hear something from us for 15 secs accapella.  We were told sometimes your best is the video they saw or your best will be better live. He wants to see what we have.  I have a feeling that I will have some important things to work on to make me better.  I am ready. He will listen to the songs we picked out and give us tips, whether to change the speed or key, etc…  Practice will be split up with a total of six and a half hours.  Yeah!  Do to this everyday would be my dream!

So, until this evening. Welcome to my journey to becoming a star!

Here I sit, a Military Spouse and mother to three teenagers. Many can relate.  Anyone who is a military spouse knows that when it comes to dreams, the military comes first unless your dream fits the Military life style.  Many of you dream to be a teacher, a nurse, a Realtor, a banker, a pharmacist, etc… and with those dreams you can be a teacher where ever your spouse is stationed, you can be a nurse, a Realtor, a banker,a pharmacist. But there is one dream that has been hard for me to reach. There was a time that I was close to making it but in order to make it, I would have had to leave my family. It would have been a hardship on my husband and our three small children.  A husband who is in an elite unit that needed him.  Children who love their mommy and could have had emotional scars from me having to go away.  Me, it would have been hard to be separated from my husband and children and knowing that someone else was raising them while my husband was at work. I made the right choice to put my singing on the back burner, to be the wife and support my husband needed and to be the mommy that our children deserved and what I was committed to by having them.  In doing so, I found ways to still sing, even though my dream was out of reach.

I was in a local band called Def, Dumb and Blonde (I was the blonde) and we sang all over Enterprise and Ft. Rucker, Alabama. I mostly harmonized with the two guys on either side of me. I did a few country songs but all together, it was a learning experience for me to help shape my performing in front of people. As I look back, I laugh. A friend of mine who has been there since I started putting my dream into action, which was when my children were in school, said that I would just stand there and tap my leg with my hand or my tambourine. I didn’t move, I didn’t know how to entertain.  I’m sure there is video out there showing what a fright I was.

I did a gig with a Major in the Army who played the guitar and would sing for Christmas functions for the Military Spouses club in Germany. I was very active in P.W.O.C. (Protestant Women of the Chapel) and would sing for them during our worship time.  

Every three months a group would get in a van and travel umpteen hours from Clarksville to Parris Island, S.C. where I helped lead worship for our Marines while they went through basic training. Knowing that more than one of the thousands there might not be alive this time next year was pulling at my heart.  We would get letters from the parents of these soldiers telling us how much it meant to their boy or girl that we came and did that for them.  That is when I realized that I wanted to sing for our military. I told my husband to let the unit know I would love to sing the National Anthem any time they needed someone. I didn’t accept any payment; I just wanted to touch people with my voice. To sing the National Anthem was the height of my singing. To be known as the “Anthem Girl” was such a high honor for me.

When I heard about Operation Rising Star it was a year ago, 2008.  A Night Stalker in my husband’s unit was going for his dream and the unit put it out to go and support him in the competition. I went as many nights as he was up there until he couldn’t go anymore. At this time I was in a competition my friends told me to try out for, the Beaver Idol.  I never thought about trying out for any competition.  While he was doing Operation Rising Star, I was doing Beaver Idol for the local country radio station here. The first time ever that I heard myself on radio, I had my children around me and we danced.  “Listen to Momma on the radio!” What a dream come true.  After not making the Beaver Idol title, I thought, what else can I do?  Here I am getting older by the minute and Nashville is more than likely out due to my age.  Then it started sinking in after every time I would sing the “National Anthem” someone would come up and ask me, when I was going to try out for American Idol? Why don’t you try out for Nashville Star? So, I started getting online and looking for competitions. Nashville Star is no longer doing their thing, at least this year. American Idol? I am over the age limit. Then Operation Rising Star popped up.  Why not try out? It’s Military Idol!

So, I went down to the Sportsman Lodge and took my number, eleven.  I didn’t get all dressed up. I wanted the judges to hear my voice and not let my clothes or hair or jewelry be louder.  I sang “Strawberry Wine”.  Half way through, one of the judges stopped me and asked if there was another song I was on the fence with singing? As a matter of fact there was but I chose strawberry wine. I told them I was thinking about another song, “I Just Call You Mine” by Martina McBride.  They said, “Let’s hear it”. When I got to the high notes of the chorus, they all threw their hands in the air like they were on a roller coaster ride and started yelling, “That is what we were looking for.” “Why didn’t you do that as your first song?” So I made the top 12 of the local competition.

