WGNA's Country Idol at Vapor (in Saratoga Casino and Raceway) has become the Northeast's premiere talent search.

The stage sees a mix of seasoned entertainers and amateur hopefuls every month. Contestants give it all they've got with a $5,000 prize and the prestigious title up for grabs. However, just like American Idol, sometimes talented people don't always rise to the top.

As the host of the show, I always remind contestants that scores are based on a rotating panel of three judges- just because one panel didn't give you the highest scores, doesn't mean you're not good.  In addition, I'm constantly encouraging singers to not be discouraged if they don't land in the Top 5.  After all, several singers that did not win American Idol or Nashville Star have gone on to do great things- sometimes more than the actual winners.

A good example is Kellie Pickler.  Pickler was voted off American Idol in the Top 6, but she didn't let that stop her from doing what she loved!  Kellie used her experience on American Idol, learned, and moved forward to have a gold record with Small Town Girl, a CMA nomination for the Horizon Award, and a string of Top 10 records. Furthermore, after being voted off, she stayed positive and continued to sing, opened for some of the biggest stars in Country Music, played the Grand Ole Opry, became one of the most popular personalities on television shows- eventually winning Dancing With The Stars- and went on to play several USO Tours.

Click the button below for Kellie Pickler's advice to Vapor Country Idol singers.

Remember, even Miranda Lambert placed third on Nashville Star and is still one of the most successful contestants from the show. Please feel free to leave your advice to Vapor Country Idols in the comment section below.

 

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