On to Dallas

Jasmine Rico-Garcia rocked Cine El Rey Sunday afternoon.

She danced, she smiled, and she won the South Texas Idol with the Carrie Underwood song “Before He Cheats.” She beat out 12 other finalists for the honor. (View video of Rico-Garcia's performance)

Rico-Garcia, of McAllen, told the audience she learned the song the night before, but neither the audience or the judges could tell.

She nailed it.

Her performance cemented her an audition with the producers of American Idol, at Aug. 6 audition. She won’t have to wait in line, nor will she have to worry about paying for her flight to Dallas or her hotel there. Winning the South Texas Idol contest means that her audition is paid for. (View Monitor video of the South Texas Idol competition)

Rico-Garcia couldn’t be happier.

“It’s been a blessed day,“ the 25-year-old mother said. “It’s really amazing.“

It’s also a dream come true. Rico-Garcia planned to try out for American Idol, until she won or became too old to compete. But she didn’t think South Texas Idol would be her ticket to American Idol.

“I was so surprised,” she said. “I honestly didn’t think I was going to win. I was sure shocked.”

Her husband, Chad Garcia, wasn’t surprised though. He knew his wife had what it takes to win.

“I knew she had it in her,” he said. “Some talents can’t be taught. They are gifts from God, and hers shone on stage today.”

Mayra Lopez-Olivarez, 22, of Edinburg, and Caroline Yi, 18, of McAllen, also shone today. The two shared second place and won a trip for two to the auditions in Dallas and hotel accommodations, but they will have to stand in line with the other thousands of hopefuls before they can strut their stuff in front of the judges.

Singing is Lopez-Olivarez’s passion. She’s been doing it since she was six. But with a 2-year-old and 6-month-old baby, she doesn’t have a whole lot of time to practice. (Check out Monitor video of Lopez-Olivarez)

“I just practice in front of the mirror, when they’re sleeping,” she said.

During the competition she forgot the words to “I will Survive” but she made them up, and kept singing her heart out.

“I told my myself to go ahead and just do,” she said.

Yi said she wouldn’t have gone to Dallas to audition on her own. But now that she has the opportunity she’s excited. (Watch Yi's performance)

“I’m going to stand in line and see how far I get,” she said.

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Paige Lauren Deiner covers features and entertainment for The Monitor. She can be reached at 956-683-4425. For this and other local stories, visit www.themonitor.com.