Nelson’s Own Jennifer Stuart Wins Paramount Idol

Hometown hero Jennifer Stuart was named the 2012 Paramount Idol winner after competing against more than 200 original contestants in the American Idol-like event held at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville on May 23. The North Branch School teacher won the hearts of the judges and the crowd with her performances of “Come Together” by the Beatles and “At Last” by Etta James.

As the winner, Jennifer (a local band member, singer, and Nelson Co. High School choreographer) won $1,000 and a demo recording, but had no hesitation in saying that the consultation from Red Light Management was the best of three prizes.

“The consultation was the only reason I auditioned,” she said, adding that the actual American Idol is not on her mind. “I’ve been performing for a while and I can perform and I can write and I can work with people, but what does it take to get on a bus and tour, to get in the van and tour, to get on the plane and tour? I don’t know that, so I hope they can help me.”