Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, October 1, 2012
(MITCHELL) - 11-year-old Anna Beaty’s golden pipes stole the hearts of the crowd at the Z102 Persimmon Idol competition.
Beaty won the youth division and took home the $100 cash prize.
Anna started singing at age of 3, according to her mother Mel Beaty.
"She has always wanted to be a singer," Mel says. "She can hear a song and start singing it right away. People were amazed that at 3, she could pick up a mic doing karaoke and start singing Celine Dion songs."
Beaty has a natural talent, but has taken a few lessons here and there as the family traveled around the country. Beaty's father, Kevin, has served the last 28 years in the Air Force and recently retired and moved back home to Mitchell.
"She has done really well," Kevin says. "She still gets a little nervous before performing, but that soon passes. We try to let her compete as often as possible, to let her have experience on stage."
Anna has taken several top honors in competitions.
"She took first place in the You Got Talent Contest in California and was the opening act at the Air Force Tops and Blue," Kevin says. "She sang Carrie Underwood's 'Jesus Take The Wheel'."
Tops and Blue is the Air Force's special unit of talented amateur performers. It represents the United States Air Force as one of the oldest and most widely traveled entertainment groups of its kind.
Anna says she loves to sing.
"But, I would like to be a doctor too," She says. "Maybe I can be a singing doctor."
Anna won the Z102 Idol competition singing Kelly Clarkson's 'Because of You.'
"My favorite is Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson," she added. "I love to sing country and gospel. I like the songs that have pretty high notes. I seem to do better with them."
Anna has plans for her $100 winnings.
"I am planning to spend some of it on our Disney Cruise," Anna says. "I am so excited. Dad planned the trip as a surprise for me after his retirement. I can hardly wait. With the money left I plan to put it in the bank for college."
To see Anna on YouTube visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW6rElOWFsY and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okt7U-fWeCQ&feature=channel&list=UL
Oolitic's Carman Cavezza, 34, took the idol title for the adults.
Cavezza, who works at Cook Inc., is no stranger to the stage.
Singing since high school, she performs at weddings, kicks off sporting events with the national anthem and won the first-ever Lawrence County Idol competition. She enjoys karaoke.
"I love to sing because I want to have a positive influence on people," Cavezza said. "It's awesome. You always hear from people who say that music has changed their life, good or bad, in one way or another."
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