Paradise woman to compete at national singing competition

Paradise native Lisa French has been selected as a finalist to compete in a national singing contest, belting out the music to the National Anthem in front of all of cyberspace.

French is one of the finalists in the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo Anthem contest and has made the final twelve. If she is voted as one of the four finalists in the medium rodeo division, she will receive a free trip in December to the National Finals Rodeo  in Las Vegas to perform the National Anthem in front of fans and on national television. 

“I’m so surprised and so overwhelmed and so ecstatically happy that I don’t know what to say,” said French with a laugh. “I was so stoked to even be nominated by the rodeo committee.”

In order to be considered for the contest, the singers must have sung at a sanctioned rodeo to be eligible.

The twelve finalists were voted on by rodeo judges and people who are affiliated with the NFR but French explained this next cycle of voting takes things to a whole new level.

“This round of judging is all based on how many of your fans will log onto Facebook or whatever and vote for you,” French said. “It has nothing do with anything but how many people you know and how many people you can get to vote for you.”

French has belted out the National Anthem for four years at the Sanders County Fair Rodeo and has sung at sporting events for 10 to 15 years. 

French was born and raised in Paradise.

“I grew up here. I went to school in Paradise, my husband taught there for 35 years, I drive the school bus for Paradise and I also cook lunch for Paradise,” said French. “I’ve been here all my life.”

Although French has sang in front of large audiences before, she said when and if it comes down to the big day, French “always gets a little bit of jitters.”

““There will be nerves, I’ll have the ‘ole adrenaline rush going, it’s just whether or not you can channel it to a good place,” said French. “I close my eyes and visualize one of my favorite singers and how they would sing it and pray to God I sing it so that I don’t sound like a frog.”

French is preparing by keeping her voice conditioned.

“I’m always practicing. No matter what- if I’m going to sing in public or not, I’m always singing in my bedroom with my guitar. It’s a muscle, so you got to keep your voice worked or you get sore throat really easy,” said French. 

Those interested in voting who do not have a Facebook can get onto www.NFRexperience.com/home/nfr_anthem_contest_votes and vote from there. 

Voting began on Monday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. local time and will continue until Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 12:59 a.m.