Caro native Megan Tibbits, second from left, returned to her hometown for the first time this week. On Friday, she stopped at Caro radio station Mix 92.1-FM where she did an interview and performed live in the studio. Pictured from left to right are Mix 92.1 program director / Mix Morning Driveby host Derek Bosley, Tibbits, and on-air personalities Azurah and Scott Bolsby.
By Bill Petzold
Editor
CARO — Her run on national television may be over, but Caro’s Megan Tibbits still is riding high as her hometown’s “Rising Star.”
Tibbits is planning a free concert scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on September 13 at Caro High School as a “thank you” to her Tuscola County supporters who voted for her during her performances on the ABC reality television show “Rising Star.” Details are still being worked out.
On Thursday, Tibbits was interviewed on Oldies 96.1-FM WHNN and later performed at the Party on McCarty in Saginaw, a fundraiser concert for the Bay Area Soccer Association.
Then on Friday, Tibbits was a special guest on Caro’s own Mix 92.1-FM, performing live on the air after being interviewed by Mix Morning Driveby host Derek Bosley.
Tibbits became a national celebrity after performing three times on television on the ABC reality series that puts the final vote in the hands of viewers through a smartphone app that allows viewers to decide who advances and who doesn’t.
“I learned so much about myself,” Tibbits said. “I learned a lot of practical things like how my voice does under that much pressure or how to sing with a band and not oversing. (I learned) those practical things about musicianship, as well as learning so much about what really matters.
“The messages that I would get — I responded to a message from a little girl on Facebook who was a fan, and the next day her dad wrote and said, ‘It made her whole month that you replied to her.’ Those things matter, being able to make an impact on people who are influenced by your music. It’s an honor to be in a place where I can do things like that.”
Tibbits’ first performance ended with a last-minute save by West Coast voters, and in her second appearance, she wowed fans with her rendition of the Gershwin standard “Summertime.”
Tibbits’ run ended August 3. Once again she delivered a standout vocal performance, but couldn’t connect with viewers on her rendition of “Home” by Marc Broussard.
“My goal was to show the more ‘belty,’ strong part of my voice,” Tibbits said. “I think I performed it well and I think I did a good job, but people just didn’t react to it. Origianlly they had asked us to pick a song that had our life story in it, and so I have always loved that song and it has so much to do with my roots — traveling on the road, jamming on the side of the road, the sort of life that I lived. I thought it was a great fit for what they originally had asked us to pick. That song means a lot to me.”
Tibbits said she’s had several offers in terms of advancing her career, but is taking care to make the right choice.
“I’ve been reached out to a little bit, and I’m just trying to move forward and take steps to use this momentum to propel myself further,” Tibbits said. “I have an EP out but it’s from years ago … I’m hoping to put out something new. It’s hard to know who to go with and where to go.”
Regardless of where Tibbits’ talents take her, the 26-year-old musician is enjoying being the toast of Caro and is deeply thankful for all those businesses and well-wishers that cheered her on.
“I was just blown away by the support that Caro showed me,” Tibbits said. “They showed me support in ways I never could have imagined. My name on signs — they just took something that was already a great experience and made it just incredible. I’m just so thankful, I’m just so humbled and honored to have been so supported, so encouraged and loved by all of caro. I’m never going to forget that.”