Meet the 3 finalists competing for WWAY’s American Idol silver ticket

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Three finalists are competing for a chance to earn an American Idol silver ticket and move one step closer to auditioning for the show’s producers.

The finalists bring different musical backgrounds, influences, and aspirations to the competition.

Addison Hamlet, 25, is originally from Reidsville, North Carolina, and now lives in Wilmington.

Hamlet earned her theater degree from UNCW in 2023 and spent three years teaching theater at Williston Middle School. This summer, she shifted her focus to music full-time.

Following in her father’s theater footsteps, Hamlet developed her love for singing and performing through high school theater and choir.

She writes her own music and draws inspiration from jazz and blues, while also exploring indie and folk music. Her ultimate dream is to perform on Broadway.

Hamlet says music gives her a way to connect with others and even heal.

“Especially when I write music or when I have a song that’s just like stuck in my head, I feel like it is a chance to connect almost like with the things that I’m feeling I get the sense that it’s not just me and that when other people hear these songs, they also are able to heal in a way so it’s kind of a healing experience,” said Hamlet.

Dustin Chapman, 29, lives in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where he works as a full-time performer at Dollywood.

Originally from Whiteville, North Carolina, Chapman grew up singing gospel with his family in the church choir. Those roots continue to influence the music he writes today.

Chapman previously auditioned for American Idol during the COVID-19 pandemic and made it to Hollywood before his journey ended.

Rather than letting that experience discourage him, Chapman says it pushed him to work harder. His goal is to connect with people across the country through his music.

“Full-time touring would be my main ambition, and that would be, you know, with my original music. Songwriting is a huge component of my career and being able to travel and just see how other people are relating to my music,” said Chapman.

UNCW student AnnMari Trakimowicz, who lives in Hampstead, North Carolina, started playing guitar at 8 years old.

Trakimowicz is self-taught and performs bluegrass and folk music with her siblings in their band, “Dear Maribella and the Pigkickers,” where she is the lead vocalist and guitarist.

Through performing with her band, Trakimowicz says she has found her own sound and hopes to share it with a wider audience.

“Rooted in American, kind of roots and American culture since I play bluegrass, and so what I really would like to see happening is gaining a little bit of more sight, I guess, like people seeing me and my band and stuff to help to cultivate the American culture of music and here in Wilmington especially,” said Trakimowicz.

The three finalists have different stories and sounds, but all are now waiting to see whose music connects with voters.

Auditions from all three finalists are available on our website, where viewers can listen and vote for their favorite.

Voting begins Wednesday at noon.

The competition is brought to you by Snowden’s Jewelers.