Destin worker becomes first "Emerald Coast Idol"

FORT WALTON BEACH - When Tanya Short was in middle school, she sang on the school bus to entertain her friends.

Today, she'll sing the national anthem at Uptown Station. The crowd likely will be larger than what could fit on a school bus.

Short, 20, is the first winner of the Emerald Coast Legends - Sing Your Way to Fame contest. She edged out the competition with the support of a coalition of family members and friends across the United States.

Sara Florence of Fort Walton Beach finished second and will win $1,000. Rita Dailey of Crestview finished third and takes home $500.

"This is so exciting," Short said Wednesday. "I got off work today just so I could enjoy the moment if I won."

To see a video fo her final performance, click here.

The contest, sponsored by the Northwest Florida Daily News, Uptown Station, 99Rock and 105.5 The Wolf, invited local singers to submit videos of themselves performing a song. A panel of judges provided commentary on each video and supporters could vote for their favorite contestant by purchasing votes for $1 each.

Short, who is a manager at the Destin boutique Mermaids and attends Northwest Florida State College, said she's been singing since she was a little girl and would love to pursue a professional singing career.

"I'd sing Billy Ray Cyrus ‘Don't Break My Heart' on the coffee table," she laughed. "In high school I performed the national anthem for every basketball game, football game and pep rally."

She also did those school bus serenades. Friends declared they wanted to be her backup dancers when she became famous.

Short was born in Pensacola, grew up on Navarre Beach and moved to the Destin area 12 years ago. Her folks also are Emerald Coast natives and her grandfather worked at Hurlburt Field.

She attributes her singing success to genealogy.

"It's in my blood. My mom was in a band. My great-grandmother used to sing and my grandmother owned a talent agency in Shalimar."

For fun she'd sing Britney Spears, Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera tunes.

However, Short did not take any professional training. She said she was in voice lessons for one week but stopped because of the cost. But she'd like to work with a voice coach.

Short said she worked hard for support in Emerald Coast Legends.

"I was like an ad for you guys," she laughed, explaining she wooed friends and relatives on Facebook, twitter and MySpace, and sent them to nwfdailynews.com.

She confessed to some nervousness before her appearance Saturday at Uptown Station.

"I could not eat all day I was so nervous! I gave up coffee for a week because I didn't want to coat my throat with milk. But when I got there and met the two other finalists, my nervousness went away. When I got up on stage I felt really natural. It was my honor to be there with them."

Now that she's won, what will she do with the $2,500 grand prize?

"I'm going to use the money to go to Orlando and try out for American Idol."

She hasn't decided what song she'll sing, but is leaning toward Kelly Clarkson's "Before Your Love."

Closer to home, she'll sing the national anthem at Uptown Station's flag-raising ceremony at noon today. "I'm really excited," she said.

She's been offered singing gigs at clubs around the Village of Baytowne Wharf and plans to pursue the performance track at NWF State College.

For now, she's simply enjoying her moment in the spotlight.

"I love the fact that I'm the very first Emerald Coast Legend."