2010 Operation Rising Star Final Night - 22

2010 Operation Rising Star Final Night - 22

Image by familymwr
MG Rueben Jones, FMWRC Commanding General, presents a representative for American Airlines with a plaque thanking the company for therr sponsorship of the contest. (U.S. Army photo by Bill Bradner, FMWRC Public Affairs. Cleared for public release, not for commercial use, attribution requested)

www.armymwr.com

Army wife Gomez wins Operation Rising Star military singing contest

By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Melissa Gomez, who left Soldiering to become a full-time Army wife and mother, won the 2010 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 19 at Wallace Theater.

Gomez, 29, of Fort Bragg, N.C., prevailed over runner-up Maj. Serelda Herbin, 34, of Fort Hood, Texas, and third-place finisher Senior Airman Joanell Jackson, 24, of Fort Polk, La.

“I thought for sure Serelda was going to win,” Gomez said.

Gomez, who works with a large Army Community Service group at Fort Bragg, had family supporters in her hometown, Philadelphia, and her father’s native Puerto Rico voting early and often in the contest based on the premises of FOX Television’s American Idol.

“ACS and Fort Bragg totally represented for me,” she said. “I didn’t think I had that many people on board, but last night I was getting lots of calls from people saying, ‘We’ve been voting ...’

“They were showing everybody the show.”

After Spc. Nicholas Davis of Grafenwoehr, Germany, (originally from Rockingham, N.C.) was eliminated, the Tar Heel State boarded the Gomez bandwagon.

“North Carolina, in general, was representing after Nick fell out,” Gomez said. “Some of his people said they just needed North Carolina to win.

“I had my church in Philadelphia, my family, my mother’s work, my family in Puerto Rico – they were all watching the show online and voting.”

Gomez joined the Army at age 17 and promptly married a Soldier. She served six years before leaving as a sergeant to become a full-time military mother.

“They kept deploying us separately and I had to keep sending my children to live with my mom,” Gomez explained. “I was in a really active MOS. It was mostly me who kept coming down on orders, so I had to decide to be a mom.”

A self-professed late bloomer, Gomez began singing around age 12. She also plays a few Latin percussion instruments. In 2004, she toured domestic military installations and Korea with USA Express, a stage band sponsored by Army Entertainment Division.

For winning Operation Rising Star, Gomez will record a three-song demo CD at Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena, Calif., paid for by the Army Family and MWR Command.

“I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” she said. “I’m mentally prepared for the worst and just hope for the best. I look forward to really, really working with Victor [Hurtado] and Joey [Beebe], two completely talented people that I know can make me sound amazing, and Miss [Debra] Byrd.

“That’s what I look forward to big-time.”

Lisa Pratt, the 2009 Operation Rising Star winner, gave Gomez some tips about what to expect during the whirlwind week in Hollywood, where the new champion hopes to unveil some ideas of her own.

“It feels like I’m going to get to represent spouses and veterans in a positive light,” Gomez said. “I want to focus on keeping it where it needs to be because we have a hard job. I’ve been through it nine months of the year without a husband.”

“Life goes on for us whether he’s here or not – and I’ve got to keep it rolling.”

Gomez rolled through Operation Rising Star Finals Week by singing “I Need You” and “How Do I Live” by LeeAnn Rimes, “Out Here on My Own” by Irene Cara, “I Ain’t Got Nothing” by Alicia Keys, and “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan.

Herbin presented a strong challenge with “At Last” by Jennifer Holliday, “I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain, “My Heart Will Go On,” by Celine Dion, “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston, and Holliday’s “I Am Changing,” which nearly brought the house down during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“I think I just said to throw it on the stage,” Operation Rising Star judge Debra Byrd, a vocal coach for American Idol, said to Herbin after her performance of “I Am Changing.” “Well, ladies and gentlemen, she just threw down on the stage. I applaud you because you came here with the determination of song choice, song choice and song choice.

“From your last two performances, you kicked it up into high gear and put a hot sauce on it. I applaud you. I applaud you. Well done.”

The three finalists delivered an entertaining medley of Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” Keys’ “I Ain’t Got Nothing” and Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“You guys picked these songs to win and I don’t blame you,” Byrd said. “You want to get these biggie songs in. I applaud you for your effort. … I applaud you for the courage to pick these bombastic songs because that’s the mind of a winner – you want to pick the biggie.

“Whew, I know you’re glad that’s over with. I applaud you ladies.”

Second-place finisher Herbin said she was “content, happy and grateful for being here, but it is a competition and we knew the rules.”

