Summerside-born songstress Trinity Bradshaw has been awarded a career development package worth $200,000.
She beat out several other competitors during an AMP Radio sponsored concert on Jan. 19 in Calgary, Alta.
The competition was a combination of a one-time American Idol style show with judges and fans voting and organizers keeping track of her efforts for a couple of months before the show.
She was still buzzing about the experience when reached for comment on Tuesday.
"It was insane. I actually can't explain to you how I felt, because I think my emotions were just that mangled. I didn't know how to feel," said Bradshaw.
But she admits to being nervous going into the competition.
She moved to Alberta a little more than a year ago, so her fanbase there is still somewhat limited.
"For the month leading up to that I didn't sleep. I wasn't eating regularly. All I thought about was this AMP final. Prepping for it. I passed out like literally 4,000 flyers ... we just worked our butts off," she said.
She was also the last act at the concert, so she was afraid the crowd would have already cast their votes.
But when she stepped on stage, a lot of people started chanting her name, she said.
That was a pretty big confidence boost.
It was warranted as it turns out.
She was announced as the winner, and the rest of the night passed in blur of emotions.
The money is a development package - which means she can't quit her day job with a car dealership just yet.
The funds have to be used to advance her career, so she's scheduled time off work to attend showcases in Los Angeles later this year, trips to Nashville for singer/songwriter workshops, and a extended stay in Toronto for Canadian Music Week.
She's also planning a tour with shows in several major North American cities.
She's spreading the money around, she said, instead of spending it all on one make or break project.
"It's an expensive market. It's an expensive industry. And to have the money to do whatever you want? To have the sky be the limit? It's incredible. It's the chance of a lifetime," she said.
She wants to lay the groundwork for a long career.
"I want to do this for the rest of my life," she said.
Just before her interview ended, Bradshaw asked to extend her gratitude to everyone from her hometown that has supported her.
She hasn't forgotten them, she said.
"I'm going to make Summerside P.E.I. very proud. I'm going to put us on the map."
NOTE TO READERS: The print version of this story, in the Jan. 23 edition of the Journal Pioneer, reported an incorrect amount of prize money. Bradshaw actually received $200,000 in career development money. The Journal Pioneer apologizes for the error.
good job trin :) so proud