Non-stop entertainment for ‘Rising Stars’ finale tonight
Published:Sunday | October 1, 2023 | 9:46 AMKenrick Morgan - Sunday Gleaner Writer
After weeks of thrills, spills and everything in-between, the 19th season of ‘Digicel’s Rising Stars’ comes to a close on Sunday, when the final three battle it out for the top prize.
In a conversation with The Sunday Gleaner, producer Sharon Schroeter, who has been with the talent competition since its inception 19 years ago, told us that fans are in for a real treat.
“It’s two hours of non-stop entertainment. The top-ten from this year will be there, as well as a few other past contestants and some guest artistes, one of which is gospel superstar Kevin Downswell,” she said.
Even after 19 long years Schroeter said she is still in love with the show and is already excited for what season 20 has to offer.
“We have to come bigger and better. The talent this year (Season 19) was so incredible, so we will really be looking deeper to unearth some of those hidden talents for only season 20, and beyond.”
Speaking of incredible talent, the best of the best this year, Remone Watson, Sashae Evans, and Jhanelle ‘Lady J’ Thompson, all have one thing in common: they’re fighting till the end.
The trio explained how their involvement in the competition impacted them and what they plan to do after, whether they win or lose.
“I’ve had to be stronger mentally. Everyone has different opinions and the show taught me how to handle that …You can expect to see more of me after as I plan to expand on the exposure I got here. It’s all about life after ‘Rising Stars’,” said Evans.
For Watson, he said he plans to take his talent to the global stage, where he hopes to enter ‘The Voice’, the United States-based talent competition won by Jamaica’s own Tessanne Chin in 2013.
As for Lady J, who said she wants to open a restaurant for her mother once the show is over, she explained how the competition turned her into a community role model.
“It has helped me to be more punctual. I wasn’t always a timely person, but I’m a celebrity now, so I have an image to maintain. A lot of [people] have been looking up to me and I want to give them something good to look towards,” she said.
Schroeter believes it is stories and personalities like these that has kept ‘Rising Stars’ on the air for so long, and made it special for Jamaicans watching.
“It is 100 per cent Jamaican,” she exclaimed.
Tonight’s finale starts at 8 p.m. on Television Jamaica, and fans are being encouraged to tune in with their families for a good time.
“I really want to thank everyone who has tuned on to watch ‘Digicel’s Rising Stars’ over the years, we really couldn’t do it without you. So for one last time in season 19, tune in with you family, your friends and everybody you know, it’s gonna be awesome,” Schroeter said.