Musician Provocatively Predicted to Ascend to Superstardom in 2025

Revamped Recap: Rock Star 2025 Run-Down

Ariel Goetsch snatched the crown in this year's Rock Star 2025, impressing judges and audience alike at Starved Rock's incredible 20th edition of the vocal extravaganza. Goetsch belted out three tunes, including "She Used to be Mine" from Broadway's "Waitress" and a personal favorite, "Lights" by Journey, to win the coveted title and $500 grand prize.

Jim Cox rocked his way to second place with energetic performances of "Blaze of Glory" and a Warrant-styled freestyle. Seth Edwards, who started the night with "When She Loved Me" from "Toy Story 2", took third place with tunes from "Mama Mia", "Toy Story", and the Animals.

The six finalists shone brightly throughout the evening, treating the packed dining room at Starved Rock Lodge to a mix of diverse musical styles. Monica Archie brought a touch of "Moulin Rouge" with her spellbinding rendition of "Lady Marmalade", while Kelly Peacher captivated the audience with her hauntingly beautiful version of "Shallow" from "A Star is Born".

Additional contenders included Larry Kohr, whose powerful rock arrangements included "Ticket to Ride" and a stunning freestyle, and Seth Edwards, who set his freestyle lyrics to a catchy Beatles melody. Goetsch's unique freestyle, a vibrant trip to the "Pink Pony Club", really energized the crowd.

Special thanks to the amazing singers who bravely stepped up to the stage for Rock Star 2025, and to our host, Jamie London. Many thanks also to our esteemed judges, Shawn Brown, Andrew Pypno, and 2024 Rock Star, Savannah Sondgeroth. A big round of applause to the team at Starved Rock for their warm hospitality and delicious food. See the gallery below for unforgettable moments from Rock Star 2025. Be sure to join us again next year for more talented performances and unforgettable music!

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Seth Edwards: "When She Loved Me" from "Toy Story 2"Ariel Goetsch: "She Used to be Mine" from the Broadway musical "Waitress"Jim Cox: "Blaze of Glory"Larry Kohr: "Ticket to Ride"Kelly Peacher: "Shallow" from "A Star is Born"Monica Archie: "Lady Marmalade"

Seth Edwards showcased his freestyle with a fun twist on "Mama Mia" lyrics, while Ariel Goetsch delivered an infectious freestyle jam packed with energy. Jim Cox took the crowd to heaven with a Warrant-inspired freestyle, and Larry Kohr rocked out his freestyle as expected. Kelly Peacher's freestyle flowed beautifully to the melodies of her favorite artist, Jewel. Monica Archie dazzled the audience with an electrifying freestyle performance.

In the final round of the night, Seth Edwards crooned "House of the Rising Sun", Goetsch shone with "Lights" by Journey, and Jim Cox brought everyone along to "Panama". Larry Kohr took a walk down memory lane with an old favorite from Jude Cole, while Kelly Peacher ended the night on a high note with "Suds in the Bucket", one of her all-time favorites.

Contest Rules:

Eligibility: Any legal United States resident age 21 or over is eligible to enter and win.
Performances: Musical accompaniment is prerecorded, and lyrics must be memorized. Song selections are up to each contestant, but remember this is a family show. No original compositions are allowed, except for the final freestyle round.
Structure: The competition takes place on four consecutive Wednesdays in February and March 2025. Contestants sign-in between 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. and perform by 7:00 p.m. The contestant receiving the highest combined judges' scores and audience votes wins the grand prize of $500, with $250 for second place and $150 for third place.

The contestants showcased diverse musical styles during the Rock Star 2025 competition, with Seth Edwards performing "When She Loved Me" from "Toy Story 2" and Ariel Goetsch impressing with "She Used to be Mine" from the Broadway musical "Waitress."
In the final round, Ariel Goetsch received the highest combined judges' scores and audience votes, winning the coveted title and $500 grand prize with a performance of "Lights" by Journey.
In the final freestyle round, contestants were allowed to perform original compositions, with Jim Cox taking the crowd to heaven with a Warrant-inspired freestyle and Kelly Peacher flowing beautifully to the melodies of her favorite artist, Jewel.
For the 2025 edition of the Rock Star competition, the contest rules stated that any legal United States resident age 21 or over was eligible to enter and win, with musical accompaniment prerecorded and lyrics required to be memorized. Song selections were left up to each contestant, but the competition took place on four consecutive Wednesdays in February and March, and original compositions, except for the final freestyle round, were not allowed.