Sandman
Aug 01, 2007, 08:08 AM
Local singer tunes up for 'American Idol'
Family, friends set up fundraiser to send resident to 'American Idol' auditions
By Denise Aday (daday@sierrastar.com) @ Sierra Star (http://www.sierrastar.com)
<!--/STORYHEADLINE--><!--STORYBODY--> (Updated Friday, July 27, 2007, 3:42 PM)
Rodney Whitfield, 2, isn't nicknamed "Hot Rod" for nothing.
<!-- BEGIN Component: SierraStar : component/storylevel/photo.comp -->
<!-- BEGIN Component: SierraStar : component/storylevel/mainimage.comp --> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="252"><tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="252"><tbody><tr><td>http://www.sierrastar.com/ips_rich_content/50-kstar_p0727_idol2.jpg
</td></tr><tr><td>Kristina Whitfield sings “Let Him Fly” to her son Rodney Whitfield, 2. Rodney is nicknamed “Hot Rod” because he rarely holds still, unless his mother is singing to him.
Photo by Denise Aday</td></tr><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table> <!-- END Component: SierraStar : component/storylevel/mainimage.comp -->
He never stays still for long. There are a million things to play with and, as his mom says with a laugh, "destroy."
But when his mom starts to sing, Hot Rod holds still and smiles.
Kristina Whitfield sings to more than just her kids.
"I sang 'Unchained Melody' at my cousin's wedding at the golf course and people stopped golfing to come to the clubhouse," Kristina said. "They thought a concert was going on.
"But most people will remember me from high school as Kristi McCarty. Every day, on the bus to and from school, I used to sing 'Jewel' songs."
Kristina is determined to go to the "American Idol" auditions in Dallas, Texas on Aug. 6, and friends and family are holding an Indian taco fundraiser this weekend to help make her dream audition happen.
Kristina said singing has been her passion all her life, but she isn't going into the audition with any schoolgirl illusions.
"Simon Cowell and the other judges aren't always nice," Kristina said, "but understand where they are coming from. You have to focus on the point they are making and take their advice. Throw out the negative stuff. It is show business, and you will get a lot more negative comments than what Simon has to say."
Kristina is expecting the best and is prepared for the worst.
"If everything goes perfect, I'll win 'American Idol,' " she said. "But I hope to at least get recognized and get a record contract. There have been several non-winning contestants that now have successful recording careers."
Kristina's three kids Rodney, Skyla, 3½, and Danielle, 7, are behind their mom all the way, as is her husband Skye.
"She is going to sing one of the songs from 'Sugarland' and she sings really good," Danielle said.
Skyla is shy. She just smiles when asked about mom's singing.
Everyone around Kristina seems to have a favorite song she sings.
Her father, Marty Bissett, loves "Because the Night."
Her mother, Sherry Bissett, loves it when she sings "Wind Beneath My Wings."
What are Kristina's favorite songs?
"I love to sing 'Wind Beneath My Wings' for sentimental reasons," She said. "But my favorite to sing right now is 'Anyways' by Martina McBride. When I get behind a microphone the passion just comes out of me. I feel like I'm on top of the world when I sing."
The Indian tacos fundraiser will be tonight and tomorrow night at C & J's Watering Hole, next to the Jade Gazebo, in Oakhurst
"We are a hardworking family," Kristina said. "We don't have a lot of money, but we do have aspirations."
Kristina will sing from 8 to 10 p.m. both nights. Indian tacos will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. and C & J's has donated the food for the event. Small tacos will be $3 and larger tacos will be $5. Each $5 taco comes with a free raffle ticket.
Raffle tickets are also available for $5 each or five for $20. Prizes include a $200 gift certificate for the Sierra Meadows Ranch Golf Course, a one-night stay and dinner for two at Sierra Sky Ranch, and a tapestry by Bear. Only 300 tickets will be sold. The drawing will be held at 10:30 p.m. Saturday but you don't have to be present to win.
For more information or donations, call (559) 683-2622.
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="240"><tbody><tr><td>http://www.sierrastar.com/ips_rich_content/857-kstar_p0727_idol1.jpg
</td></tr><tr><td>Kristina Whitfield sings and enjoys the afternoon in the park with her children (Clockwise from top, right) Danielle, 7, Skyla, 3½, and Rodney, 2. Whitfield hopes to go to an “American Idol” audition Aug. 6 in Dallas, Texas.
