Barren County grad advances to Superstar finals at Beech Bend Park

Special reports Glasgow Daily Times

BOWLING GREEN — Former Barren County High School student Cameron Whitman joined two others in advancing to the final stage of the weekly singing competition held at Beech Bend Park in Bowling Green known as “Superstar.”

Whitman performed his own rendition of the Oasis hit single “Wonderwall” while playing an acoustic guitar to the liking of the judging panel who advanced him to the final competition.

Now a resident of Edmonson County, Whitman says he is ready to take his recreational love for music to a new level.

“Even when I got to the lowest times of my life and I'd think I'd lost it all music is what picked me up.” said Cameron after the show.

“I enjoy singing and playing while sitting around with my friends.  They just start making their requests and I pick it out for them. I have been writing songs for about 10 years and every day I try to write some type of lyrics down. It is great when you sing a song that you've written and my friends get into the song and you can tell they get the connection. I am really looking forward to the finals in September and maybe this will open up some doors for me.”

The third time was a charm for Christian County singer, 12- year-old Caleb Lake, who was also one of the three winners this past Saturday at Beech Bend Park.

Lake, who had competed twice earlier in the season, performed the song “Follow Me” by Uncle Kracker, complete with with what has become his signature move, a flawless moonwalk across the park’s performance stage.  In addition to some fancy dance steps, Lake to his own surprise was able to inspire the crowd of nearly 200 who gathered to watch to clap in harmony to his performance.

“Wow, I really haven’t ever been able to get anyone to do what I asked them to do, like clap with me” said the surprised youngster while talking with the show’s host David Gary after the song ended.

Caleb joined 11-year-old Riley Cruz of Franklin, Tenn., who sang her way to the finals edging out her own brother Raymond among nine other contestants on the judge’s score sheets.

The three finished deadlocked with 26 points of a possible 30 after deliberations by the three judges.  Strum Magazine Editor Krys Midgett, MM Publishing owner Mitzi Matlock, and Nichola Spencer of 102.5 “The Party” FM and 102.9 “The Buzz” FM Nashville made up the celebrity panel while the show added radio personality Tammy Sexton of the Campbellsville, Kentucky radio station 99.9 FM “The Big Dawg” as a co-host and sound technician Austin Gruber to its growing roster of staff for the season.

Contest rules allow show producer and host David Gary to break any ties in the scoring, but after Gary pulled out the three leaders to step forward on the stage, the Edmonton, radio jock admitted to having “cold feet” in making a decision.

“I just couldn’t get myself to send any of those three home without a win after they all did such a fine job today” admitted Gary after the show.  

Gary, who produces the show for the park along with Beech Bend Director of Group Ticket Sales Sherry Clouse, is excited about how the show, in its second season, seems to have gained tremendous momentum in participation.

"Thanks to a really strong series of relationships we have made with some solid players in the music business since last season, we have not only seen a dramatic increase in participation with our show, but we have seen interest from media from as far away as Florida, Texas, and even California who are calling me when they catch word about who we have showing up week after week to appear on our judging panel.”

Clouse says she too is almost overwhelmed with the inquiries this season from curious would-be contestants.

"Last year, we had some tremendous talent. But this year the word has spread like wildfire, and when people hear they can not only perform at the amusement park, but get to perform in front of some of the industry's top people, they are excited to sign up and participate.  Once we posted on the park's website (www.beechbend.com) how to sign up it just took off.  We have a  factory from Horse Cave, Kentucky coming in a couple weeks to have a company picnic at the park and from what I understand several of their employees are wanting to participate.  It just has really been a great extra value this season for our guests at the park.”

The Bowling Green amusement park will hold seven more weekly competitions before determining a winner Sept. 11, in a final competition facing each of the weekly winners since June 5 against one another.

Last season, Landri Taylor of Bethpage, TN was the park’s champion.

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