The 2016 Jimmie Rodgers Talent Competition has moved into the second phase. The first phase online competition has ended, and the finalists have been selected and notified.

    The competition moves to the stage of the 63rd annual Jimmie Rodgers Music Festival May 7 at 1 p.m. on the city hall lawn in downtown Meridian.

    Online entries as well as a panel of experts in the music field judged contestants in the online competition. The following contestants were chose as finalists to compete for placement in the two categories, and will also receive a cash prize and a guitar.

    Youth division finalists are Daizyanna from Madison; Eliza Black from Charleston, S.C. and Joy Kate from Clinton. Adult division finalists are Alanna Mosley from Carrollton, Anna McDaniel from Toomsuba and the Jason Stogner Band  from Brandon.

    The Jimmie Rodgers Foundation sponsors the talent competition to follow the lead of Jimmie Rodgers and the continuing search for new talent. Rodgers, called “The Father of Country Music, won a talent competition in Meridian in 1909 when he was 12 years old. This was a defining moment in his life and set him on the path of significant contributions to music all over the world. His dreams, vision, creativity, talent and perseverance changed music forever.