SAFFORD — Three more names are on the list of contestants for the 2025 Gila Idol Finals, including last year’s runners up.
At Thursday’s preliminary at the Morenci Club, sponsored by Freeport-McMoRan, the judges selected Tylee Nielson, Brenden Wahl and Bella Campbell to advance to the finals.
Nielson sang “Lost Boy” to earn her spot. She said she’s been performing since she was 12, starting in theater.
“I just love being on stage; it’s so much fun,” Nielson said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Wahl will be making his second finals appearance, following his performance of “Everything is Fine.” He said his finals song will stay in his favorite genre.
“I’m going to keep it country, but it’s going to be a little more fun. I’ll leave it at that,” Wahl said. “It’ll be entertaining, I’ll say that.”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Campbell, who sang “Burning House,” will be making her fourth straight finals appearance. She said her experience will hopefully help her improve on her second place finish last year.
“As I mature, I’m getting a lot better at being on stage and actually feeling the song and communicating that to the audience, hopefully,” Campbell said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Two singers will get another chance at making the finals, when they perform at call back night at the Trekasges Theater at the David M. Player Center for the Arts on March 13. They are Margarita Aguilera, who sang “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” and Becky Clark, who sang “This Is Me.”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The judges also selected one alternate, Kalen Reyes, who sang “Lose Control.” Alternates are selected at each preliminary and, in the week before the finals, the public will vote on the performances on GilaValleyCentral.net. The top vote-getter will become a finalist.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Judges were 2009 Gila Idol winner Theresa Campbell, who opened the preliminary with a performance of “She Used to be Mine,” 2018 winner Pete McCormick and 2017 winner Darryn Kamae, who closed the show with a performance of “One Foot on Sand.”
All of Thursday’s performances can be viewed on the Gila Idol 2025 page at Gila Valley Central.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The next preliminary will take place Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at The Venue on Main in Safford. Admission is free.
Sponsors for 2025 Gila Idol include Valley Telecom Group; Richard’s Music Co.; Trophies ‘N Tees; Freeport-McMoRan; Pepsi; Mack’s NAPA Auto Parts; the Double R Bar and Grill; Valley Furniture and Appliance; Tyson Richins — Edward Jones Investments; the Graham County Chamber of Commerce; OneAZ Credit Union; Manor 415 Event Center; Keyhole Properties; Apache Gold Resort and Casino; the Matheson Music Foundation; Valley Vision; and the Double R Communications family of radio stations, Kat Kountry 94.5 FM, Sunny 102.3 FM and KATO 1230 AM.
