Dustin Chapman wins WWAY’s American Idol Silver Ticket competition
LELAND, N.C. (WWAY) — Former Whiteville native Dustin Chapman is one step closer to another shot at “American Idol” after winning WWAY’s American Idol Silver Ticket competition.
Chapman was revealed as the winner Thursday at the WWAY after receiving 79% of the viewer vote.
The Silver Ticket gives Chapman direct access to “American Idol” producers during North Carolina auditions September 16 over Zoom, with the possibility of advancing to perform before celebrity judges Carrie Underwood, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.
Chapman, who now works as a full-time performer at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, previously auditioned for “American Idol” during the COVID-19 pandemic and advanced to Hollywood before his journey ended.
He grew up in Whiteville singing gospel with his family and has continued pursuing a career in music and songwriting.
The competition was sponsored by Snowden’s Jewelers, a Wilmington business that has served the community for 36 years. Contest sponsor Chris Snowden joined the three finalists at WWAY and presented Chapman with the Silver Ticket after he was announced as the winner.
Chapman competed against Addison Hamlet, a 2023 UNCW theater graduate who is now pursuing singing full time with dreams of performing on Broadway, and AnnMari Trakimowicz, a UNCW music student and the lead singer and guitarist of local band “Dear Marabella and the Pig Pickers.”
Chapman said he plans to sing his original song “Three Years and Twelve Days” for his American Idol audition.
