Single mom sings her way to State Fair stage after 12 years of trying

Tenacity pays off.

It could be the theme of a country western song.

Instead, it is the mantra with which Anchorage’s Andrea Harris takes the ConocoPhillips Borealis Theatre stage at the Alaska State Fair as the opener for “Home Free” on the fair’s first night.

It took Harris 12 years of competing in the Country Idol competition sponsored by KBEAR radio. She was 18 in her first lyrical rodeo. Now, at age 30 and the mother of a two-year-old daughter, Harris has a real-life example to share with her child about how to keep chasing a dream.

When she heard her name announced on Aug. 16 as the 2017 winner, all the years of practicing in the shower, in front of her bedroom mirror at church plus listening to and watching countless hours Youtube versions of her favorite country music paid off.

“The whole thing felt like it was in slow motion,” Harris said. “That moment still seems kind of like a dream. As Matt Valley was announcing the winners, my heart raced faster and faster and when I heard him say my name, as cliché as it sounds, the world seemed to stand still. I couldn’t believe it.”

Reality will once greet Harris tonight as an anticipated packed-out crowd gathers to hear Home Free in its first appearance in Alaska as the a cappella band returns to the United States fresh off its town of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

She’ll get to sing at least two songs – possibly as many as four. She won’t know for sure until right before her performance begins.

She’s ready with four.

Carrie Underwood’s, “Renegade Runaway,” – with which she won the Aug. 16 finals at Eddie’s Sports Bar in Anchorage – tops her performance list. “Pour Me,” by Trick Pony, “Stronger” by Faith Hill and “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love,” by Trisha Yearwood are tunes Harris is ready to perform if given enough time.

Openers for the state fair performers never really know for sure how much time or how many songs they will be allowed to perform, Valley explained.

He is the “Matt” of the early morning on-air combination of, “Dawson, Matt and the Get Up Gang,” on KBEAR at 104.1 FM from 5 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Serving as the emcee for the Country Idol contest for five weeks in the summer on Wednesday nights cuts into his sleep time, but he doesn’t mind the extra gig.

He enjoys the local talent the contest brings out.

“It is a low-key competition in a friendly environment that lets people spread their wings a little bit and try something they might not otherwise do,” Valley said. “And it gives us the opportunity to promote the country performers that are coming to the fair.”

Valley noted that Harris has been a long-time competitor in the local event.

He was pleased to see her win.

“She is going to be a terrific opener,” Valley said. “I hope she gets to do more than two songs.”

Harris describes her voice as “country, soulful and strong,” but she has no idea what range – whether that is alto or soprano – she is as she has never taken any professional voice training.

But that isn’t stopping the assistant corporate finance director of an Anchorage-based child care center from pursuing her dream of singing under the big lights.

She intends to audition for NBC’s “The Voice,” in the next couple of years.

Until then, she’ll keep singing karaoke – in 2014 she won a competition sponsored by Chilkoot Charlie’s and went on to a national competition in Laughlin, Nevada – and fine-tuning her vocals at the Alaskan Inn.

“When my daughter is a little older, I am considering starting a band,” Harris said.

Editor’s Note: Amy Armstrong is co-owner of alaskafamilyfun.com. “Home Free” is scheduled for a 7 p.m. appearance tonight at the Alaska State Fair.