Wow. I was in a competition where I would have to choose my song for the theme and stand in front of everyone and sing. I was going for it.  Giving it my all because let’s face it, the clock is ticking away and it’s almost midnight.  I had the support of my husband, my children (which my girls helped me with my song selections) and my friends. My husband’s unit came out to support also.  I performed my heart out.  Enjoying it, it became very, very addictive.  I wanted more!

I got through every week.  I wouldn’t have made it to first place if it wasn’t for the votes of my fans! It was so stressful knowing that if I didn’t have enough people there to vote, I was out. I walked away representing Ft. Campbell to audition for the Army World Wide Competition.  We did my audition dvd and we had to send in the final song I sang in the competition for the judges to vote on. There were 12 judges who looked at all 35 installations winners and narrowed it down to 12 singers.  I found out October 21^st, my 20^th year wedding anniversary, that I was one of the 12!  My husband woke me up and told me to get dress and follow him.  I thought he was getting ready to give me a wedding anniversary gift. He told me to sit down and brought the computer over and wham..there I was, in the top 12! Such a wonderful man. He had been checking all morning while I was sleeping! He was just as nervous and excited as I was but then, I was the one still sleeping.  

Then it was time to let the fans and public know that in order for me to move to the top, I would need the support of my Military Installation and my hometown, Clarksville to vote for me.  I’ve given my life and support to our Military and I know that I am not known by many, just another Military Spouse but I am a Military Spouse that needs your help in votes. You can do this in the comfort of your own home. Just like American Idol.

As I said at the beginning, I leave for Virginia on the 8^th of this month. I am putting all my fans email address’ in a file so that when I am done singing, I will email you from my phone and let you know that you have a two hour window to vote for me from where ever you are.

Please send me your email if you would like to be on the list. The more fans I have voting, the closer I am to my dream. I will do a “test” on the 7^th, so if you don’t get it, you know to check your junk file.

What is the prize for this competition? An all expense paid trip to Los Angeles, CA to record a demo in DMI Firehouse recording studios and so many more possibilities…. Help me make it, join my fan club list, free, today.

Twelve judges selected the semifinalists after viewing the videotapes of local winners from 35 installations and duty stations worldwide. The Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command-backed contest, based on the premises of FOX television’s “American Idol,” will be broadcast by the Pentagon Channel Nov. 15, 17, 19 and 21 at 8 p.m. in the United States, Korea and Europe, and 10 p.m. in the Middle East.

Audience members and Internet viewers can cast votes online at www.OpRisingStar.com for 2 hours after each broadcast.

The semifinalists invited to attend the live elimination rounds are:

Thea Agnew, a military spouse at Fort Campbell, Ky., advanced with “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and “Just a Dream.”

“Music has healed the pains, comforted the sorrows, given hope in despair, put the ‘p’ in party and made me dance,” said Agnew, a fan of Martina McBride and 2005 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood.

Staff Sgt. Tyrone Basnight of Kaiserslautern, Germany, said music “helps me stay positive and upbeat when life gets stressful.”

Staff Sgt. Michael Gordon of Camp Humphreys, South Korea, who sang “Color,” said he feels like he’s on top of the world when on stage.

“All my problems or stresses go away when the first note comes out of my mouth,” said Gordon, who derives inspiration from country artist Randy Travis.

Pfc. Andrea Griffith of Fort Eustis, Va., sang “The Way We Were” on her qualifying video, said “music, along with God, has always been the center of my life.”

A1C Jamie Jarmon of Andrews Air Force Base, Md., is another Clarkson fan who said “music is something I loved to do with my dad. Singing always puts me in a great mood.” She sang “Stay” and “Simple Man” on her video entry.

Staff Sgt. Chad Kneller of Fort Bragg, N.C., says he began singing at age 2. He advanced with “My Savior” and “Truth.”

Sgt. 1st Class Denise Patterson of Fort Bliss, Texas, a gospel singer who prefers Fantasia, wowed the judges with her rendition of “Under the Boardwalk.” She said music “has helped me sing my way through several obstacles and triumphs.”

1st Lt. Sarah Payeur of Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, said “there isn’t a single moment or time in my life that’s not connected to some song.” She appropriately advanced with “Life is a Cabaret.”

Lisa Pratt, an Army wife at Fort Carson, Colo., advanced with “Blue Moon of Kentucky,” and says music defines her.

“I study it. I practice it. I live it,” Pratt said.

