Hare Bay country singer among Idol's Top 22
CORY HURLEY
The Western Star
Acting on her parents wish, Tara Oram is hoping Canadian Idol propels her dream of musical stardom.
The 23-year-old Hare Bay native was chosen as a Top 22 contestant on the national hit television series Tuesday night.
Oram is already a familiar name along the country music circuit in Ontario. For the past five years, she has explored her musical career, a busy endeavour that has - until this year - kept her away from Canadian Idol.
She realized early on the path wasn't going to be easy.
"I never would have thought about getting this far, never in my wildest dreams," Oram told The Western Star from Toronto. "When I auditioned in St. John's it was very hard. It was a hard process and, to be here right now is overwhelming, it's amazing, and really surreal."
Tears of joy flowed on Tuesday night when the judges told Oram she was in the Top 22. More tears followed during the cellphone call to her mother to relay the good news.
"I'm not really a sappy person," she said. "But, what means so much, and I am so emotional because, coming from Newfoundland people just want to love on ya, and the support I have gotten since Day 1 has been unreal."
News like a car parade was expected in her honour Wednesday in Hare Bay, only adds to that sentiment.
"This means that I get to represent where I come from," she said. "I am so proud being from Newfoundland. Just like Rex (Goudie) did, and Craig (Sharpe), Jason (Greeley) and Jen (Jenny Gear), I want to put my hometown on the map and show everybody that Newfoundland is such an amazing place.
"Not a lot of people around the world know about it, but they need to know what an incredible place it is."
The pretty blonde appears to have the complete package that has made many musicians instant successes in the industry today. Her true-to-country attitude is reminiscent of American Idol winner Carrie Underwood, who has gone on to achieve stardom in Nashville, Tenn. and beyond.
Following a performance on Monday night by the top 11 guys in the competition, Oram will be vying for votes across the country on Tuesday's episode. Wednesday's results show will be the first whereby four contestants are eliminated - two guys and two girls - weekly, until the Top 10.
Newfoundlanders have had a lot of success on previous Idol seasons, with Goudie and Sharpe back-to-back runners-up. Whether Oram can become the first Canadian Idol from this province, only time and votes will tell.
Source:
http://www.thewesternstar.com/index.cfm?sid=39109&sc=29 --Message edité par ~*chris*~ le 2007-06-27 12:07:51--