Beech Bend SuperStar Contest Week 2

Season 3 SuperStar contestants are continuing to blaze a trail across the SuperStar stage! The winner of Week 2 was Brandy Neelly of Prospect, Kentucky. Brandy is no stranger to the Beech Bend Superstar stage, having placed 2nd in 2010. Since then, Brandy has gone on to audition for American Idol in Nashville, receiving the Golden Ticket to Hollywood. She wowed the Idol panel and made it to the top 100. According to Brandy, “this year – I am in it to win it!” Regarding Beech Bend SuperStar Contest, Brandy says, “I am so excited about Beech Bend Superstar. To compete with such talent is an honor, and to receive advice from a professional panel is priceless! I can’t wait for the finals!”

Superstar is open to all ages. Sonny Clayton, of Bowling Green, Kentucky graced the stage during Week 2. The amazing part about Sonny is that he is the young age of 73 and can swoon like Elvis. Sonny sang, “Treat Me Nice” and as one judge commented, “I could close my eyes and pretend I was listening to Elvis.”

The judges for week 2 were Joni Lanham, Brooke Arrington, and Shea Fowler.

Joni Lanham, of Owensboro, is an avid songwriter and lyricist. She is currently busy in the studio with Gray Sky Music Productions, of Owensboro, where she is working with Matt Gray on several songwriter demos. Having considered writing lyrics as just a fun hobby all her life, it wasn’t until a friend inspired her to take her songs into the studio that she started taking it seriously. Although she describes herself as “just the writer”, her first song, also produced by Gray Sky Music, hit the airways on two local radio stations and also featured her as the singer. She hopes to wrap up her songwriter demos soon and have them into the hands of the agent representing a country group currently on tour with one of the biggest stars in Nashville.

Brooke Arrington grew up listening and loving all types of music from The Eagles to Shania Twain to ACDC. She began her music career as a pre-teen playing and singing in festivals, opening for touring acts, and performing in various theme park shows. She studied Commercial Songwriting and Music Business at Middle Tennessee State University, where she found a new love for songs and the music publishing business. She is currently the Creative Director at Big Yellow Dog Music where she manages their writers and song catalogue. Big Yellow Dog recently won GRAMMY Song of the Year and Best Country song with Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” which their writer Josh Kear co-wrote with the band. Big Yellow Dog has had an amazing career with artists such as Garth Brooks, Toby Keith, Alison Krauss, Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley and Billy Currington all recording songs by their writers.

Shea Fowler, a native Texan, has been involved in the entertainment industry from Los Angeles to New York City and has worked in film, television, theatre and music. She currently works in the A&R department at Big Machine Label Group in Nashville working with artists such as Taylor Swift, Reba and Rascal Flatts. Shea is always listening for new talent to either collaborate with or develop as artists and looks forward to the future of the business! Shea commented, “I came up and judged last year. I am back because the talent that is crossing the Superstar stage is amazing. This contest is the Real Deal!”

Scorekeeping for week 2 was provided by Steven Young of the Talent Trak Agency in Nashville, TN.

Beech Bend Superstar contest runs each Saturday through August 27, 2011, with the finale taking place on Sept 3, 2011.

Beech Bend Superstar has partnered with 95Live WGGC this season. A part of the prize package for this year’s contest is an open performance for the Summer Concert Series sponsored by 95Live WGGC, IGA Crossroads, and Beech Bend.

Last year’s winner, Mackenzie Morgan, will open for Walker Hayes on Beech Bend Raceway stage on June 30, 2011.

For more information about Superstar, log onto the Beech Bend website at www.beechbend.com or send an e-mail to beechbendsuperstar@gmail.com.