Fair Oaks teacher wins 'Gospel Dream' reality show

All Melinda Watts remembers about the longest two minutes of her life is that she couldn't look up.

She stood on that stage in Nashville, facing hundreds of people with her eyes closed and head bowed. She prayed.

To calm her nerves, Watts thought about her students at Sacramento's Luther Burbank High School, her 5–month-old daughter Lyric, her friends at the various Sacramento churches where she sings.

Then it was over.

When Watts looked up, she had been named winner of "Gospel Dream 2008," a reality show that seeks out the best gospel singers in the country, a show where judges weigh both the contestant's singing and inspirational abilities. Call it "American Idol" with a message.

Watts, who lives in Fair Oaks, taped the last show in May. The final episode aired last night on the Gospel Music Channel.

"I didn't even tell my students or colleagues at school that I was entering the contest," says the 29-year-old Watts. Most people who know her, she says, will learn about her win when they read about it in The Bee.

The few people she did tell included the Rev. Louis Neely of Warehouse Christian Ministries in Sacramento. She often sings at his church. The pastor raves about her.

"Melinda has this purity and serenity about her that comes from the heart, and the audience just loves her," says Neely. "People respond to her, her humbleness."

Watts grew up singing in a Baptist church in her hometown of Bridgeton, N.J. Six years ago, she moved to Sacramento, which she calls "my place of destiny." Her parents and sister still live in New Jersey.

Watts has no formal musical training.

"I sing everywhere I can," says Watts, shyly. From rock to gospel, Watts loves all musical genres but considers Christian contemporary her favorite. "Gospel Dream 2008" judges compared her to CeCe Winans.

"Once every 10 years, you have a superstar that arrives, and that's Melinda," said Alvin Williams, senior director of music development for the Gospel Music Channel. "Her talent is superb, and she's a sweet and humble young lady. When she opened her mouth, we knew right away that she was the one to beat."

Watts' heartfelt connection to her music showed when she sang, "Oh, How I Love Jesus." She cried when she performed it on the show.

"I was thinking about what it took for me to do this," says Watts. "The words carried me through."

Watts was on maternity leave when she auditioned for the show and plans to continue teaching high school English in the fall. She is also active in a community group she founded called Project Sunday which helps at–risk teens.

Her husband is her biggest supporter. "I think it's phenomenal," says William Watts. "She's been working toward this for a very long time."

Melina Watts entered the contest because she wanted to see how she'd do.

"I'm always telling my students to follow their dream," says Watts. "I thought I should follow mine. I just needed to do this."

Watts won a weeklong Royal Caribbean cruise, a recording contract with a major label, and the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in Christian music. She hopes it's the beginning of a musical career.

Watts takes no credit for her talent or her win.

"God's grace brought me here. I owe everything to him. It's been a very humbling experience."

About the writer:

• Call the Bee's Jennifer Garza, (916) 321-1133.