THATCHER — Last week, the judges opted to send more contestants to the finals than usual. This week, they went in the opposite direction.
Two contestants at Thursday’s preliminary at the Stadium Club were advanced to the finals of Gila Valley Idol 2022 — Bethany Artman and Traci Chamberlin.
Both have previous experience with the finals.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve been in the finals,” Artman said. “I kind of took a couple of years off to calm my nerves, and do a little bit of soul-searching (to) figure it out. And it seems like a I came back (strong) and handled my nerves pretty well. I was really exciting. I was nice to go up there and not be shaking like I normally am.”
Chamberlin was all set to go to the finals in 2021 when COVID protocols required her to quarantine the week of the performance, taking away her chance at glory. She said advancing from this preliminary to another final is fun, but there’s more to it than just her success.
“It’s redemption, but I feel like it’s not just that. I have two children that are participating in this — one that is chosen as a call-back and one that will sing next week in Morenci,” Chamberlin said. “For me, I feel like it gives them an opportunity to (get) good things for themselves, and that’s all that we really want as parents for our kids. So it’s redemption for me, but it’s also fun for me and it’s a good message for them.”
Artman performed “Someone You Love,” and Chamberlin performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Selected to perform again at the call-back night, March 10 at the Graham County Chamber of Commerce, was Marlee Redford, who sang “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going”; and Travis Ries, who sang “The Chair.”
Reid Cox, of Chihuahua, Mexico, who sang “Savior Redeemer of my Soul,” was selected as an alternate. One alternate will be selected at each of the six preliminaries, and one of those six will move into the finals based on voting by the public on GilaValleyCentral.net.
Judges for the second preliminary were 2008 Gila Valley Idol winner Adam Crohn; 2012 winner Sharon Montoya; and 2017 winner Darryn Kamae, who, with John Henderson, performed a Disney medley of “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
Performances can be viewed on GilaValleyCentral.net and the Kat Kountry Facebook page.
The next preliminary will take place Thursday, Feb. 17, at 6:30 p.m., at The Morenci Club. Due to COVID protocols, a 50-member audience limit will be in place.
The finals will take place March 24 at the David M. Player Center for the Arts, and tickets can be purchased at Gila Idol 2022 Tickets in Safford, AZ, United States (ticketleap.com).
Sponsors of Gila Valley Idol include: Valley Telecom; OneAZ Credit Union; The Stadium Club; Freeport-McMoRan; Richard’s Music; The Double R Grill; Valley Furniture and Appliance; Tyson Richins-Edward Jones Investments; Swire Coca-Cola; Trophies ‘N Tees; and Double R Communications stations Kat Kountry 94.5 FM, Sunny 102.3 FM and KATO Am 1230.
