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Teen shows talent in Minnesota Idol contestBy Barbara Brown Tommi Hollingsworth is a lot like most teen-aged girls in North Branch. Tommi and her twin sister Tessah recently celebrated their 14th birthday. She likes SpongeBob SquarePants, Eminem and Pink. But, Tommi Hollingsworth sticks out just a little bit more than the typical North Branch student. She was the youngest contestant to participate in this yearís Minnesota Idol contest sponsored by KARE 11, Liquid 8 Records and other businesses. When they were younger, the other kids in the Hollingsworth family were shy, said Cindy Hollingsworth. ìI used to have to tell them to make sure they open their mouths and speak up when they had concerts in their elementary school.î When Tommi was 3 1/2 she was given the same speech: ìOpen wide and speak up,î Cindy told them. ìWhen the concert started you couldnít hear anyone but Tommi. I donít know where it came from.î The Hollingsworth family owns The Stand, a fresh produce store along Hwy. 95 between North Branch and Cambridge. Tommi and Tessah are 8th-graders at North Branch Middle School where Tommi plays flute in the band. Tommi also is taking piano lessons and is trying to learn guitar. Last year she placed second at the Isanti County Fair talent contest for her age group. She has had small parts in a couple plays and sings each year at the St. Gregoryís spaghetti dinner. Tommi wasnít sure she really wanted to enter the Minnesota Idol contest, which KARE 11 modeled after the hit television program American Idol. Tommiís aunt, who lives in Minneapolis, had originally called the Hollingsworths to tell them about the contest and encourage Tommi to enter. Stage fright in front of large groups of unknown people had previously impeded Tommiís performance, she said. Tommi and her mother worked on several video tapes to send to the judges. ìI wasnít happy with any of them,î Tommi said. After procrastinating until just about the last day they could, Cindy Hollingsworth said she mailed in a tape of Tommi singing ìBlueî by Leann Rimes at a karaoke party over the summer. ìThe tape wasnít that good of quality, but you could hear she has a great voice,î Cindy Hollingsworth said. ìJust like when she was three and a half.î Then the waiting came and the anxiety of the contest lifted. ìI kind of forgot about it because I didnít think I would get in,î Tommi said. Then, around Dec. 10, Cindy received a call that told her the good news ñ Tommi had been selected as a quarterfinalist and was scheduled to compete at the Mall of America on Jan. 8. She went to North Branch High School where Tommi was participating in gymnastics practice, pulled her aside and told her the message. Out of 600 Minnesota and Wisconsin entries, Tommiís tape caught enough of the judges attention to send her into the quarterfinal round of 20. ìI just screamed,î Tommi said. ìI was so excited. I hugged all my teammates.ìI kept getting in trouble the rest of practice because I wasnít concentrating on anything else.î Tommi was scheduled to appear in the Mall of America Jan. 8 for the quarter-finalist contest. When she arrived, Tommi was treated to a manicure, make-up session and hair styling. Nerves wrapped Tommiís stomach in knots, she said. ìI was freaking out. It was pathetic.î But, then, something interesting happened, Cindy Hollingsworth said. As soon as Tommi stepped on the stage and sang the first note of the trimmed-down ìBlue,î all the nerves seemed to relax and Tommi melted into the song. ìIt was amazing,î Cindy said. ìI was watching her and I was amazed at how relaxed she looked. She looked like there wasnít anyone else there.î Although Tommi did not make the cut to the final eight contestants, she said the experience was one she will never forget. And Tommi said she plans to continue chasing her music dreams. Immediately after her performance at the Mall of America, she signed up for another talent contest. ©ECM Post Review |