IN THE NEWS

Army Reservist wins Operation Rising Star

December 27, 2011 By Tim Hipps, Installation Management Command  

SAN ANTONIO (Dec. 27, 2011) -- Army Reserve Sgt. Melissa Neal, a former active-duty Soldier and current military wife and mother, added Operation Rising Star winner to her repertoire Dec. 17 at Fort Sam Houston Theatre.

"I can't believe this. From singing in the kitchen, to now I'm going to Hollywood," Neal said after edging Kristine May Hills, 26, an Army wife from Camp Humphreys, South Korea, to win the military singing contest based on the premises of FOX television's "American Idol."
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2011 Operation Rising Star finals, voting begin Dec. 11

December 7, 2011 By Bill Bradner, U.S. Army Installation Management Command

SAN ANTONIO - The final competitions for Operation Rising Star--the military's equivalent of American Idol--will be broadcast on the Pentagon Channel and streamed online at ww.OpRisingStar.com beginning Dec. 11.

The event, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will be aired three times each day on Dec. 11, 13, 15 and 17: once each at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard, Korea Standard and Central European time zones. Viewers can vote for their favorite rising star after each of the first three broadcasts.

"I have been fortunate enough to judge this competition, and every year it gets better and better," said 12th Sgt. Major of the Army (Ret.) Jack Tilley. "With the deployment and stress on the military, I think it's important to get family members involved in the contest and showcase their talents. I'm always amazed at the quality of the performances we see."

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Game offers military chance at Grammy tickets

October 21, 2011 By

Evan Dyson, IMCOM

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Oct. 21, 2011 -- Regardless of singing ability, one eligible MWR patron will win two tickets to Hollywood and the Grammys through the Army's premier singing competition. It will take just a little luck, trivia knowledge and technology.

Modeled after "American Idol," Operation Rising Star showcases musical talent within the military community.
The Operation Rising Star Ultimate Fan Game offers the chance to answer trivia questions about the competition online. According to organizers, the game provides another way members of the military community can get involved in the competition.

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Operation Rising Star offers trip to Hollywood for military vocalist

August 10, 2011By

Tim Hipps (IMCOM)
SAN ANTONIO (Aug. 10, 2011) - Local competitions for the 2011 Operation Rising Star singing contest begin this week at 37 Army installations and depots around the world.

The competition, similar to the popular television show “American Idol” and televised on The Pentagon Channel, is open to Morale, Welfare and Recreation patrons from all branches of the U.S. military, including Family members 18-and-older.

The grand-prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Los Angeles to record a three-song demo compact disc. The trip includes air fare, lodging, $1,000 spending money and three days and nights of studio time with the support of top-rate musicians and recording technicians.

The professional studio time includes musicians, music arrangement, mixing and mastering, a vocal coach, an audio engineer and a CD producer. The approximate retail value of the prize package is $18,700.

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Operation Rising Star: “The Army’s version of American Idol"

May 31, 2011 By Tim Hipps
OPERATION Rising Star, the annual singing contest for U.S. military personnel and Family members, was originally licensed through Freemantle Media to mirror Fox’s most popular TV show, “American Idol,” complete with a trip to Hollywood for the winner.

The production begins with local competitions on installations and at garrisons around the world. From the local winners, a panel of judges selects 12 semifinalists who travel to Fort Belvoir, Va., for a weeklong competition televised by the Pentagon Channel and webcast worldwide on the Internet.

“American Idol” vocal coach Debra Byrd, country music artist Michael Peterson and the 12th Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley served as judges. They have been joined in a musical chair of celebrity judges including Josh Gracin, Kimberly Caldwell, Kandi Burruss and Jaci Velasquez.

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