Watching American Idol or The Voice would be much more interesting if the contestants were neighbors, co-workers or just childhood friends. Carolyn Rowell with Fusion 100.1 WDXX said that the upcoming Sing-Off at the Central Alabama Fair would provide for that type of entertainment.

“People want to hear people they know sing,” Rowell said about last year’s singing contest, Country Karaoke. “Last year it was amazing, the pavilion was overflowing, the crowd was huge, it spilled over onto the bleachers and people were standing around.”

The Central Alabama Fair Sing-Off will take place on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at the pavilion in the fairgrounds.

Rowell said she was surprised at the success of the contest in 2011 and others were shocked as well.

“We struggled to fund some kind of entertainment on Thursday night that would draw people and we have tried a lot of things that didn’t do well,” Linda Haskell, Lions Club fair board secretary said. “But last year, we were blown away by the crowd. I turned to Carolyn Rowell and said ‘By George I think we’ve got it!”

Rowell said she hopes there will be just as many contestants competing this year because there is $500 worth of prize money on the line for the winner. She explained that the sing-off would work slightly different from the 2011 karaoke contest.

“We are right now accepting applications for people that would like to sing. Its not a karaoke contest, it’s a singing contest — which means there is no TV monitor with the words on it.”

Out of those who send in applications and a small sound bite of their singing talent, 20 contestants will be chosen for the first round of the competition. After those 20 performances, three judges will select 10 finalists who will then sing a second song. Judges will deliberate and choose a first, second and third place winner from the top ten singers.

Applications are available at the front desk of the Fusion 100.1 radio station office.

Those interested can also email Carolyn@fusion100.com to receive an application by email as well.

Last year’s winner was Felecia Strickland who won singing A Broken Wing by Martina McBride and Whitney Houston’s version of I Will Always Love You.