“Hey, there can only be one,” she said with a teary-eyed smile and a laugh. “Overall, I had a great time.”

Third-place finisher Jackson, a last-minute substitute in the top 12, was content with the outcome and elated by the experience.

“I’m happy with the outcome,” she said. “I had fun. It was a great experience. Two weeks, 12 people, and now we’re family. I didn’t have that much time to advertise, but people really enjoyed my voice. I was really shocked that I made to the final round.

“I have accomplished what I need to accomplish to prove that I am a singer and that I enjoy singing and that I do have a talent.”


Jackson said she would love to continue entertaining troops.

“Maybe when I finish my mission at Fort Polk and I’m done with my military career, maybe do what Michael has done,” she said of Military Operation Rising Star judge Michael Peterson’s affinity for performing for troops. “I’ve been in Tops in Blue and being able to travel to encourage troops is a great opportunity – I would really love to do that.”

Serving in the Air Force with a husband in the Army, Jackson, who also serves as a mother of four, said someone needs to change careers.

“We’re in two different branches and we’ve been separated for awhile,” she explained. “I want to live with my husband. I miss him so much. I love the military, it’s a great thing, but I really do want to have my family near.”

2010 Operation Rising Star Final Night - 21

Image by familymwr
MG Rueben Jones, FMWRC Commanding General, presents a representative for American Airlines with a plaque thanking the company for therr sponsorship of the contest. (U.S. Army photo by Bill Bradner, FMWRC Public Affairs. Cleared for public release, not for commercial use, attribution requested)

www.armymwr.com

Army wife Gomez wins Operation Rising Star military singing contest

By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Melissa Gomez, who left Soldiering to become a full-time Army wife and mother, won the 2010 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 19 at Wallace Theater.

Gomez, 29, of Fort Bragg, N.C., prevailed over runner-up Maj. Serelda Herbin, 34, of Fort Hood, Texas, and third-place finisher Senior Airman Joanell Jackson, 24, of Fort Polk, La.

“I thought for sure Serelda was going to win,” Gomez said.

Gomez, who works with a large Army Community Service group at Fort Bragg, had family supporters in her hometown, Philadelphia, and her father’s native Puerto Rico voting early and often in the contest based on the premises of FOX Television’s American Idol.

“ACS and Fort Bragg totally represented for me,” she said. “I didn’t think I had that many people on board, but last night I was getting lots of calls from people saying, ‘We’ve been voting ...’

“They were showing everybody the show.”

After Spc. Nicholas Davis of Grafenwoehr, Germany, (originally from Rockingham, N.C.) was eliminated, the Tar Heel State boarded the Gomez bandwagon.

“North Carolina, in general, was representing after Nick fell out,” Gomez said. “Some of his people said they just needed North Carolina to win.

“I had my church in Philadelphia, my family, my mother’s work, my family in Puerto Rico – they were all watching the show online and voting.”

Gomez joined the Army at age 17 and promptly married a Soldier. She served six years before leaving as a sergeant to become a full-time military mother.

“They kept deploying us separately and I had to keep sending my children to live with my mom,” Gomez explained. “I was in a really active MOS. It was mostly me who kept coming down on orders, so I had to decide to be a mom.”

A self-professed late bloomer, Gomez began singing around age 12. She also plays a few Latin percussion instruments. In 2004, she toured domestic military installations and Korea with USA Express, a stage band sponsored by Army Entertainment Division.

For winning Operation Rising Star, Gomez will record a three-song demo CD at Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena, Calif., paid for by the Army Family and MWR Command.

“I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” she said. “I’m mentally prepared for the worst and just hope for the best. I look forward to really, really working with Victor [Hurtado] and Joey [Beebe], two completely talented people that I know can make me sound amazing, and Miss [Debra] Byrd.

“That’s what I look forward to big-time.”

Lisa Pratt, the 2009 Operation Rising Star winner, gave Gomez some tips about what to expect during the whirlwind week in Hollywood, where the new champion hopes to unveil some ideas of her own.

“It feels like I’m going to get to represent spouses and veterans in a positive light,” Gomez said. “I want to focus on keeping it where it needs to be because we have a hard job. I’ve been through it nine months of the year without a husband.”

“Life goes on for us whether he’s here or not – and I’ve got to keep it rolling.”

Gomez rolled through Operation Rising Star Finals Week by singing “I Need You” and “How Do I Live” by LeeAnn Rimes, “Out Here on My Own” by Irene Cara, “I Ain’t Got Nothing” by Alicia Keys, and “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan.

