Milar, Cundari, Bendel picked for Gila Idol finals

SAFFORD — Three different approaches produced the same results at Thursday’s 2025 Gila Idol preliminary at The Venue on Main.

Judges selected Lila Milar, Madeline Cundari and Hayley Bendel to advance to the finals March 27 at the David M. Player Center for the Arts.

Milar said she’s been compiling songs since her finals qualification last year, and opted to go all the way back to 1963 for her song, “L-O-V-E.”

“I love to sing the vintage music, I feel like it has a lot of heart and soul,” Milar said, “and it was just the perfect song.”

While Milar planned for a year, Cundari, who sang “Thank God I Do,” said she made her decision to try Gila Idol in just the last few weeks, following her being named Eastern Arizona Cinderella Teen in January.

“After you win Cinderella royalty, you’re actually required to go to the state competition for Cinderella, and that can be pretty pricey,” Cundari said. “So my parents were like, ‘You should do Gila Idol.’ ”

Bendel last performed in Gila Idol in the 2021 finals and took the last few years off following her move to the Phoenix area. After her performance of “When We were Young,” she said she’s not leaving anything to chance this year.

“I’ve actually already picked my song for the finals,” Bendel said.

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 Audrey Wahl, who sang “Wake Up,” and Jordan Mathews, who sang “Traitor.”

The judges also selected one alternate, Lily Peterson, who sang “Rolling in the Deep.” 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.

Judges were 20089 Gila Idol winner Adam Crohn, 2014 winner Olivia Jeffs and 2018 winner Pete McCormick.

The audience was also treated to additional performances by the Thatcher High School Quintets, who performed three songs, “What a Wonderful World,” “Dancin’ Fool” and “Sir Duke”; Quintets Director Tracy Brown, who sang “In My Dreams”; and 2023 Gila Idol winner Zaylie Windsor, who sang two songs, “The Scientist” and “Valerie.”

All of Thursday’s performances can be viewed on the Gila Idol 2025 page at Gila Valley Central.

The next preliminary will take place Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. at The Graham County Chamber of Commerce in Safford. Admission is free.

Click here to purchase tickets for the 2025 Gila Idol Finals on Thursday, March 27, at 7 p.m.

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.

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