The American Idol Finals at Wood Ridge Farm Brewery.

After 3 weeks of preliminary competition, 7 finalists brought their best to the stage for the finals of this super fun, talent heavy singing competition. A rowdy, standing room only crowd enjoyed wood-fired brick oven pizzas and craft beer by new WFB brewmaster CJ at this eclectic Nelson County gem on a working farm, hand-built with milled cedar and oak by owner Barry Wood Sr. The contest was judged by local luminaries Bob Taylor and Carolyn Stone, GM Matt Wood and yours truly Old Hank. The talent level was so high and the competition so close the judges needed an overtime round to decide the winner from the 3 best performances. When the dust cleared, one winner walked away with the gold and a videotaped package sent to the American Idol producers for consideration to be entered in the national competition. Here are your 3rd, 2nd and 1st place finishers!

3rd place finisher Abby Moulton delivered the goods big-time with her bluesy rendition of Joplin’s Bobby McGee.

2nd place finisher Ronnie Shrock killed it, absolutely crushing Stapleton’s Death Row.

And Jaimee Dolan walked away with the Gold bringing down the house with her fiery performance of KT Tunstall’s Black Horse & The Cherry Tree.