Triangle hopefuls turned out at Crabtree Valley Mall on Saturday, August 1, 2015, for a chance at a guaranteed audition with the Executive Producers for the last season of American Idol.
WRAL-TV Anchors Michelle Marsh and Brian Shrader made the big announcements on WRAL’s Morning News on FOX 50 on Monday, August 3rd.
In keeping with Marsh and Shrader’s unveiling… Drumroll, please…. The two winners are: 16-year-old Danielle Fealey from Fuquay Varina and 26-year-old Marissa Galleur from Smithfield!
Both young ladies will receive a guaranteed audition with the Executive Producers of American Idol as well as a Meet & Greet with the Idol judges, Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr.
Several CBC personalities served as judges for the Local Idol competition. WRAL-TV Anchors Lynda Loveland and Gerald Owens shared the judging table with MIX 101.5 Morning Show Co-Hosts Gene and Julie Gates.
Julie Gates shared her impressions of the event with Capcom:
So, not only were the singers amazing (proving, once again, we have phenomenal musical talent in the Triangle), but we loved seeing how a huge event like American Idol auditions could be promoted so well across the CBC brands. We love the crazy crew at FOX 50 and enjoyed watching them put their magic into this special event at Crabtree Valley Mall.
It’s always fun to hang out with Gerald Owens and Lynda Loveland. But watching the behind-the-scenes logistics coordinated by [FOX 50 Creative Services Director] Kevin Kolbe to our various CBC brands was really incredible. Everyone was Tweeting and Facebooking across our various platforms to support each other’s stations, and it was great to have the two winning singers in on our morning radio show the following Monday morning to promote the project on our end.
The symbiotic relationship between WRAL, FOX 50 and MIX was so much fun!
Congratulations to both Danielle and Marissa as they head off to Little Rock, Arkansas for their shot before Idol producers.
The final season of American Idol will premiere on FOX 50 in January 2016. Stay tuned to FOX50.com for details.
Thanks to WRAL-FM’s Gene & Julie Gates, FOX 50’s Kevin Kolbe and FOX50.com for these capcom photos.