Sam Tang, a military spouse at Fort Irwin, Calif., who claims inaugural American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson as her favorite, used music to deal with teenage hardships. She qualified for the Operation Rising Star semifinals with “Chain Chain Chain” and “Run To You.”

Capt. Donald Williamson, a chaplain at the U.S. Army Garrison in Bamberg, Germany, sang “You Raise Me Up,” and said “music has brought joy to my life and those around me – from singing in church to performing in musicals to singing and leading songs in a field chapel in Forward Operating Base Afghanistan.”

Spc. Erin Sataloff of Wiesbaden, Germany, sang “At Last,” and calls music his sanctuary.

Sataloff, though selected as a semi-finalist by the panel of judges, will not compete in the live elimination performances because of a mission-related conflict. An alternate will be selected by the panel of judges.

“We’re disappointed Erin won’t be able to join us,” said Tim Higdon, Army Entertainment Division program manager for the competition.

“She’s a solid performer and would have been a great addition to the live shows,” he continued, “but these are Soldier programs, and mission comes first. We certainly hope to see her compete again next year.”

Following a week of rehearsals, vocal coaching and choreography training, the dozen semifinalists will be reduced to six on Nov. 14 at Wallace Theater, where they will be accompanied by the U.S. Army Band on a stage built by members of Army Entertainment Division. That show will be broadcast Nov. 15 on the Pentagon Channel.

The six finalists will be announced during the Nov. 16 live show at Wallace, which will be broadcast Nov. 17. On Nov. 18, three competitors will be eliminated (that show will be broadcast Nov. 19) and the winner will be revealed live at Wallace on Nov. 20. The finale will be broadcast on the Pentagon Channel Nov. 21.

The public is invited to join the studio audience at Fort Belvoir. General-admission seating is free, and reserved VIP seating is available. Visit www.oprisingstar.com for show times, voting policies, and details about VIP tickets.

The contest is sponsored by the General Motors Military Discount program. VIP tickets for the Nov. 18 finals will be available Nov. 10-12 at the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro display on Fort Myer, Va.; Nov. 14 and 16 and Nov. 16-18 at Fort Meade, Md.

For more information, contact FMWRC’s Shirley Kappa at (703) 681-5221 or via e-mail at Shirley.Kappa@us.army.mil.

October 28, 2009
By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

12 semifinalists selected for Operation Rising Star singing contest

I am thrilled that I was chosen to be one of the top 12!  Last year we had a Night Stalker in the competition and this year we have a Lady Night Stalker! Me!

The competition will be taking place on November 14-20th in Ft. Belvoir, VA.  It will be on the Pentagon Channel if you are living on base.  If not, I will be getting more information on where you can watch the show.  It will be just like American Idol, where the viewing audience can call in to vote for their favorite performer.  I believe you will be able to vote online also.

This is the 2nd year in a row that Ft. Campbell, KY has had a contestant be in the top 12.  Last year our very own, Fatima McElveen, made it to 2nd place in the final competition. I hope to do Ft. Campbell proud this year too!  One of the important roles of this competition is the fans and their calling in or getting online to vote.  So, more information will be coming your way on how you can do this.

You can view my performances on my YouTube channel and see how I did for the 8 weeks during the competition at Ft. Campbell. Thank you all who voted to get me where I am now!

Send a letter to your public officials. Let your voice be heard!

The Senate has added an administrative provision to the Economic Stimulus bill (S. 336) that would relieve military homeowners on PCS orders who are bottom up on their mortgages or otherwise suffer a significant loss on the sale of their homes. The Homeowners Assistance Fund is a temporary expansion of Homeowners Assistance Plan to respond to mortgage foreclosure and credit crisis. The bill would temporarily extend coverage to these groups under the Homeowners Assistance Program (HAP), which normally only applies to members whose home values are depressed by base realignments and closures. This provision in the Senate Appropriations Committee version would add over $400 million to help military homeowners trapped in the housing market crisis, including wounded warriors, surviving spouses, those affected by base realignments and closures, and those forced to move on PCS orders. The provision would cover servicemembers and federal civilian employees in these categories who purchased a primary residence before July 1, 2006 and who receive PCS orders or suffered a wound, injury, or illness while deployed between that date and September 30, 2012.

How do you feel about this action? Let your public officials know how you feel!

I just took action and sent the house and senate my letter to recommend it. I see a lot of our military in Clarksville having to go in the hole to sell their home.

