Meet WBKR’s Newest Intern Jenny Beth Willis

In most cases, when we get a new intern, we are REALLY introducing the new intern. But many of you already know our new intern.

Allow me to (re) introduce...Jenny Beth Willis!

Take it away, Jenny Beth:

Well hello everybody! I am so thrilled to be apart of the team here at WBKR! I am currently enrolled in a class at my high school where we get the opportunity to intern at a business of our choosing, and I could not think of any better place that I would rather spend my time!

As some of you may know, I was fortunate enough to be in the Top 20 girls of American Idol last year. Now, I hadn't originally planned on mentioning this, but Dave Spencer somehow talked me into it... so what the heck, I might as well talk! It was a crazy experience, to say the least. It was a very long process that lasted from about August of 2012 to March of 2013. Now, I know some of you might be thinking "What? But I thought the episodes air in January?". Well, this is true, but auditions actually start about mid-summer. I first auditioned in Bowling Green, and whats funny is, I actually had no clue American Idol was even coming to Bowling Green until Randy Lanham called my mom the DAY OF auditions and told her that someone should take me! So, my parents pulled me out of school, and my dad and I started on the journey. I can remember saying to him "If I could just make it in front of the actual judges, I would be happy." Well, my wish came true! After auditioning in Bowling Green in front of producers, I was sent to Baton Rouge, Louisiana about a month later to audition in front of the Executive Producers. Now at this time I actually had mono (which is literally the worst), and the day before my audition I could not even get out of bed. It was awful! But the next day my parents dragged me out of bed, and we were on our way to the auditions! The executive producers ended up really liking me, and told me to come back a month later to audition in front of the judges! I was so excited! So, a month later we came back to Baton Rouge, and I got to the auditions at about 5 AM, and did not audition until about 10 PM. I was so nervous because I was about to be in front of huge celebrities and a ton of cameras, but somehow I got through it! The judges were very complementary and I got a "yes" from all four judges!

Hollywood week was around the first or second week of December, and I can honestly say it was the most hectic 3 days of my life. I could not believe it when I made it through the first round, which was a round they call "Lines of 10", where you stand with about 10 other people and step out to sing when its your turn. After I made it through, I waited with my parents and brother for about 5 or 6 hours until we were taken back into the huge auditorium for the dreaded group round. I was fortunate enough to be placed into a group with 3 other country girls, and we all ended up making it through to the last round! The final round was the solo round, and I sang "Stars" by Grace Potter. I was so nervous but the judges decided to put me through! I could not believe my ears when Randy Jackson said "Congratulations, Top 20 girls of American Idol!". I will never forget that moment.

At the beginning of February, my mom and I left for Los Angeles. We were there for about a month for meetings with 19 entertainment (the record company that works with American Idol). Around the last week of February we started rehearsals for the Las Vegas round. I chose to sing "Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love" by Trisha Yearwood, which has always been one of my favorites to sing. I did the very best I could, but my American Idol journey ended there. I would not trade my experience on the show for anything, and I am so incredibly grateful for all the awesome opportunities I have been given because of the show!

I am currently a senior at Owensboro Catholic High School, and I cannot wait to graduate. I will be attending Trevecca Nazarene University this coming fall. Trevecca is located in the heart of Nashville, which I am thrilled about! Nashville has always been one of my favorite cities, mainly because its the country music capital of the world! I will be majoring in music business, and I really cannot wait to learn more and more about the industry that I truly love!

I have known for a very long time that I wanted to work in the music industry in some way, shape, or form. Radio has always been something that seemed to spark my interest, because without it, most famous singers, musicians, and songwriters would not be where they are today! I am so glad that I get the opportunity to be apart of WBKR and I cannot wait to see what happens!