During each school year, the excitement builds and by May’s end, another edition of BMS Idol is in the books.

 

Friday morning, 17 middle school contestants will sing, play and dance their hearts out for the coveted title. A spin-off on primetime TV show, “American Idol,” the talent contest has been a BMS tradition for the past several years.

 

As always, there is a ton of talent slated for this year’s show, said Principal Carole Crawford. Most of the 17 finalists performing before the student body are vocalists, but there are also acts featuring dance and instrumentation.

 

And this year’s BMS Idol promises a special treat. Straight from Nashville - where she is pursuing a successful career as a recording artist - Bridgeport High School alum Jocelyn Stout will be providing a special performance. The hometown celebrity will also be serving as a judge for the annual talent search. She remembers when she was first struck by the desire to be a star.

 

“I was probably 4 or 5 when I first became interested in singing,” she said. “I grew up on a farm, so I would ride on the four-wheeler with my grandma while she sang ‘Amazing Grace’ to me. Then, the first time I performed in front of a crowd at my church Christmas service, I realized how much I loved it and that it is what I wanted to do.”

 

So Stout followed that path, taking advantage of stepping stones along the way. Included, of course, was her participation in BMS Idol. She entered all three years - especially remembering her eighth grade performance of Jordin Sparks' "Battlefield." Despite the fact that she never won the competition, it was a great experience, she said. In fact, it’s kind of symbolic of the many stumbling blocks she has encountered along her way. It’s that perseverance she wants to share with today’s BMS students.

 

“To anyone that wants to go into the industry, I would tell that it is an extremely hard road,” Stout said. “It is full of countless ups and downs, but you just have to keep your head up. If it's truly what someone wants, they cannot let the bad times tear them apart.”

 

Her debut EP is, in fact, titled “Stepping Stones,” which is available on iTunes and Amazon. In addition to the title track, tunes include “Halfway to Memphis,” “Barefeet on the Dashboard” and “Here I Am.”

 

BMS band students are familiar with the songs, said Director Eric Stoneking.

 

“They know her songs by heart. We use her songs as entrance and exit tunes,” he said. “Her song ‘Stepping Stones’ has a real good message for kids. I told them her story.”

 

It’s only been a handful of years since Stout was one of Stoneking’s band and choir students.

 

“She was a great musician – a trumpet soloist in the band – and a dynamite country singer; just a remarkable kid,” he said. “But what I remember most about Jocelyn is that she was a BIG dreamer. I remember her telling me she was going be a star someday in Nashville. And I never doubted it.”

Stoneking said Stout has a long road ahead, but that she’s been adamant about getting her foot in the door in what is a very difficult market.

 

“She bulldozed her way in, collaborated with some great songwriters, got noticed, found a producer to take her on, hooked up with some of Nashville's best studio musicians - including Steve Cropper (who has played for Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett) on guitar - and recorded a CD,” Stoneking said.

 

Stout said it means the world to her that Crawford and Stoneking reached out to her, asking for her participation in Friday’s talent show.

 

“I am beyond excited perform and to talk to the students,” she said.

 

Stout will spend Friday at school. The morning will feature the BMS Idol show, which will end in a group number with Stout and all 17 contestants. Together, they will sing the Neon Trees' “Everybody Talks.”

 

This year’s “Idol” contestants are Jenna Keefover, Bailey King, Erica Cottrill, Casey  Gonzelez, Taylor Holmes, Jordan Rae, Kaylee Smith, Derek Hess, John Carter, Madison Hart & Brynn Axton, Ashley Hart, Emma Romano and Mea Avolio, Kamden Dulaney, Emmaleigh Perine, Alison Hanshaw, Emily Aman and Maria Salentro.

 

BMS Idol is the longest standing "Idol" competition in Harrison County Schools. It is one of the most anticipated – if not the most anticipated – events at BMS, Crawford said.

 

She looks for it to get even bigger.

 

“Next year we hope to invite back past winners and let them perform. We have also considered having an evening show open to the public,” she said.