The smell of freshly-cooked burgers permeated downtown Meridian Saturday morning.

The warmer temperatures didn’t stop the 300 or so spectators from coming out to support Meridian’s local talent during the annual Jimmie Rodgers Festival Talent Competition.

And there was plenty of talent to be seen from Johnny Cash impersonators, to some singers treating listeners to their original songs.

When was all said and done, there were two overall winners in both the youth and adult competitions. Winning first place in the youth competition was petite Holly Brand who sang the popular Martina McBride song, “Anyway.”

“I would like to do this for a living,” Brand said. “I’ve competed three times here, but once I get old enough I plan to audition for American Idol.”

In the adult competition Ashley Mercado won by belting out a Reba McIntyre tune.

“I’ve been competing here off and on since I was nine years old, and this the first time I’ve won it. It’s something I really just do for fun, but this has been really exciting,” Mercado said.

Second place in the youth competition went Erin Beaudoin, and Nicole Covington came in third. In the adult division, Cecilee Crain took second place, with Taylor Martin holding the third place title.