Brandi Vinson won first place in the seventh annual karaoke contest by Double D Karaoke at the Vet’s Club, an event held as a membership drive.
She performed Martina McBride’s “Broken Wing” to win the title on June 29. Nina Clapp finished second with “Give Me One Reason” by Tracy Chapman, and Cheyenne Patton finished third with “God Bless the USA,” by Lee Greenwood.
The first-place winner took home more than $1,000 in cash and prizes. Total, the contest included more than $5,000 in cash and prizes. Everyone in the top 10 took something home.
Vinson also won the Double D Karaoke award, which included two one-day passes to the Oregon Jamboree. The winner is picked by Double D Karaoke, Debbie and Allan Jewell.
The contest was held on three Saturdays in June. On the first night, 22 contestants performed one song. The field was cut to 15. The second night, after a single song from each, the field was cut to 10 singers. The final night, each singer performed two songs.
“We went through the lineup once, reversed the order, and they each sang again,” said Debbie Jewell. “The talent was amazing this year, and the judges had a really tough job. We had different judges each night.”
In addition to awards for singers, Double D Karaoke also gave out a top sponsor award, which went to Mountain Home Resource this year.
“We have really grown and are not just some small-time contest any more,” Jewell said. “Thanks to our sponsors, private donors and community businesses, we have been able to come up with amazing prizes. We couldn’t have pulled it off without the support of the community.”
Among the top 10, Kris Ostrom finished fourth; Cathy Cheshire, fifth; Elizabeth Lincoln Dishaw, sixth; Jodi Cheshire, seventh; Chili Mancuso, eighth; Lorenzo Pike, ninth; and April Shank, 10th.
Double D Karaoke usually starts the process in January, Jewell said. Her husband starts talking to people in January, and this year, he was able to get some large sponsors, including Spirit Mountain Hotel and Casino, Anderson Auto Body and Repair, South Pacific Auto Sales and Mountain Home Resource Center.
That doesn’t include all of the private donations and raffles, Debbie Jewell said.
“The businesses in Sweet Home graciously donate gift certificates, items off of their shelves and gift cards to help us. Like I said, our community rocks. Without them, we couldn’t continue with the contest every year. Cathy Lindsay has made sure that the Sweet Home Veteran’s Club is the perfect venue for us.”