Local performers go head to head in Navarro College’s A New Voice

The Navarro College Foundation held its annual singing competition for the Mexia campus – A New Voice – and by the end of the night, the winner of the Golden Mic was determined to be Fairfield’s Mariah Comer, with Mexia’s Linda Fox named as runner-up.

The event was held at the Groesbeck Convention Center Friday evening, and the venue was packed.

The emcee was Drew Allen, who not only introduced each entrant but also brought out the personality of the performers to the judges and audience.

Six entrants, including five individuals and one duo, put on quite a show, with country and Christian styles predominating, but also including an operatic performance.

Judging the contest were Fairfield ISD Assistant Superintendent Dr. Mickie Jackson, Mexia ISD Superintendent Ryder Appleton, Coolidge ISD Superintendent Dr. Robert Lowry and Navarro College student Blake Fisk.

The winner was based on a 50-50 combination of online votes and judges’ scores.

Before the show began, however, attendees enjoyed a sumptuous steak dinner catered by Leona General Store & Steakhouse. Navarro College District President Dr. Kevin Fegan welcomed the attendees, and Navarro College Board of Trustees Chair Phil Judson gave the invocation.

Golden Mic Award winner and runner-up Mariah Comer was named first place and Golden Mic Award winner, singing “Yeah Boy” by Kelsea Ballerini. She wore an off-the-shoulder aqua blue dress and cowboy boots; and she danced across the stage as she sang, flashing a big smile at the audience and judges.

Mariah moved to Freestone County last fall and opened a fitness business in Mexia. She works there as a fitness business consultant and also teaches fitness classes. She hosts business fitness retreats and helps put on hospital fundraisers with her husband, Dr. Jeff Comer, who is chief executive officer of Parkview Regional Hospital. Mariah is originally from Indiana and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arizona. She has performed as a semi-professional singer for several years; and her singing career has extended from Hong Kong to Australia and Guatemala. The couple lives in Fairfield and are in the process of adopting a 10-year-old daughter from Taiwan.

Linda Fox, of Mexia, won runner-up to the Golden Mic Award, singing “Phantom of the Opera,” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which showed off her vocal range and featured an impressive vibrato styling at the end. She wore a solid black robe and the distinctive Phantom mask from the musical. Linda used two microphones, one using her singing voice, and a second with an eerie, voice-altering feature as she spoke the Phantom stylings.

Linda is a graduate of Longview High School, and she also studied at Baylor University. She has thrilled audiences for over 30 years by singing hymns and playing piano and organ music in churches, and at weddings, concerts and other events. Two highlights of her career include playing the piano for Mexia First Baptist Church’s Bradley Quartet; and taking a twoweek European tour with Austin’s St. Louis King of France Catholic Church.

Linda is a pianist and pipe organist at First Baptist Church, Mexia, and also First United Methodist Church. She is married to dentist Dr. Tom Fox Jr., who owns a dental clinic in Mexia.

Other competitors Trent Kelley performed “Slow Hand” by Conway Twitty on an acoustic guitar. He wore a floral jacket and straw cowboy hat. His songs can be found on YouTube.com. Trent is a youth pastor at First Baptist Church of Groesbeck, where he focuses on teaching students the Bible and the disciplines of Christianity. He earned a degree in Architecture Design from Texas A&M University in 2015; and earned a Master of Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. Trent used his architectural skills to build a tiny home from scratch, which took him two years. Entering this contest is not Trent’s only time helping raise money for scholarships: he is committed to raising funds for Groesbeck students, too. He is committed to music, composition and freelance design; and he is about to release his first album.

The duo of Mariah Marshall and Austin Mims sang “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton, which Austin accompanied on acoustic guitar. Mariah is a former Navarro College student who is now working on her masters degree in nursing. Originally from Ennis, she is a youth and worship leader at Refiner’s Fire, in Ennis. She has played piano and guitar since she was 11 and has won many concert piano competitions. Austin graduated from Teague High School and is now a music major at Navarro College. He performs in Navarro’s Marching Band and the Jazz Band. He also leads worship at the Navarro College Baptist Student Ministry and for the youth of First Baptist Church, Teague. One of his strongest influences in life has been his mother, Navarro College South Dean Christina Mims.

Logan Allison, of Teague, sang “In Color,” by Jamey Johnson, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. He wore jeans and a short-sleeved shirt and ball cap. Logan graduated from Teague High School in 2016. He is now a lease operator for Hurst Pumping and enjoys playing music in his free time. Although Logan did not go to Navarro College, he is a strong supporter of all the college district has done for Corsicana and the local area. Having spent extensive time playing music for many benefits and organizations, Logan sponsors different events in the community, including the Teague High School Bass Club and the Kenner Rope Watsons annual roping competition, the proceeds of which go to the youth of Freestone County to help them pursue sporting activities. Logan is known for being a hard worker and lives in Teague with his wife and their young daughter, who is almost 2.

Stan Waldrip, of Donie, sang “I’m Just a Country Boy” by Don Williams. He wore jeans, a long-sleeved white shirt and black vest, and he played acoustic guitar as he sat on a stool. Stan graduated from Navarro College in 1980. He was a letter carrier for 32 years and retired in 2013. Subsequently, he earned his real estate license in 2014 and is a realtor for Keller Williams Realty in Waco. Stan leads music at the 8th Avenue Baptist Church in Teague; and he also dabbles in songwriting and guitar playing. He has served on the Teague ISD Board for 13 years and on the Texas Rural Letter Carriers’ Association as secretarytreasurer, and for one year as president. Described as friendly and always willing to lend a hand by those who know him, Stan and his wife, Gayle, love spending time with their daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters.

Other features of the night included a silent auction, and cameo performances from last year’s competition, including the 2022 Golden Mic Award winner Levi Duke, singing “Killin’ Time” by Clint Black; the 2022 runner-up Raymond Conner, singing “Counting Stars” by One Republic; and 2022 contestant Gabriel Gibson, singing “Why Do I?” by Unknown Brain.