Earlier issue with laryngitis no setback for Eagle Idol winner

VILONIA You couldn't tell it during her performance, but Annie Stevens, the winner of Saturday night's Eagle Idol, couldn't sing a note the day before the contest.

"Yesterday, there was nothing," Stevens said pointing to her throat after the win. "I had laryngitis, and I couldn't sing at all. So, I am very, very shocked that I won."

A student at the University of Central Arkansas, Stevens graduated from Vilonia High School. She sings in both the concert and chamber choirs at UCA and hopes to pursue a career in the music industry. She performed "Don't Forget to Remember Me."

Stevens competed against 17 other contestants for the win including Kayla Marsden, a 17-year-old senior from VHS; Terri Hancock, a 40-year-old wife and mother of eight children; Stephanie Ballard, a 17-year old junior at VHS; Tyler Couch, a 15-year-old who attends Vilonia Jr. High; Laura Saeler, 22, who was a finalist three years in a row for Toad Suck Superstar before winning it the fourth year; Marissa Gaza, a 17-year-old who lives in Houston and attends Bigelow High School. Gaza plans to audition for American Idol possibly this coming season; Rachel Wilkes, 14, performs with the Vilonia Jr. High Choir and also the Central Arkansas Youth Choir; Brandon "Mega Blocks," Stewart, a sophomore at VHS; Morgan Martinez, a 17-year-old VHS student, who not only sings but also plays the saxophone, trumpet and piano; Ellise Selken, a 15-year-old VHS student, who also plays the piano; Hayley Couglin, a 16-year-old VHS student who has been a member of the Vilonia Band program for six years; Tiffany Moreno, a 12-year-old at Vilonia Middle School, who has sung at the Mississippi State Fair as well as Vilonia Fest. Last week, she was also crowned as Jr. Miss Vilonia. Also, Erica Lipsmeyer, 29, is a wife and mother of seven children, who competed for Arkansas Idol in 2007 and made it to the finals; Miranda Palmer, a member of the Vilonia Jr. High Choir; Kelsey Stephens, 16, a sophomore at VHS with six brothers and sisters; Tony Lewis, a member of the National Guard, and who was born in Florida but has lived in Arkansas most of his life. He taught himself to play the guitar and piano and Gerald Bloom, originally from Mississippi, who sung and played a guitar.

Stevens received $250 for the win. Marsden, who was named as runner-up, received $100 and placing third, Moreno received $50. Saeler and Lewis were also named in the top five.

From about 5 until 8:30 p.m., contestants performed before a large audience in the high school cafeteria. Some appeared confident and belted out their songs. Others had shaky starts with solid finishes. Fans clapped and hooted.

While the competition was serious, there was also some humor in the mix. One elderly performer, "Pearlina," was escorted off the stage because she was lip syncing "You Ain't Woman Enough." A second "undercover performer," Andy Pennington, a physical education teacher at Vilonia Primary, scored audience points with his rendition of "You Are So Beautiful."

Brian Ratliff, well-known in Faulkner County for his role as Toadmaster during Conway Toadsuck Daze, served as emcee. Introducing himself as "Brain IuseCrest," he introduced the performers and read bios as well as enthused the audience. Judges, with made-up names such as Ydnar Jacks, Karactor, Kim Awesome, Paul Abdul and Simone Kool, paralleled judges on American Idol. Occasionally, they were called on for commentary. While Abdul remarked performances "awakened the spirit," Kool said "average" performances.

Throughout the event, Ratliff commented, "wow," after performances.

It was the judges' charge to name the top five finalists. Subsequently, the audience cast the final votes by dipping into their pocketbooks. The outcome of the event, between the five, was based on dollar bills being stuffed into jars at $1 per vote. There was less than $100, Ratliff said, between the first- and third-place finalists.

In conclusion, Ratliff announced about $500 had been raised to go to the Lions Club, Leo membership.

The event was sponsored by the Vilonia Lions Club, the Leos and the Vilonia Area Chamber of Commerce.