By: Gail E. Kirkland
The big deal—the real deal—is a wispy thin 17-year-old with a long, curly cascade of brunette tresses, which she twirls frequently while describing her debut on American Idol. Jenny Beth Willis, whose singing inspiration is country music phenom Martina McBride, is the only contestant from Kentucky to become a Top 20 finalist in the 11-year run of this popular TV talent platform.
“She has always been an entertainer. She has always wanted the spotlight a little bit,” said her dad Jeff, who along with her mom Mary Beth, happen to be two of her biggest fans.
That family fan base, including her older brother Clay, recognized this little girl had talent, enough talent to win second place in the Daviess County Fair at age 6 singing “Tomorrow” from the Broadway hit musical Annie. Mary Beth confided she had rehearsed Jenny Beth so much that she became hoarse. Their kitchen features a mic stand and sound system. A video clip from that first stage performance made its way to American Idol, to Hollywood, as part of Jenny Beth’s official background and introduction.
It all began with an urgent phone call from Randy Lanham, who has a strong reputation for musical and vocal talent. He told the family they had to take Jenny Beth to Bowling Green that very day for an American Idol screening. Even though her dad was recovering from a stroke, he rose to the occasion when Mary Beth called: “Do you think you’d feel like driving Jenny Beth over there?” Her mom had never missed an audition—except this time, since it was her first day back to work after her husband’s stroke.
Ironically, it was a jeans-and-T-shirt Friday at Owensboro Catholic, so Jenny Beth was ready for this spur-of-the-moment trip. Jeff had his doubts about the authenticity of this so-called screening. “Why would they come to Bowling Green?” he wondered.
Come they did. Over 3,000 showed up for the tryouts there. Jenny Beth was among the 38 chosen to advance to a larger audition in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She sailed through two auditions there, followed by three weeks of group and individual screenings in Hollywood, culminating with the glitz of the American Idol stage in Las Vegas.
Jenny Beth came to appreciate why the “group round” is so tough. She was operating on just three hours of sleep when she had to perform. In addition, she was nervous and had just learned the lyrics to their song in the wee morning hours. “Well, it’s over for me,” she thought after they performed. Not so. Her entire group moved on to the next round.
Although she has been fighting mononucleosis since last August, Jenny Beth gushed as she said, “I’d do it all over again.”
Each of the judges—Randy Jackson, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban—had something positive to say about Jenny Beth’s debut on American Idol, where the crowd was standing and clapping as she sang “Heaven, Heartache & the Power of Love.” Her main take away from this experience, although cut that night, was “the confidence it gave me.”
Just as her mom invested hours choreographing, practicing and preparing her daughter for the stage at age 6, so she does today, acting as Jenny Beth’s booking agent, travel companion and hairdresser extraordinaire. She even sings along in encouragement…
“I always sing along with her; that’s for sure,” her mom confessed. She readily acknowledged at the onset of our interview that she was not a singer. Well, that depends on who’s telling the story.
“It’s hilarious; it’s so funny,” Jenny Beth added, in reference to her mom’s undeniable vocals.
One of her potential future vocal coaches, who happened to be Martina’s coach, couldn’t help but notice. “I love ya, Mom. You’re super fun, but you’ve gotta stop!” Nick Cooper said, in reference to her mom’s sing-alongs.
When Jenny Beth’s dad went with her to the next rehearsal, word had spread. “You don’t sing, do you?” the piano player asked.
“No!” her dad said emphatically.
“Good. We got enough of that from your wife.” This good-natured teasing brought a crescendo of laughter.
Admittedly, Mary Beth is far more nervous before her daughter’s performances than the performer herself. “I’m there for the calming effect,” Jeff said.
With a deep sense of love and pride, Jenny Beth agreed. “Dad mellows everyone out. Mom makes sure I’m on my toes, ready to go. It all blends together.”
Along with the good times and crazy tales comes an intense commitment of time, energy, emotion and financial resources. Since age 11, Jenny Beth has worked for an hour monthly with Nashville vocal coach Christy Sutherland—a gospel singer and Barbara Mandrell’s daughter-in-law. Add to that piano lessons with Joy Malone since first grade, as well as guitar lessons more recently from Randy, with whom she has co-written five original songs. All five are available via her website: jennybethwillis.net.
“Fade Away” has emerged as a fan favorite and will likely be part of a three-song demo CD, which Jenny Beth may have completed, as of press time. “It’s really big, because you have to have studio time,” she explained. Wade Hayes (‘90s country music star) and Randy worked to secure musicians, as well as find two other unreleased songs to produce in the demo. From there, the Willis family will shop around the CD to a variety of producers and record labels, hoping they will like what they hear.
In the meantime, Jenny Beth’s calendar continues to expand, a direct result of the American Idol exposure. She will open the riverfront’s new Friday After Five stage, May 17. Prior to that, she will join three other American Idol participants in April for an Elizabethtown performance.
Reflecting back, receiving her Golden Ticket to American Idol was surreal. “To have the Golden Ticket in my hand was awesome,” said Jenny Beth, with a big smile of satisfaction and anticipation of things to come.