Herbin presented a strong challenge with “At Last” by Jennifer Holliday, “I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain, “My Heart Will Go On,” by Celine Dion, “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston, and Holliday’s “I Am Changing,” which nearly brought the house down during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“I think I just said to throw it on the stage,” Operation Rising Star judge Debra Byrd, a vocal coach for American Idol, said to Herbin after her performance of “I Am Changing.” “Well, ladies and gentlemen, she just threw down on the stage. I applaud you because you came here with the determination of song choice, song choice and song choice.

“From your last two performances, you kicked it up into high gear and put a hot sauce on it. I applaud you. I applaud you. Well done.”

The three finalists delivered an entertaining medley of Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” Keys’ “I Ain’t Got Nothing” and Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“You guys picked these songs to win and I don’t blame you,” Byrd said. “You want to get these biggie songs in. I applaud you for your effort. … I applaud you for the courage to pick these bombastic songs because that’s the mind of a winner – you want to pick the biggie.

“Whew, I know you’re glad that’s over with. I applaud you ladies.”

Second-place finisher Herbin said she was “content, happy and grateful for being here, but it is a competition and we knew the rules.”

“Hey, there can only be one,” she said with a teary-eyed smile and a laugh. “Overall, I had a great time.”

Third-place finisher Jackson, a last-minute substitute in the top 12, was content with the outcome and elated by the experience.

“I’m happy with the outcome,” she said. “I had fun. It was a great experience. Two weeks, 12 people, and now we’re family. I didn’t have that much time to advertise, but people really enjoyed my voice. I was really shocked that I made to the final round.

“I have accomplished what I need to accomplish to prove that I am a singer and that I enjoy singing and that I do have a talent.”


Jackson said she would love to continue entertaining troops.

“Maybe when I finish my mission at Fort Polk and I’m done with my military career, maybe do what Michael has done,” she said of Military Operation Rising Star judge Michael Peterson’s affinity for performing for troops. “I’ve been in Tops in Blue and being able to travel to encourage troops is a great opportunity – I would really love to do that.”

Serving in the Air Force with a husband in the Army, Jackson, who also serves as a mother of four, said someone needs to change careers.

“We’re in two different branches and we’ve been separated for awhile,” she explained. “I want to live with my husband. I miss him so much. I love the military, it’s a great thing, but I really do want to have my family near.”

Irène de Trebert

Image by Truus, Bob & Jan too!
French postcard by Editions P.I., Paris, no. 13. Photo: Star.

French singer, tapdancer and actress Irene de Trebert was one of the idols of the 'Zazou'-generation.

She was born aboard the cruise-liner Pierre-le-Grand in 1921. Already at the age of 5, she was dancing at the Opera and age 7, she already danced for the French president Doumergue, as well as at the Gaumont-Palace. Soon she she started a singing career, with children songs as J'ai du bon tabac. Attracted by jazz and swing, she went to the US in 1935 and became a star dancer in the Fisher ballet.

Returned to France, she debuted as film actress in 1938 in the film Trois artilleurs à l'opéra, directed by André Chotin. The same year, she won first place with a music hall contest at Radio-Cité with the song Quand un petit oiseau. She also started in cabaret, first with René Goupil, then Maurice Chevalier. Autumn 1940 she recorded the song Si vous aviez un ascenseur (Columbia) and in 1941 she became singer in Raymond Legrand's orchestra. Her career rocked and she recorded her hit song Mademoiselle Swing, title song of the film Mademoiselle Swing (1941), directed by Richard Pottier, in which Trebert and Legrand & his orchestra had the leads. Trebert and Legrand married the year after. In 1942 Trebert launched the song Je t'aime, an adaptation of Swing 39 by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli; in 1943 followed La guitare à Chiquita. Trebert and Legrand were extremely popular with the so-called generation of the 'zazou', the jazz and swing loving younger, non-conformist generation during the occupation. The zazou's mocked society by wearing oversized clothes and long hair as a reaction the government's rationing of textile. Women wore short skirts, striped stockings and shoes with large soles, men large lumber jackets following the American zoot suit fashion from a few years earlier. They wildly danced to swing and bebop. Around 1942-43 right-wing protests against the zazou's rose to a point that round ups occured, zazou's were beaten up by young fascists, arrested and sent to the countryside. After that the movement went underground.

