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| Our Idol! |
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 | Sarah Beth Sanders was named the 2007 Lincoln County Idol in grand finale competition held in the auditorium at Ninth Grade Academy Saturday night.
Out of a final night's field of 20, Sanders nailed Martina McBride's "Broken Wing" to a packed house of approximately 700, earning the top slot in the competition hosted by the Lincoln County Health System Foundation.
The finalists were selected by a panel of judges from the music industry in Nashville - 10 from Tuesday night auditions and 10 from Thursday night auditions. Then Saturday evening, the audience cast their ballots for the final selection following each contestant's performance and judges critiques.
As the winner, Sanders will be the opening act September 8 at the Lincoln County Fair (where the crowd is expected to exceed 20,000), $250 cash, and passes to the 2008 CMA Music Festival.
"We were toally blown away by the support from the community," said Gary Kendrick, CEO of Lincoln County Health System and Emcee for the event. "It was our first attempt at the event, and we couldn't be more pleased at the turnout."
"Having Ed Benson, Betsy Walker and Brandi Simms from CMA and Kama Upton from the Paradigm Agency adds to our credibility," Kendrick added. "They are the best in the music industry."
Making the final 20 performers were Garrett Honea, Derrek Moore, Curtis Nichols, Chad Holt, Kim Nichols, Willetta Buchanan, Stephanie Howell, Sarah Beth Sanders, Lindsay Pitts, John Corak, Sherri Moyers, Sharon Williams, Holly Hines, Kimberly Seagle, Jean Worley, Keri Brown, Jason Alverson, Bill Knight, Steven Wallis, and Mallory Carter.
Ten were then cut from the competition with Honea, Moore, Nichols, Buchanan, Sanders, Pitts, Corak, Hines, Alverson and Carter making the cut.
The field was then cut to the final three artists with Mallory Carter, Willetta Buchanan and Sanders remaining in the competition.
And when the ballons had dropped by the end of the evening, Sarah Beth Sanders was declared the winner.
Pictured (upper left) Gary Kendrick, Lincoln County Health System CEO; Brandi Simms, Manager of Executive Programs with CMA; Sanders; Ed Benson, Chief Strategic Office for CMA; Betsy Walker, Coordinator of Member and Community Relations for CMA; and Kama Upton, Paradigm Agency.
(below) Sarah Beth Sanders and her title of "Lincoln County Idol"
The Lincoln County Health System Foundation raises funds to purchase needed items and equipment for the health system that may no otherwise be able to be included in the system's regular budget.
The event raised approximately $10,000 for the Foundation. |
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