Forrest Amber Lipton & Brittany Greene
Forrest Amber Lipton, a ten-year-old from Houston, Texas, won tonight's preliminary Junior Singers round. She was up first and sang the Tina Turner classic "Proud Mary" in a performance that MC Lyte called "sassy," and prompted Naomi Judd to declare: "I think you've got what it takes." Ten-year-old Brittany Greene from Newport News, Virginia sang next, belting out "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz." With 11 stars, Forrest won the first round.
But the competition wasn't over yet, because Forrest had to face off against one of the veteran Winners' Circle singers. She challenged David Archuleta, who sang Luther Vandross' soulful ballad, "A House is Not a Home," impressing the judges enough to get 12 stars and keep his place in the Winners' Circle. He will return to STAR SEARCH on Saturday, February 6 at 8pm ET/PT.
WINNERS' CIRCLE
Being a star takes more than just performing, and our young Winners' Circle singers had to prove their prowess with the press. Celebrity interviewer Jon Kelly sat down with Mark Mejia, Spensha Baker and David Archuleta to ask them a few questions and to offer advice about how to improve their interviewing skills.
After being asked how he overcomes his offstage shyness in order to perform, Mark replied with a smile that he overcomes any nervousness by assuring himself, "I can do this." Spensha was asked about her relationship with her father, and she acknowledged that she worries that he might be sent overseas with the US Army, adding, "I dedicate my performance to my father." Kelly then asked David where his deep, soulful voice comes from, and David responded that he practices regularly, saying that when he's onstage, he's "really feeling it."
Jon Kelly offered up some comments for the performers, and then chose Mark Mejia as his favorite interview, complimenting him on his "million-dollar smile." Always in competition mode, the Winners' Circle members look forward to being challenged in the live show by newcomers, and Spensha offers this advice to them: "Pick the right song, and be careful who you choose."
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