An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Dec. 17, 2015

Fort Sam Houston hosts Operation Rising Star finals

U.S. Army Installation Management Command Public Affairs

A former singer in the Air Force Band and military mother of four was named winner of the 2015 Operation Rising Star singing contest at the Fort Sam Houston Theatre Dec. 4.

Chelsea Tabisz, an Air Force spouse from Joint Base Maguire-Dix- Lakehurst, N.J., expressed her love for her husband, three daughters and one son throughout the four shows filmed for internet broadcast.

Operation Rising Star is an Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program produced as online content by the U.S. Army Installation Management Command’s Army Entertainment division at Fort Sam Houston.

Based on the concepts of television shows “American Idol” and “The Voice,” 12 singers from around the world are selected via online and live performances and invited to compete in front of studio and internet audiences for the title of “2015 Rising Star.”

Internet viewers, whose votes counted 50 percent in the outcome, voted 141,096 times for their favorite performers at http://www.OpRisingStar.com, which experienced a 97 percent increase in viewership over the 2014 performances.

Army family member Isabelle Robin of U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr, Germany, finished runner-up to Chelsea Tabisz.

Army family member Melinda Way-Bonner of Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., finished third in the competition.

Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Powell of Naval Recruiting Station Pleasant Hill, Calif.; Sgt. Robert Gulley of U.S. Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany; and Spc. Chyanna Dresden of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, completed the top six.

To view the web broadcasts, visit http://www.OpRisingStar.com.