Trebert and Legrand often performed for Radio-Paris, which on one side mocked swing as the official and German way was to consider it degenerate, and on the other side wanted to satisfy the younger generation. Legrand satisfied the official parties by performing 'politically correct' traditional children songs for Radio-Paris. When France was liberated in november 1944, Trebert was sentenced to 10 months of suspension. What had not helped the couple's reputation, was that both had joined a tour in Germany in 1942, together with Chevalier, Trenet and Tino Rossi.

In 1945 Trebert divorced Legrand and took to operetta, together with André Claveau. She also turned to film again. After small contributions - she sang the songs of leading actress Lilia Vetti in Le gardian (1945) by Jean de Marguenat; then played herself in the short Boite de nuit (1946) by Jean Devaivre - she played in several films in 1950-1951: with Roger Nicolas in Le roi du bla bla bla (1950) by Maurice Labro; with Milly Mathis in Ce coquin d'Anatole (1951) by Emile Couzinet; with Pierre Cressoy in Duel à Dakar (1951) by Claude Orval and Georges Combret; with Pierre Larquey in Monsieur Octave (1951) by Maurice Téboul; with Ginette Garcin in Musique en tête (1951) by Orval and Combret; with Jean Richard in the short La garçonnière (1951) by Orval. After that she abandoned her career and opened a dancing school. A last performance, Irene de Trebert gave in Louis Malle's famous film Lacombe Lucien (1973). She died in 1996 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (Pyrénées Atlantiques) but was buried in the cemetry of Vaucresson (Haute-Seine).

Sources: IMDB, Wikipedia, www.lesgensducinema.com/biographie/DeTrebertIrene.htm and in particular nicteam-legende.blogspot.com/2008/02/trbert-irne-de.html where you can also hear some of her songs, such as Mademoiselle Swing, the very Reinhardt-like Je t'aime and her swing version of My Man: Mon Homme. The zazou are remembered by the Pet Shop Boys' song In the Night and the Belgian rockgroup TC Matic song les Zazous.

2010 Op Rising Star Finale 112010

Image by familymwr
2010 Operation Rising Star host GeNienne Samuels announces Melissa Gomez (left) of Fort Bragg, N.C., as winner of the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command-backed military singing contest Nov. 19 at Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, Va. Runner-up Maj. Serelda Herbin of Fort Hood, Texas, stands on the right. (U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs, cleared for public release, not for commercial use, attribution requested)

www.armymwr.com

Army wife Gomez wins Operation Rising Star military singing contest

By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Melissa Gomez, who left Soldiering to become a full-time Army wife and mother, won the 2010 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 19 at Wallace Theater.

Gomez, 29, of Fort Bragg, N.C., prevailed over runner-up Maj. Serelda Herbin, 34, of Fort Hood, Texas, and third-place finisher Senior Airman Joanell Jackson, 24, of Fort Polk, La.

“I thought for sure Serelda was going to win,” Gomez said.

Gomez, who works with a large Army Community Service group at Fort Bragg, had family supporters in her hometown, Philadelphia, and her father’s native Puerto Rico voting early and often in the contest based on the premises of FOX Television’s American Idol.

“ACS and Fort Bragg totally represented for me,” she said. “I didn’t think I had that many people on board, but last night I was getting lots of calls from people saying, ‘We’ve been voting ...’

“They were showing everybody the show.”

After Spc. Nicholas Davis of Grafenwoehr, Germany, (originally from Rockingham, N.C.) was eliminated, the Tar Heel State boarded the Gomez bandwagon.

“North Carolina, in general, was representing after Nick fell out,” Gomez said. “Some of his people said they just needed North Carolina to win.

“I had my church in Philadelphia, my family, my mother’s work, my family in Puerto Rico – they were all watching the show online and voting.”

Gomez joined the Army at age 17 and promptly married a Soldier. She served six years before leaving as a sergeant to become a full-time military mother.

“They kept deploying us separately and I had to keep sending my children to live with my mom,” Gomez explained. “I was in a really active MOS. It was mostly me who kept coming down on orders, so I had to decide to be a mom.”

A self-professed late bloomer, Gomez began singing around age 12. She also plays a few Latin percussion instruments. In 2004, she toured domestic military installations and Korea with USA Express, a stage band sponsored by Army Entertainment Division.

For winning Operation Rising Star, Gomez will record a three-song demo CD at Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena, Calif., paid for by the Army Family and MWR Command.

“I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” she said. “I’m mentally prepared for the worst and just hope for the best. I look forward to really, really working with Victor [Hurtado] and Joey [Beebe], two completely talented people that I know can make me sound amazing, and Miss [Debra] Byrd.

