My name is Karen.
I am older now, but I auditioned, performed and won the semi final round on You Can Be a Star in the mid-80's.
The process to get on the show was pretty tough. I did a Merle Haggard song for the first audition, which was a tape submitted via an address to Nashville.
My choice surprised the judges since I was female which I was told when I arrived to complete the 2nd round - performing the first submission in person.
The next round was submitting a couple of additional songs and bringing a tape of the music to Nashville to audition against. I made it again.
I was fairly inexperienced and chose unwisely in my choice of song for my final because my rendition of it did not fit the way the studio musicians did the song. I missed a section, recovered, but that was live TV. No going back.
Still, no real regrets. It was not perfect, though I'd not done badly. Learning some of the ropes helped me tremendously in years to come.
It remains an exceptional memory! We stayed at the GOO Hotel and that in itself was almost overwhelming. I was waiting table in Myrtle Beach, SC, living with my younger Sis, and had an old van. We pawned things to get the money to drive us there and back each time! And the last time, my Mom came from NY to see me. She saw me win the semi finals and we snuck out on the stage of the Grand Old Opry after it was all over. Grandpa Jones came out and escorted us to the exit, telling stories to my Mom and holding her arm all the way.
She is gone now, but, again, the memory is grand!
Jim Ed Brown was definitely a highlight to meet. He made me feel at ease and surprised me with a question that made me laugh.
I have my DVD of it and am thankful for very second of all of it. The opportunity created memories to take with me along through the years.
kb!
