For all those late-night singers who croon western ballads in the bar dreaming of discovery – there is a chance.
Karaoke is returning to Canada’s Country Music Television channel.
This is the contest’s second year, and earlier auditions have narrowed the numbers to 10 in each of eight Canadian cities, including Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg.
Cheryl Ruston, who works at the Bunge canola plant in Harrowby, Man., is one of the top 10 in Winnipeg. She is attempting to be one of two singers who will advance from her city’s show to the finals, which will be held Oct. 2 in Toronto.
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Ruston said the show is a bit like Canadian Idol, except there is no age limit. CMT host Paul McGuire told her the oldest auditioner was 73.
Song selection was more limited, however. Participants could sing one of only three songs, and Ruston chose Suds in the Bucket by Sarah Evans, about a young girl who leaves home too early. Ruston was picked by the judges and came back the next day with the other nine semi-finalists to sing the song again.
The Winnipeg videos will be aired on CMT Aug. 28, at which time the judges will choose one contestant to advance to Toronto, while the audience will have five days to e-mail, text or phone in the peoples’ choice.
Ruston hopes people will vote for her and has lined up support from her co-workers and friends in Manitoba, family in New Brunswick and a Facebook support group of 120 people.
She said one tip she received from the judge was to avoid craning her neck on the high notes.
“He said he’d never seen anyone with karaoke whiplash.”
Ruston said many in her family are singers, and she’ll often do karaoke singing on Saturday nights in Russell, Man. She has been singing since she was eight, and her inspiration is country singer Reba McEntire.
