This report is a sidebar to UMNS story #381. A photograph of Cord Doss is available.
By Kathy Gilbert*
Cord
Doss, a 15-year-old from Rustburg, Va., became Youth '03's "American
Idol" after three days of a United Methodist "Star Search" competition
held during the July 23-27 international gathering held at the
University of Tennessee. Doss competed with more than 100 other talented
youth to take the top spot. He sang "I Can Only Imagine" to 9,000
screaming fans. A UMNS Photo by Dewayne Lowther. Photo number 03-248,
Accompanies UMNS #384
No Long Caption Available for this Story
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Look out Kelly and Ruben, here comes Cord!
Cord
Doss, a 15-year-old from Rustburg, Va., became Youth '03's "American
Idol" when he took the stage on the night of July 26 and belted out "I
Can Only Imagine," to a crowd of 9,000-plus screaming fans.
"They were screaming so loud, I couldn't even hear myself!" he said.
Doss'
moment of fame came after three days of "Star Search" competition held
in the United Methodist Board of Discipleship's Soul Tone stage, one of
the many places youth could visit during the July 23-27 international
gathering held at the University of Tennessee.
Doss competed with more than 100 other talented youth to take the top spot.
"It was awesome. It was my dream come true," said a beaming Doss soon after his performance.
"I
was just standing off stage telling myself to be myself, to just sing,"
he said. "Everything was going through my mind at once."
Potential
stars found out about Star Search when they received their registration
packets July 23. No one really came prepared to compete - no one, that
is, except Doss' mother.
"My mother always brings CDs," Doss
said. "She is always prepared for me to sing." She even took him out
shopping for the new red shirt and jeans he wore on stage. "My mom just
went crazy shopping."
Doss is a member of Timberlake United
Methodist Church and is active in his youth group there. His favorite
Scripture is Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through him who
strengthens me."
Looking out into the crowd, he found some of his
new fans had T-shirts made that summed up his moment in the spotlight:
"What does it feel like to sing for 9,000 people? I can only imagine." # # # *Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer.