BEST FEMALE LOCAL SINGER-SONGWRITER

Elizabeth Eckert With a voice that shakes the stars and soothes the soul, Springfield native Elizabeth Eckert is our favorite singersongwriter of the female persuasion. Perhaps most famously known and acclaimed locally as an American Idol, Hollywoodround finalist from season seven, she released her first fulllength album, Retrospect, in 2011. Her music career kicked in by age 5 and as a child singer she appeared as a finalist on Ed McMahan’s “Next Big Star” (remember that show?). Since then she’s performed in several local theater productions and at various political events and social functions, plus had a good stint on the popular KISS-FM morning radio program with host Bondsy. Now working in a duo with Micah Walk (our Best Male Local Singer-Songwriter) called Deep Hollow and as the female member of local supergroup the Shenanigans, Eckert continues to perform, write, entertain and do what she loves to do the most, sing for a listening audience. Other top vote-getters in this category include Josie Lowder, Gracia Harrison, Hurricane Ruth and Jessica Knight. Runner-up: Brooke Thomas