TWENTY-THREE year-old Sherlon Russell was on Sunday night crowned Digicel Rising Stars winner for 2019. The season finale took place inside the studios of Television Jamaica on Lynhurst Road in Kingston.

“I definitely feel blessed, happy and excited about the future. I am grateful to God and all the persons who voted for me throughout the competition,” an excited Russell shared during an interview with the Jamaica Observer yesterday.

Interestingly, Russell auditioned for the talent series this year at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston, but the Point Hill, St Catherine, resident failed to make it among the Top 14. He was brought into the competition as a wild card by judge Alaine Laughton.

“I felt so honoured and privileged. I respected Alaine before “Rising Stars”, and when she brought me in as her wild card, I knew I had to do my best. I wanted to make her proud and not to let her down,” he said.

Russell is a past student of Point Hill Primary, Eltham and Jose Marti high schools. He plans to donate the $1.5 million he received from the Digicel Foundation to assist with renovation of libraries at Point Hill Community Centre and Point Hill Primary School.

As for the prize money of $1.5 million he won courtesy of Digicel, he is undecided.

Sherlon said he decided to enter Season 16 of Digicel Rising Stars because he plans to pursue a career in gospel music. A born again Christian for the past 11 years, he worships at Spanish Town Tabernacle Church.

Singer Celecia finished second, and was awarded $600,000 and a smartphone courtesy of Digicel. Third place went to Laveka Miller who received $400,000.

Monique McLeod, director of marketing at Digicel, told the Observer that the sponsors are pleased with this year’s competition.

“Our ‘Sweet Sixteen’ edition was filled with excitement and heightened anticipation for what this fresh crop of contestants had to offer. The voting was even more intense because we had a group of incredibly talented contestants who wooed their audiences every week while quickly making a name for themselves,” she said. “It was a true expression and remarkable celebration of fine Jamaican talent, topped off by that heartfelt story of ‘wild card’ contestant, Sherlon Russell, who eventually made it to the top.”

McLeod spoke about the impact “Rising Stars” has had on Digicel which was still a relatively new player in Jamaica’s telecoms market when it launched the contest.

“The show has given tremendous exposure and training to over 200 contestants over the years who’ve been better prepared to enter the music industry. And from what we have seen so far, several of them have made a name for themselves locally and internationally,” she noted. “Many contestants, not just winners, have gone on to conquer the Reggae Sumfest stage and make a career out of their musical talent – among them Chris Martin, Romain Virgo, Dalton Harris and Nickeisha Barnes. This is what Digicel Rising Stars is about — giving talented Jamaicans a push-start to their career in music, while giving viewers and voters the opportunity to celebrate, share, and support their unique talents.”