“That’s what I look forward to big-time.”

Lisa Pratt, the 2009 Operation Rising Star winner, gave Gomez some tips about what to expect during the whirlwind week in Hollywood, where the new champion hopes to unveil some ideas of her own.

“It feels like I’m going to get to represent spouses and veterans in a positive light,” Gomez said. “I want to focus on keeping it where it needs to be because we have a hard job. I’ve been through it nine months of the year without a husband.”

“Life goes on for us whether he’s here or not – and I’ve got to keep it rolling.”

Gomez rolled through Operation Rising Star Finals Week by singing “I Need You” and “How Do I Live” by LeeAnn Rimes, “Out Here on My Own” by Irene Cara, “I Ain’t Got Nothing” by Alicia Keys, and “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan.

Herbin presented a strong challenge with “At Last” by Jennifer Holliday, “I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain, “My Heart Will Go On,” by Celine Dion, “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston, and Holliday’s “I Am Changing,” which nearly brought the house down during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“I think I just said to throw it on the stage,” Operation Rising Star judge Debra Byrd, a vocal coach for American Idol, said to Herbin after her performance of “I Am Changing.” “Well, ladies and gentlemen, she just threw down on the stage. I applaud you because you came here with the determination of song choice, song choice and song choice.

“From your last two performances, you kicked it up into high gear and put a hot sauce on it. I applaud you. I applaud you. Well done.”

The three finalists delivered an entertaining medley of Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” Keys’ “I Ain’t Got Nothing” and Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“You guys picked these songs to win and I don’t blame you,” Byrd said. “You want to get these biggie songs in. I applaud you for your effort. … I applaud you for the courage to pick these bombastic songs because that’s the mind of a winner – you want to pick the biggie.

“Whew, I know you’re glad that’s over with. I applaud you ladies.”

Second-place finisher Herbin said she was “content, happy and grateful for being here, but it is a competition and we knew the rules.”

“Hey, there can only be one,” she said with a teary-eyed smile and a laugh. “Overall, I had a great time.”

Third-place finisher Jackson, a last-minute substitute in the top 12, was content with the outcome and elated by the experience.

“I’m happy with the outcome,” she said. “I had fun. It was a great experience. Two weeks, 12 people, and now we’re family. I didn’t have that much time to advertise, but people really enjoyed my voice. I was really shocked that I made to the final round.

“I have accomplished what I need to accomplish to prove that I am a singer and that I enjoy singing and that I do have a talent.”


Jackson said she would love to continue entertaining troops.

“Maybe when I finish my mission at Fort Polk and I’m done with my military career, maybe do what Michael has done,” she said of Military Operation Rising Star judge Michael Peterson’s affinity for performing for troops. “I’ve been in Tops in Blue and being able to travel to encourage troops is a great opportunity – I would really love to do that.”

Serving in the Air Force with a husband in the Army, Jackson, who also serves as a mother of four, said someone needs to change careers.

“We’re in two different branches and we’ve been separated for awhile,” she explained. “I want to live with my husband. I miss him so much. I love the military, it’s a great thing, but I really do want to have my family near.”

2010 Op Rising Star Finale 112010

Image by familymwr
2010 Operation Rising Star host GeNienne Samuels announces Melissa Gomez (left) of Fort Bragg, N.C., as winner of the Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command-backed military singing contest Nov. 19 at Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, Va. Runner-up Maj. Serelda Herbin of Fort Hood, Texas, stands on the right. (U.S. Army photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs, cleared for public release, not for commercial use, attribution requested)

www.armymwr.com

Army wife Gomez wins Operation Rising Star military singing contest

By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Melissa Gomez, who left Soldiering to become a full-time Army wife and mother, won the 2010 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 19 at Wallace Theater.

Gomez, 29, of Fort Bragg, N.C., prevailed over runner-up Maj. Serelda Herbin, 34, of Fort Hood, Texas, and third-place finisher Senior Airman Joanell Jackson, 24, of Fort Polk, La.

“I thought for sure Serelda was going to win,” Gomez said.

Gomez, who works with a large Army Community Service group at Fort Bragg, had family supporters in her hometown, Philadelphia, and her father’s native Puerto Rico voting early and often in the contest based on the premises of FOX Television’s American Idol.

“ACS and Fort Bragg totally represented for me,” she said. “I didn’t think I had that many people on board, but last night I was getting lots of calls from people saying, ‘We’ve been voting ...’

“They were showing everybody the show.”