Photo by Denise Aday</td></tr></tbody></table>
http://www.sierrastar.com/features/story/13832158p-14406754c.html
Family, friends set up fundraiser to send resident to 'American Idol' auditions
By Denise Aday (daday@sierrastar.com) @ Sierra Star (http://www.sierrastar.com)
<!--/STORYHEADLINE--><!--STORYBODY--> (Updated Friday, July 27, 2007, 3:42 PM)
Rodney Whitfield, 2, isn't nicknamed "Hot Rod" for nothing.
<!-- BEGIN Component: SierraStar : component/storylevel/photo.comp -->
<!-- BEGIN Component: SierraStar : component/storylevel/mainimage.comp --> <table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="252"><tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="252"><tbody><tr><td>http://www.sierrastar.com/ips_rich_content/50-kstar_p0727_idol2.jpg
</td></tr><tr><td>Kristina Whitfield sings “Let Him Fly” to her son Rodney Whitfield, 2. Rodney is nicknamed “Hot Rod” because he rarely holds still, unless his mother is singing to him.
Photo by Denise Aday</td></tr><tr><td>
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table> <!-- END Component: SierraStar : component/storylevel/mainimage.comp -->
He never stays still for long. There are a million things to play with and, as his mom says with a laugh, "destroy."
But when his mom starts to sing, Hot Rod holds still and smiles.
Kristina Whitfield sings to more than just her kids.
"I sang 'Unchained Melody' at my cousin's wedding at the golf course and people stopped golfing to come to the clubhouse," Kristina said. "They thought a concert was going on.
"But most people will remember me from high school as Kristi McCarty. Every day, on the bus to and from school, I used to sing 'Jewel' songs."
Kristina is determined to go to the "American Idol" auditions in Dallas, Texas on Aug. 6, and friends and family are holding an Indian taco fundraiser this weekend to help make her dream audition happen.
Kristina said singing has been her passion all her life, but she isn't going into the audition with any schoolgirl illusions.
"Simon Cowell and the other judges aren't always nice," Kristina said, "but understand where they are coming from. You have to focus on the point they are making and take their advice. Throw out the negative stuff. It is show business, and you will get a lot more negative comments than what Simon has to say."
Kristina is expecting the best and is prepared for the worst.
"If everything goes perfect, I'll win 'American Idol,' " she said. "But I hope to at least get recognized and get a record contract. There have been several non-winning contestants that now have successful recording careers."
Kristina's three kids Rodney, Skyla, 3½, and Danielle, 7, are behind their mom all the way, as is her husband Skye.
"She is going to sing one of the songs from 'Sugarland' and she sings really good," Danielle said.
Skyla is shy. She just smiles when asked about mom's singing.
Everyone around Kristina seems to have a favorite song she sings.
Her father, Marty Bissett, loves "Because the Night."
Her mother, Sherry Bissett, loves it when she sings "Wind Beneath My Wings."
What are Kristina's favorite songs?
"I love to sing 'Wind Beneath My Wings' for sentimental reasons," She said. "But my favorite to sing right now is 'Anyways' by Martina McBride. When I get behind a microphone the passion just comes out of me. I feel like I'm on top of the world when I sing."
The Indian tacos fundraiser will be tonight and tomorrow night at C & J's Watering Hole, next to the Jade Gazebo, in Oakhurst
"We are a hardworking family," Kristina said. "We don't have a lot of money, but we do have aspirations."
Kristina will sing from 8 to 10 p.m. both nights. Indian tacos will be served from 4 to 8 p.m. and C & J's has donated the food for the event. Small tacos will be $3 and larger tacos will be $5. Each $5 taco comes with a free raffle ticket.
Raffle tickets are also available for $5 each or five for $20. Prizes include a $200 gift certificate for the Sierra Meadows Ranch Golf Course, a one-night stay and dinner for two at Sierra Sky Ranch, and a tapestry by Bear. Only 300 tickets will be sold. The drawing will be held at 10:30 p.m. Saturday but you don't have to be present to win.
For more information or donations, call (559) 683-2622.
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="240"><tbody><tr><td>http://www.sierrastar.com/ips_rich_content/857-kstar_p0727_idol1.jpg
</td></tr><tr><td>Kristina Whitfield sings and enjoys the afternoon in the park with her children (Clockwise from top, right) Danielle, 7, Skyla, 3½, and Rodney, 2. Whitfield hopes to go to an “American Idol” audition Aug. 6 in Dallas, Texas.
Photo by Denise Aday</td></tr></tbody></table>
http://www.sierrastar.com/features/story/13832158p-14406754c.html