Finalists resonate for first place in karaoke contest

On Monday evening, the 21st of October at 7:00 pm, after five weeks of competing, 18 anxious semi finalists made their way to GiGi’s on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge to compete for standing and prizes in the GiGi’s and JTM’s Karaoke Contest. There were at least 100 people in attendance to share in the excitement and to enjoy the atmosphere. Competitors came from Knoxville to Gatlinburg to voice their fine cords. Pam McIllwain, the promoter of the contest and owner of JTM Entertainment has amassed a number of quality accolades for the winners. The grand prize was a night’s stay in the Hampton Inn & Suites. The contestants sang songs for all types of reasons. One was sang to commemorate the current events. Another was sung to illustrate animation. While another contestant claimed she “drank way too much coffee” and impressed the audience with an appropriate number. Fourteen-year-old Michael Stokes from Knoxville stood on stage and showed his talents which he garnered over the past eight years from signing at such places as Fantasy of Trees, Chocolate Festival, Dogwood Arts Festival, on cruises and even at weddings. Stokes attends ninth grade at Central High and his goal is to someday be a star on Broadway. McIllwain stated she started this contest and enjoys doing Karaoke because, “it’s good family environment and my kids get to be with me and you get to meet neat people.” She said the hard part was finding two good qualified judges. Judge Loretta Clark, originally from Kentucky won awards at Tennessee Country Music Association and works at Special Education at Parkway Academy in Sevierville. Judge Gwenn Davis competed against Tanya Tucker and beat her. Davis even had a contract with a major record label but she got married at a young age and dropped that part of her future. She now works at Cupids Chapel in Gatlinburg. McIllwain wants to do another contest just for two weeks in Nov. The six weeks is very time consuming. “I appreciate all the local business that sponsored all the gifts including the grand prize gift.” The sponsors are: Gigi’s Pizza, Louise Mandrel Theater, Sweet Fanny Adams Theater, Hampton Inn & Suites, Diamond Mountain Rentals, Century 21 A Plus Realty Group, Smoky Mountain Riding Stables, Fast Tracks, Fudge Shops of the Smokys, The Seymour Herald, Pigeon River Mining Company, and JTM Entertainment The winners are: Youth Male: 14 year old Michael Stokes of Knoxville Youth Female: 17 year old Vaness Christiano of Sevierville Adult Male: 25 year old Brent Allen of Sevierville Adult Female: 20-year-old Shelley Chambers of Sevierville. Shelley happens to be Dolly Parton’s cousin’s daughter. Men’s division tied with Curtis Trotter before Brent Allen won Women’s division tied with Rebecca Armstrong before Shelley Chambers won.