Vocalists compete for 2011 Cannon Idol title Published July 7, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Deidre E.E. Hines 27 Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. -- The Community Center at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M. provides year-round entertainment and artistic outlets for the Cannon community. One such event they sponsor is Cannon Idol, which is a program that highlights 10 Cannon vocalists who compete for a grand prize. Paul Hopkins, community center manager and Cannon Idol director, set the stage for the 2011 competition. "We had 15 singers audition for this year's idol," he said. "They each sang 30 seconds from a song of their choosing, while I videotaped it. I then sent the audition tape to a group of judges who rated the singers 1-15." The top 10 move forward to compete in the 4th annual competition. On July 5, 2011, Hopkins released the much-anticipated list of the 10 finalists for the 2011 Cannon Idol. They are, listed in alphabetical order: Airman 1st Class Jette Carr, 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs Tech. Sgt. Lebaron Cooley, 27th Special Operations Force Support Squadron Senior Airman Tawny Foreman, 27th Special Operations Medical Support Squadron Bianca Hampton, daughter of Tiner Hampton, 27th Special Operations Support Squadron Airman 1st Class Joseph Hardeman, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron Blaine Hunt, wife of Senior Airman David Hunt, 27 SOCES Senior Airman Alison Mailoux, 27th Special Operations Communications Squadron Tom Maloni, 3rd Special Operations Squadron 1st Lt. Heather Mullin, 27th Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron Senior Airman Lydia White, 27 SOSS Carr said she tried to be patient and not think about whether or not she made the cut. " I'm really excited now that I know I am on the list," said the finalist. The 2010 Cannon Idol winner, Airman 1st Class Jennifer Bodie, 27th Special Operations Medical Support Squadron, has advice for those competing for this year's grand prize. "Go up there and show off your talent," she said. "Try not to think of it as a competition, but as an opportunity to do something you love." Official rehearsals for this year's competition are scheduled for Aug. 2 and 19 at the Landing Zone and Aug. 10 at the Drop Zone. The final competition is scheduled for Aug. 20 at the Landing Zone. Admission is free. For more information about Cannon Idol or other Community Center events, contact Paul Hopkins at 784-6381.