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Idol winner has reason to 'Celebrate'

Photos: Miami Valley Idol finale

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BJ Stahl holds holds her hands up in thanks after being announced the winner of Miami Valley Idol at the Sorg Opera House Saturday evening, June 20, 2009. Second place was Tommy Williams and third was Meghan Sanborn.

Contributed photo by Jessica Uttinger BJ Stahl holds holds her hands up in thanks after being announced the winner of Miami Valley Idol at the Sorg Opera House Saturday evening, June 20, 2009. Second place was Tommy Williams and third was Meghan Sanborn.

By Eric Robinette, Staff Writer Updated 1:59 PM Sunday, June 21, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — One of the songs B.J. Stahl sang Saturday night, June 20, was “Celebrate” — and she had plenty reason to do so when she won the Miami Valley Idol singing contest.

Addressing the audience from the stage of the Sorg Opera House after her win, the former Middletown resident who now lives in Southgate, Ky., said, “There’s absolutely no way I would be here without you. I felt like Forrest Gump but I was crippled by my own mind. I thought I wasn’t good enough. But you guys said, ‘Oh yes, you are!’”

Stahl, 58, who also sang “Ain’t No Sunshine” in the contest, was a crowd favorite in the contest determined partly by audience vote and partly by a judging panel. She won $1,000 and recording time with Road Apple Music.

“You’re a class act,” judge Terry Monk said to Stahl. “You take every song and make it your own.”

Coming in second was Tommy Williams, 26, of Monroe, who sang Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer. He won $500 and recording time.

After Williams performed the Elton John song, judge Vicki Hall, a retired talent agent, said, “That’s a pretty tough song, but you nailed it.”

The judge known as “Double P,” an official with the Xtreme Valley Wrestling League, also held at Sorg told her “That’s how a star performs.”

In third place was Meghan Sanborn, 23, of West Chester Twp. She sang “Some Kind of Wonderful” by Grand Funk Railroad and “Desperado” by the Eagles. She won $250 and recording time.

Rounding out the top five were Dale Buckner, 41 of Middletown and Amber Hensley, 21, of Hamilton.

The rest of the top 10 were Kaylyn Gooslin of Fairfield; Stephanie Horn of Carlisle; Erica Keene of Trenton; Sarena Smith of Beavercreek and Michelle Faulkner of Middletown.

“Our area’s got a lot of talent shining tonight, said Gooslin’s father, Troy. “I had a lot of fun here.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2836 or erobinette@coxohio.com.

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