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Ross Coppley sings 'The Old Rugged Cross' after being named winner of the Childress Idol Contest Sunday afternoon at Childress Vineyards. Bobbie Jamison/The Dispatch
By DENEESHA EDWARDS
The Dispatch
Ross Coppley's dream came true this weekend: He will get to perform at the 23rd Annual Barbecue Festival later this month.
"It feels great," said the 21-year-old from Lexington Sunday afternoon.
Coppley competed with 16 other contestants for the honor in the first "Childress Idol" singing competition this weekend at the Childress Vineyards winery.
The "American Idol"-style talent competition was Childress Vineyards' way of kicking off the festivities leading up to the Barbecue Festival Oct. 21. The festival tennis tournament also took place over the weekend (see story on page 1B).
"We're excited," said Kathleen Watson, director of marketing and public relations at Childress Vineyards. "It's really a big weekend for us."
Coppley sang "Brand New Girlfriend" by Steve Holy, "Be My Baby Tonight" by Michael John Montgomery and "The Old Rugged Cross" in the final round.
He said he was not nervous at all. He just kept his mind on performing on the Grandstand at the festival and being exposed.
"If I was nervous then this shouldn't be what I need to be doing," he said.
Coppley was one of the top-five finalists in "Gimmie the Mike! Charlotte" over the summer. He also was a finalist in "Triad Idol" this year.
He said he's been singing all his life and wants to make a career out of it. He's even moving to Nashville in the spring to pursue his goal.
Coppley won a $250 cash prize and a trophy from Hayes Jewelers for being the "Childress Idol" winner.
He will also have the opportunity to perform the national anthem and perform a 10-minute set prior to the 104.1 WTQR-sponsored "Guitar Pull" featuring major national talent on the Grandstand at the Barbecue Festival.
Auditions for "Childress Idol" begin Saturday at 9 a.m. with contestants performing a 60-second song a cappella of their choice.
The contestants varied in age and came from all over North Carolina to compete. The majority of the contestants were from Lexington, High Point, Clemmons and Winston-Salem. Contestants had to be 16 and older to compete.
Contestants who made it through the first round had to perform another 60-second song a cappella Saturday.
Some people were a little shocked that there were only 17 contestants at the auditions.
"I thought it would have been more people," said Sara Culler from Winston-Salem. "It was very well put together, and it just surprises me it wasn't a big turnout."
Culler made it all the way through Saturday and was in the top 10 on Sunday. She sang "Crazy" by Patsy Cline, but she did not make it to the finals.
"It was a lot of fun," she said. "I go to the festival every year, and it would have been a great opportunity for me to sing there."
Round three took place Sunday and was for the top 10 contestants who made it through the second round Saturday.
The contestants had to perform a three-minute set with music.
The original plans were for the top three finalists to compete in a final round, but because the competition was so tough the judges allowed five finalists.
Judges were Stephanie K. Saintsing-Gryder, executive director of the barbecue festival, Jackson Thacker with Childress Vineyards and Watson.
Lee Jessup, president of the United Way of Davidson County, joined the judges Sunday, because the winner would sing on the Grandstand stage where he is the master of ceremonies.
"We're glad to have one more voice because it's so difficult," Saintsing-Gryder said. "The quality exceeded our expectations."
The top five performed another song of their choice and sang the national anthem a cappella. They were judged on vocal talent and stage presence.
"Everything's going great," said Josh Willard from Winston-Salem. "I'm very worried because it is a lot better competition than I thought it would be."
Willard won the 2006 Triad Idol for his age group. He made it to the top 10 and sang "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder.
"I got my eye on the trophy," he said.
Another top 10 finalist, Billy Stone from Winston-Salem, did not think he would make it as far as he did. He was used to doing karaoke and entered the contest for his family, mainly his father, Jack Stone.
"I'm tickled to death whether I win or lose," he said. "I don't expect to win, but I had fun anyway.
Jessup said the event was another example of how Childress Vineyards and the Barbecue Festival are lifting up Lexington and Davidson County and telling the state what a great place it is to live and work.
"This shows how much talent is available," he said. "This was extremely close. We chose a good winner, and he will represent the whole competition well."
Watson said the "Idol" competition is something that will definitely be done next year.
"It was great," Watson said. "There was a lot of really good talent. It was a difficult decision with all the talent."
As for Coppley he will begin practicing for his show. He's undecided on what he is going to perform.
"Hopefully, it will be a great show," he said.
One of Coppley's fans said she knows he's going to perform well no matter what he sings.
"He'll blow them away," Natalie Walser said.
Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.
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