Victory in the season four finale of South Africa’s “Idols” is paying off in more ways than one for Cape Town’s Jody Williams.
The 17-year-old, the youngest winner in the competition’s history, has been lined-up to support Celine Dion on the opening dates of her “Taking Chances” 2008/2009 world tour.
The tour kicks off in South Africa on Feb. 14 in Johannesburg, and makes stops at Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth. Dion herself made the announcement in a specially-videotaped message broadcast during the Dec. 9 series final at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Arena.
For the first time, Sony BMG has made the South African Idols winner’s single, “Love Is All Around,” available digitally immediately immediately after the finals. The track can be downloaded at the official Idols Web site.
According to organizers, 7,803,990 votes were cast in the final between Williams and her competitor, Andriette Norman. The final was broadcast on M-Net on South Africa’s pay offering, DSTV.
