MORENCI — A smaller field and a reduced panel of judges meant better than average chances of making the 2026 Gila Idol Finals during Thursday’s preliminary at the Morenci Club. And three women took advantage.
The judges selected Abigail Spitzer, Jordan Mathews and Callie Walters to advance to the Gila Idol finals.
Spitzer sang “26 Cents.” While a veteran of previous preliminaries, this year will mark Spitzer’s first appearance at the Finals.
“I’m going to try and find a song that I can use all of my voice,” Spitzer said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Mathews, who sang “Love,” had also auditioned before and will be making her first Finals’ appearance
“It’s hard for me to think about it because it makes me even more nervous,” Mathews said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
Walters performed the song “I Told You So.” She said it was her first time on a stage in a few years.
“This was me try to bring back my confidence, so I signed just to see if I could do it,” Walters said.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
All three will perform at the Gila Idol Finals on March 26 at the David M. Player Center for the Arts.
One other will have a chance to make the finals, after the judges selected her to take part in call-back night March 12. She is Emily Lewis, who sang “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
The judges also selected one alternate, Grant Wearne, who sang “They Say It’s Wonderful.” An alternate will be 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 2018 Gila Idol winner Pete McCormick and 2016 winner Brianna DeRusha-Baxter, who joined with her husband, Joe, to perform an original song, “Wrap My Fear in Love,” to open the evening.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
All of Thursday’s performances can be viewed on the Gila Idol 2026 page at Gila Valley Central.
The next preliminary will take place Thursday, Feb. 26, at 6:30 p.m. during at the Manor 415 Event Center in Safford. Admission is free.
Sponsors for 2026 Gila Idol include Valley Telecom Group; Richard’s Music Co.; Trophies ‘N Tees; Freeport-McMoRan; Valley Furniture and Appliance; the Graham County Chamber of Commerce; OneAZ Credit Union; The Venue and Vignette on Main; Keyhole Properties; Pepsi; Tyson Richins-Edward Jones Investments; Apache Gold Casino; Mack’s Napa Auto Parts; Valley Vision; and the Double R Communications family of radio stations, Kat Kountry 94.5 FM, Sunny 102.3 FM and KATO 1230 AM.