After Spc. Nicholas Davis of Grafenwoehr, Germany, (originally from Rockingham, N.C.) was eliminated, the Tar Heel State boarded the Gomez bandwagon.

“North Carolina, in general, was representing after Nick fell out,” Gomez said. “Some of his people said they just needed North Carolina to win.

“I had my church in Philadelphia, my family, my mother’s work, my family in Puerto Rico – they were all watching the show online and voting.”

Gomez joined the Army at age 17 and promptly married a Soldier. She served six years before leaving as a sergeant to become a full-time military mother.

“They kept deploying us separately and I had to keep sending my children to live with my mom,” Gomez explained. “I was in a really active MOS. It was mostly me who kept coming down on orders, so I had to decide to be a mom.”

A self-professed late bloomer, Gomez began singing around age 12. She also plays a few Latin percussion instruments. In 2004, she toured domestic military installations and Korea with USA Express, a stage band sponsored by Army Entertainment Division.

For winning Operation Rising Star, Gomez will record a three-song demo CD at Firehouse Recording Studios in Pasadena, Calif., paid for by the Army Family and MWR Command.

“I can’t wait! I can’t wait!” she said. “I’m mentally prepared for the worst and just hope for the best. I look forward to really, really working with Victor [Hurtado] and Joey [Beebe], two completely talented people that I know can make me sound amazing, and Miss [Debra] Byrd.

“That’s what I look forward to big-time.”

Lisa Pratt, the 2009 Operation Rising Star winner, gave Gomez some tips about what to expect during the whirlwind week in Hollywood, where the new champion hopes to unveil some ideas of her own.

“It feels like I’m going to get to represent spouses and veterans in a positive light,” Gomez said. “I want to focus on keeping it where it needs to be because we have a hard job. I’ve been through it nine months of the year without a husband.”

“Life goes on for us whether he’s here or not – and I’ve got to keep it rolling.”

Gomez rolled through Operation Rising Star Finals Week by singing “I Need You” and “How Do I Live” by LeeAnn Rimes, “Out Here on My Own” by Irene Cara, “I Ain’t Got Nothing” by Alicia Keys, and “Turn the Beat Around” by Gloria Estefan.

Herbin presented a strong challenge with “At Last” by Jennifer Holliday, “I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain, “My Heart Will Go On,” by Celine Dion, “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston, and Holliday’s “I Am Changing,” which nearly brought the house down during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“I think I just said to throw it on the stage,” Operation Rising Star judge Debra Byrd, a vocal coach for American Idol, said to Herbin after her performance of “I Am Changing.” “Well, ladies and gentlemen, she just threw down on the stage. I applaud you because you came here with the determination of song choice, song choice and song choice.

“From your last two performances, you kicked it up into high gear and put a hot sauce on it. I applaud you. I applaud you. Well done.”

The three finalists delivered an entertaining medley of Houston’s “I Have Nothing,” Keys’ “I Ain’t Got Nothing” and Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” during the semifinals on Wednesday night.

“You guys picked these songs to win and I don’t blame you,” Byrd said. “You want to get these biggie songs in. I applaud you for your effort. … I applaud you for the courage to pick these bombastic songs because that’s the mind of a winner – you want to pick the biggie.

“Whew, I know you’re glad that’s over with. I applaud you ladies.”

Second-place finisher Herbin said she was “content, happy and grateful for being here, but it is a competition and we knew the rules.”

“Hey, there can only be one,” she said with a teary-eyed smile and a laugh. “Overall, I had a great time.”

Third-place finisher Jackson, a last-minute substitute in the top 12, was content with the outcome and elated by the experience.

“I’m happy with the outcome,” she said. “I had fun. It was a great experience. Two weeks, 12 people, and now we’re family. I didn’t have that much time to advertise, but people really enjoyed my voice. I was really shocked that I made to the final round.

“I have accomplished what I need to accomplish to prove that I am a singer and that I enjoy singing and that I do have a talent.”


Jackson said she would love to continue entertaining troops.

“Maybe when I finish my mission at Fort Polk and I’m done with my military career, maybe do what Michael has done,” she said of Military Operation Rising Star judge Michael Peterson’s affinity for performing for troops. “I’ve been in Tops in Blue and being able to travel to encourage troops is a great opportunity – I would really love to do that.”

Serving in the Air Force with a husband in the Army, Jackson, who also serves as a mother of four, said someone needs to change careers.

“We’re in two different branches and we’ve been separated for awhile,” she explained. “I want to live with my husband. I miss him so much. I love the military, it’s a great thing, but I really do want to have my family near.”