Army Reserve Sgt. Melissa Neal Wins Operation Rising Star Competition, Heads to Hollywood

Army Reserve Sgt. Melissa Neal, a former active-duty Soldier and current military wife and mother, has added "Operation Rising Star" winner to her repertoire. Neal, 27, won the competition by singing pop and country songs, and is now headed to Los Angeles to attend the 54th Grammy Awards Show, party with the stars, and record a three-song demo compact disc at a professional recording studio.

Key Takeaways:

• Neal, 27, won the local Operation Rising Star competition at U.S. Army Garrison in Ansbach, Germany, to earn a trip to Texas as one of 12 finalists.
• Winners were determined 50 percent by judges and 50 percent by online voting, with Neal receiving significant online support from friends, family, and fellow Soldiers around the world.
• Neal has been a singer since she was a child, and started taking voice lessons in junior high and participating in show choirs and musicals through junior high and high school.
• Neal served five years on active duty as a chemical operations specialist, and has two sons, Devin, 6, and Tanner, 2.
• Neal is currently majoring in criminal justice with a minor in psychology via online courses at the University of Maryland University College, and works in civil affairs.
• The 54th Grammy Awards Show will be Neal's first experience attending a major music awards show, where she will attend a party and record a demo compact disc at a professional recording studio.

Statistics:

• 12 finalists competed in the Operation Rising Star competition, with Neal emerging as the winner.
• 50 percent of the competition was determined by judges, and 50 percent by online voting.
• Neal received significant online support, with messages from friends, family, and fellow Soldiers around the world, including Germany and Afghanistan.
• 3 songs were selected to be recorded on a demo compact disc at a professional recording studio.

Sources:

• "Army Reserve Sgt. Melissa Neal Wins Operation Rising Star Competition, Heads to Hollywood" by Tim Hipps, IMCOM Public Affairs
• Operation Rising Star website (no specific URL mentioned in the original text)