News

Army Family member and veteran Dodson wins Operation Rising Star honors
Date Posted: 11/14/2008

By Tim Hipps
FMWRC Public Affairs

Army Family member and veteran Joyce Dodson of Bamberg, Germany, sings Shania Twain's "You're Still The One" after winning the 2008 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 14 at Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, Va. Dodson, wife of Sgt. Marquis Dodson of the 240th Quartermaster Company, served in the Army for four years and now works at the in- and out-processing center in Schweinfurt, Germany. - Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

FORT BELVOIR, Va. – Army Family member and veteran Joyce Dodson won the 2008 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 14 at Wallace Theater.

Dodson, 24, of Bamberg, Germany, is married to Sgt. Marquis Dodson of the 240th Quartermaster Company. She served four years in the Army and now works in Human Resources at the in- and out-processing center at Schweinfurt, Germany, where she won the local competition at Rohr’s Diner.

Dodson, a gospel singer from George Washington High School in Danville, Va., sang “You’re Still the One” by country artist Shania Twain in the finals.

Runner-up honors went to Army Family member Fatima McElveen, the 20-year-old daughter of 1st Sgt. Michael McElveen, who last week transferred from Fort Campbell, Ky., to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

“I was so impressed within an organization that exists for very different reasons, there is an outlet for every kind of talent,” said judge Nigel Caaro, producer of “America’s Got Talent.” “Whatever you’re enlisted as, if you have a desire or a dream, you can fulfill it. I think it’s great the Army allows that to happen – they give the time and the space to find out what talent they have and provide an outlet for it.

“It was amazing that one of the contestants actually said they forgot it was a competition until people started to be eliminated.”

Dodson won an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to record a three-song demo CD at DMI Music Studios. She was elated to win the contest.

“Every semifinalist and every finalist are gifted men and women,” Dodson said. “All of them were so great. This prize could have easily gone to any of them.”

Army family member and veteran Joyce Dodson (black dress with microphone) of Bamberg, Germany, receives the adoration of finalists after winning the 2008 Operation Rising Star military singing contest Nov. 14 at Wallace Theater on Fort Belvoir, Va. - Photo by Tim Hipps, FMWRC Public Affairs

Link for more info: http://www.oprisingstar.com