FORT CAMPBELL, KY, (January 6, 2008) – ITR Leisure Travel Office is offering Titans Championship Tickets. The Championship game is scheduled to take place on Sunday, January 18, 2009. Tickets are available to all MWR Patrons which includes Soldiers (Active Duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve) and their Families, Department of the Army Civilians, Retirees, Veterans and Surviving Spouses for $135 each and are limited to four per household. TO PURCHASE TICKETS: You MUST include ALL of the following information in your registration email to titans@fortcampbellmwr.com, beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, January 7, 2009. Please include: name, address, phone number, cell phone number, email address, alternate email address (if applicable), branch of service, and quantity of tickets desired (maximum or four tickets per household). No emails will be accepted prior to 12:01 a.m. January 7, emails received prior to this time and date will be disqualified. No phone calls or walk-ins accepted. Registrants will be contacted in order of registration time/date stamp, to inform them of ticket purchase eligibility. Only one registrant per household will be accepted. ONLY registrant will be allowed to purchase tickets. It is recommended that registrant list spouse along with their name as registrant.

Please note: Patrons who register under their name in one email and their spouses name in another email WILL NOT better their chances to qualify. ONLY one registration per household will be eligible.

For additional information about the Titans Championship tickets, please contact ITR Leisure Travel at (270)798-7436.

TITANS PLAYOFF TICKETS

DIVISIONAL ROUND

SAT-SUN, 10-11 JANUARY 2009

TITANS AFC CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS

SUNDAY, 18 JANUARY 2009

There will be limited tickets available for purchase for these events.

Ticket purchase is limited to a maximum of four tickets per household.

Price per ticket $105.00-Divisional Round Playoff

Price per ticket $135.00-AFC Championship

ITR will have registration dates for qualifying MWR patrons.  Valid Military ID i.e. Soldiers (Active Duty, Army National Guard and Army Reserve) and their Families, Department of the Army Civilians, Retirees, Veterans and Surviving Spouses.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS:

Specific email account to be set up and announced via CAMP announcement.

**Incomplete information in the email registration will lead to disqualification for ticket purchase.**

• You MUST include ALL of the information requested in your registration email

(To be announced via CAMP Announcement)

• No emails will be accepted prior to that time, emails received prior to this time and date will be disqualified.

• No phone calls or walk-ins accepted.

• Registrants will be contacted in order of registration time/date stamp, to inform them of ticket purchase eligibility.

• Only one registrant per household will be accepted.

• ONLY registrant will be allowed to purchase tickets.

It is recommended that registrant list his or her Spouse along with registrant’s name on the email.

Please note: Patrons who register under their name in one email and their Spouse’s name in another email WILL NOT better their chances to qualify.  ONLY one registration per household will be eligible.

***THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES AS STATED IN THIS FLIER***

If you know of anything different, please comment below.

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Imagine being where they are and you want just a little piece of America. How great it is to be able to send something made free to our Soldiers and all they are asking

is for you to take time to go to the site and send it.

Give the gift of free music to a Soldier in the U.S. Army this holiday season, completely free of charge.

Billboard’s got the free tunes. You have the message. Just fill out the simple form, and they will send your message and a unique PIN Code for two free music downloads to a currently enlisted Soldier.

PROGRAM RUNS THROUGH DECEMBER 31ST, 2008.

LIMIT ONE PER USER.

Send a Song to a Soldier

You will be able to choose one of these messages…

• We support our troops! Happy Holidays
• Happy Holidays
• Happy New Year!

Then you can add your own message.

I sent mine just now and there isn’t any reply information that is asked.  It is just giving to a soldier from a program that is free.  It only takes a minute to click, type your message, first name and what state your in and off it goes to a soldier.

What an awesome site to see all these Christmas Wreaths on the graves of our heroes.

Readers may be interested to know that Worcester Wreath Co., of Harrington, Maine donates some 5,000 wreaths.  Mr. Merrill Worcester, the owner, not only provides the wreaths but also covers the cost of delivery.  The school children in Maine will make a trip to D.C. most years, to help out, making this event a memorable one.

What most people don’t know is that Harrington, Maine is one of the poorest parts of the state. It is people like Mr. Worcester who make the world a better place! Thank you for thinking of our men and women who have served in Uniform and have served alongside their spouse or parent!

God Bless our Troops, their families, our heroes and the brave. The ones who have sacrificed their life and the families who miss them terribly this and every Christmas Season.  My prayers are with you all!