PHILADELPHIA, PA. (WPSG-TV) -
Nicole Donatone, 18, of Great Meadows, New Jersey (Warren County) was the ultimate winner last night in "KIA presents Gimme the Mike - Philadelphia" broadcast on UPN 57. Donatone beat out the competition with her rendition of the
LeAnn Rimes hit "Blue," winning the Grand Prize - a KIA Spectra 5; a recording contract with Range Records; a karaoke machine and library from Karaoke.com; a chance to sing the
National Anthem at a Phillies and
Eagles home game; a $250 gift certificate from both Balla Clothing and Eternity Stores, and a one-year supply of Rosenberger's Dairies iced tea.
Gimme The Mike Winner Nicole DonatoneThe recent Belvidere High School graduate works as a cashier at the local A&P and helps out at her father's business, Tony's Luncheonette, in Hackettstown, New Jersey, while pursuing her singing career. Singing since the age of 4, Donatone was once the opening act for Willie Nelson at the age of 13 when Nelson performed at the Kirby Center in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, in 2000.
CBS 3's Paul Deanno and Anne-Marie Green hosted season two of the singing contest on UPN 57 which debuted May 22. Thirty contestants were picked from the more than 1,000 aspiring singers who auditioned for the show. Six finalists performed for a panel of music industry judges each week over five weeks with the weekly winners competing in Sunday night's finale. Judges included Joe Mattis of Range Records, Karl Mullen of World Cafe Live and Dyana Williams of Influence Entertainment. One celebrity judge joined the panel each week, including: 94WYSP mid-day rock jock Tommy Conwell; "Metro Philadelphia" entertainment reporter Sara Doran; SportsRadio 610 WIP personality Howard Eskin; Wired 96.5 DJ Janita; 98.1 WOGL "The Breakfast Club" host Valerie Knight, and KYW Newsradio 1060 community affairs reporter Karin Phillips.
In addition to Donatone, the other weekly winners competing in the finale included: Laura Fiocco, 25, of Croydon, Pennsylvania; Christopher Aikens, 30, of Reading, Pennsylvania; Jackie Haydamacha, 20, of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania; Terrance Lyles, 28, of Philadelphia, and Jeromishia Atkins, 22, also of Philadelphia.
KIA, Rosenberger's Dairies, Metro Philadelphia, Eternity Stores, Balla Clothing and World Cafe Live were proud sponsors of "KIA presents Gimme the Mike - Philadelphia." UPN 57 (WPSG-TV) is owned and operated by the Viacom Television Stations Group.
