The fourth season of South African Idols, which ended on Sunday night, saw the youngest winner yet scoop the title. Jody Williams (17) from Cape Town out-sang her home girl Andriette Norman in a two-hour special, broadcast live on pay-TV channel M-Net.
The teenage girl told the Star newspaper that she would not let the limelight ruin her plans to finish matric. She said: “I’m definitely going to be finishing matric,” and she plans to do so through home schooling.
Apart from being named a South African pop idol, Williams walked away with a recording deal with Sony BMG, a Citroën C2 and a cash prize of R100 000. The teenager will also receive musical equipment to help her buff up her career.
Both Williams and Norman were given a brand-new single to test out on Sunday night’s audience, and the winner’s version of the song was available for downloading on the M-Net website from Sunday evening.
The Star also reported that runner-up Norman is determined to pursue her dream of being a singer. She said she is “still motivated and will be moving to Jo’burg next year”, to further her dreams.
On the other hand, Williams was reported as saying that she will remain in the music industry and not die away like some of the series’s previous idols. “I’m not gonna fade; I’ll always be there making new music for you guys,” she said.
Williams is now to be an opening act on international diva Celine Dion’s forthcoming South African tour.