Gwinn Davis / Greenville Drive
Megan Watts sang the National Anthem at Fluor Field Thursday night. Watts, Greer Idol Teen in 2013, performed during one competition as GreerToday.com streamed her performance to Afghanistan where her father watched and his unit was given a shout out by those attending.
Julie McCombs
Roni Teems returns to compete in Greer Idol Teen.
Julie McCombs
Mike Lowery returns for his eighth year as emcee for Greer Idol.
• Audition gallery
A panel of judges awarded gold tickets to 17 people who auditioned for Greer Idol at the Greer Family Fest. Eight teens and nine adults were passed through to the callback round in two weeks at the Cannon Centre.
Robin Byouk, director of Idol, said she extended the deadline earlier this week for some who couldn’t make last weekend’s event to submit a video singing a cappela.
Megan Watts, who won Greer Idol Teen 2013, submitted her video and will be at the callback, according to an Idol official.
Watts sang the National Anthem at Fluor Field before the Greenville Drive game on Thursday.
The first round of Idol and Idol Teen begins June 12. The Carolina Coast Band also performs the first night of Tunes in the Park.
Judges denied only one singer to the callback when she didn’t know the lyrics or chorus of either song. That is an improvement from two years ago when judges kept passing a teen forward, while eliminating others through three rounds, despite failing to complete her songs and crying on stage.
Singers publicly approved for the callback and songs performed at the audition are:
Adult
Melissa Amons sang “Maybe This Time” and “War Hero” both by Kristen Chenoworth.
Tonyae Burnett sang “A Broken Wing” by Martina McBride and “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston.
Clarence Dorsey sang “Whistle Down by the Wind” by Tom Waits.
Cody Hammond sang, “That’s All Right” by Elvis Pressley and “Nowhere Man” by the Beatles.
Sam Horton sang “Let Her Cry” by Hootie and the Blowfish.
Amber Lavallee sang “Strawberry Wine” by Deana Carter and “Family Portrait” by Pink.
Felicia Owens sang “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town and “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin.
Mike Patterson sang “Whole New World” from Aladdin lyrics and “How Great Thou Art “.
Rodney Rogers, Jr. sang “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks and “Rock Star” by Nickleback.
Teen
Lauren Blackwell sang “Something in the Water” by Carrie Underwood, “In Case” by Demi Lovato.
Zelena Hull, Two Black Cadillacs by Kerry Underwood and Black Velvet by Allannah Myles.
Keydria Martinex sang “Cups” by Anna Kendrick and “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
Isaih Mustafa, Brooklyn, N.Y. sang “Chains” by Nick Jonas
Brittany Long sang “On My Own” by Rude
Tate Steele sang “Done” by Band Perry and “Put Your Records On” by Corinne Bailey Rae.
Roni Leigh Teems sang “Titanium” by Madelinje Baxley and “There’s a Hero” by Billy Gillman.
Allison Watts, “Prima Donna” by Marina and the Diamonds and “Blank Space” by Taylor Swift.
Megan Watts, Greer Idol Teen 2013, sent a videotape in and a Greer Idol official she will be passed through.
Friday and Saturday judges
Lynn Clark, Director Gap Creek Singers
Dana Jordan, Greer Idol 2011
David Price, church organist
Laura Bessent-Price, music teacher
Jay Stephens, musician