Airmen display vocal talents

Sr. Airman Tawny Foreman started watching “American Idol” on day one of the first season. She was immediately hooked. Foreman and her friends would talk about how fun it would be to audition.

Three years ago, the 21-year-old got her chance when she heard about “Cannon Idol,” a program run by the community center. Airmen can audition to become the next Cannon Idol.

The program works like the show. Airmen auditioned May 10-14 for one of ten finalist slots. The 10 finalists perform in July.

Community Center Manager Paul Hopkins said 13 people auditioned this year. For the performance, each finalist prepares three songs. Guest judges knock it down to three finalists, who will perform their third song to see who will be the Cannon Idol.

Hopkins said other bases have similar programs and Cannon decided to give a try three years ago.

“We’re always looking to explore new things,” Hopkins said.

Foreman, who works in the 27th Special Operations Medical Support Squadron, has been singing since she was 5 years old. As children, she and her cousins would pick a song and choreograph it throughout the year and perform it for the family at Christmas. She was excited to learn the base had opportunities for people who like to sing.

“It’s really nice for people who perform,” Foreman said. “It’s nice to see people from all over the base who have the same interests as you.”

Foreman has auditioned for Cannon Idol for the past three years. Each year, she’s made it to the final performance.

Airman 1st Class Jennifer Edwards of 27th Special Operations Medical Support Squadron wasn’t sure she could audition.

“I have really bad nerves,” Edwards said. “The day I auditioned, me and another airman were here just to watch but no one came to the audition. So we just did it.”

Edwards, 19, said she was hoping the audition would help her conquer her nerves.

“I have time to prepare for the final performance so I think I’ll be able to do it,” Edwards said.

Edwards said she got her love of singing from years of her mother singing Amy Grant at home.

“I’ve been singing as long as I could understand music,” Edwards said. “Because of my mom, it always calms me down.”

Airman 1st Class Joseph Hardeman of the 27th Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron has been at Cannon Air Force Base for about a month. Hopkins told him about the auditions at the Discover Home Fair at the end of April.

“I just got here and was excited about it,” Hardeman said.

The 19-year-old said he’s been singing since he “came out of the crib.” Hardeman said his mother sang at weddings and in choir and he quickly followed suit. In elementary school, he was consistently chosen for solos and was asked to do a solo in an opera at a local college when he was in seventh grade. He hopes to get his bachelor’s degree in music and become a music teacher.

“Music is the universal language, why not teach everyone?” he said. “And not just pop, they need to know real music too.”

Hardeman said he wants to start a base choir so singers can have a more consistent outlet.

Fast facts

• What: Cannon Idol Final Performance

• When: 7 p.m. July 24

• Where: The Landing Zone