Imani Parker!…
My latest photo journal features images from the exciting August 31 grand finale of the 2026 six-time MAC-award-winning event, Mama’s Next Big Act, at Don’t Tell Mama. I’ve documented eight of the nine Next Big Acts, and it’s an amazing process! Every week, the contestants (all from different avenues of music) are challenged with choosing a song (any genre) within an assigned theme. Comradery among contestants grows with each week.
Produced by Singnasium Artistic Director, Lennie Watts, a panel of judges: Watts, Frank Dain and a guest judge each week—including past winners—plus audience votes, determined who would advance. Music director-pianist Yasuhiko “Yaz” Fukuoka did a fantastic job accompanying.
This year’s winner was chosen from these top five: the duo Chelsea Trotti and Dalton Maltz, Imani Parker, Madilyn Jaz, Lyle Smith Mitchell and Billy Mitchell. Each act was rewarded by roaring applause. As the judges tallied up the votes (a tough decision—I don’t envy them), the audience was entertained by songs from Mama’s Next Big Act host Lena Moy Borgen, 2024 winner Can Yasar, Evelyn Sullivan (accompanied by Ted Stafford), Trudy Carmichael and 2025 winner Aaron Valentine.
This was Parker’s second try at the competition and as this year’s winner receives a $1500 stipend towards the production of a cabaret show, a feature article in Cabaret Scenes magazine, a poster and promo card design, a free class at Singnasium, a show poster hung on the DTM Wall of Fame, and a spot at the award-winning Susie Mosher’s Line-up. Plus, in the competition’s fun tradition, this year’s appliance was a fancy Panini Maker (who wouldn’t want one)!
What a wonderful experience for contestants, audiences and judges!
