House Resolution 114

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING BRIAR JONNEE BLAKLEY UPON HER SUCCESS ON NBC'S "THE VOICE."

WHEREAS, Briar Jonnee Blakley, age 20, of Shuqualak, Mississippi, is being honored upon her success on NBC's "The Voice," which is a blockbuster vocal competition that is in its eighth season; and

WHEREAS, Briar, who is the youngest of six children, has always been blessed with a dynamic voice that was cultivated even as a young child with the assistance of her loving mother who was choir director at Ivy Grove Baptist Church; and

WHEREAS, more specifically, as a child, Briar's mother selected her to lead songs for the church choir beginning at the tender age of five, and also during that time she began taking piano lessons from a local musician and community choir director, Ken Campbell, who encouraged her musical abilities; and

WHEREAS, being that Briar was naturally blessed with musical skills and talents, she decided to discontinue piano lessons after discovering her ability to play piano by ear and with the ability to play by ear, her love for music grew tremendously; and

WHEREAS, in addition to being musically blessed as a young child, Briar, knowing the importance of receiving an education, attended Reed Elementary School in the Noxubee County School District, where she credits most of her success, to the concern and nourishment that was provided by the school as well as her family; and

WHEREAS, during Briar's middle and high school years, she took a leap of faith and decided to audition for the Mississippi School of the Performing Arts, which is located in Brookhaven, Mississippi, so that she could nurture her musical talents and abilities; and

WHEREAS, upon being accepted to Mississippi's prestigious school of the performing arts, Briar was exposed to, as well as experienced, the world of literary and visual art along with music, dance and theatre; and

WHEREAS, at the Mississippi School of the Performing Arts, Briar gained paramount experience that assisted her in her goal of becoming an aspiring artist, and her grades at the school were superb as evidenced by her graduating with honors as well as other well deserved accolades; and

WHEREAS, upon graduating from high school, Briar attended the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) where she majored in broadcast journalism and media production with a minor in business administration; and

WHEREAS, in addition to being musically gifted, Briar, while at USM, was a member of AmeriCorps, and she volunteered at the local Boys & Girls Club and at the Ocseola McCarty Center in Hattiesburg, which demonstrates her passion for mentoring youth to encourage them both academically and spiritually; and

WHEREAS, Briar's ultimate destiny with "The Voice" occurred in the summer of 2014, while she took a sabbatical from USM, with plans to return this fall, to further her musical career, and during her sabbatical, she auditioned for "The Voice"; and

WHEREAS, Briar, after experiencing a rigorous audition process, made it as one of the top 48 contestants and landed megastar Pharrell Williams' team and then she went on to the battle grounds of the competition, where she performed before a national television audience where millions watched and were truly elated by her performances; and

WHEREAS, since making her national debut on "The Voice," Briar has positively influenced hundreds of children by sharing her life experiences in an effort to show them that if they pursue their dreams and never give up, their dreams can also come true; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to a talented young Mississippian such as Briar Jonnee Blakley whose dynamic voice and stage presence before a national audience has not only brought great honor and pride to her family, Shuqualak and Noxubee County but to this great state as a whole:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Briar Jonnee Blakley, upon her success on NBC's "The Voice," and wish her continued success in all of her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Briar Jonnee Blakley and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.