‘The Voice’ contestant returns to her roots

SALEM - It will be a homecoming like no other when Cali Wilson returns to Salem on Monday, Dec. 9. A group of dedicated local supporters have organized a parade and fundraising event for the recent Voice contestant, who is a native of Salem.

The day's events will include a small parade as well as a soup supper, during which people in attendance can make a free will donation, and an auction to help Wilson raise funds that will go toward helping her pursue her music career. Currently, Wilson is looking not only to record an album but is also intends to set up a tour through Iowa, with dates tentatively planned for the beginning of next year.

Chris Feehan, a city council member from Salem and head organizer of the event, noted that the city plans to give Wilson a key to the city.

'I remember Cali when she was a kid. She would help anybody. She was always a free spirit and outgoing, would never let a kid get lonely … We want to show that we're behind her and more than happy and willing to give it back to her,” Feehan said.

For Wilson, coming home to Salem is not only about taking the next step toward her dreams but also about taking the time to thank her home community for their support.

'For me, going into this event, my focus is on showing appreciation to the community, letting them know what I have planned [for the future],” the singer-songwriter said.

'I just want people to come and get to know me if they don't already know me. I care about the community I come from. My home is where my roots are, and it means the world to me that I get a homecoming … to know people are listening to me and wishing me luck on this crazy adventure … I just want them to know I appreciate it … Having that core group of fans makes all of the difference,” Wilson added.

The 27-year-old musician hopes the event will be a more casual affair, where she can hang out with supporters and get to know new ones as well. Wilson plans to perform several of her original songs during the soup supper and will have a meet-and-greet for those who want to chat or take pictures with her.

In particular, Wilson is excited to meet with young students and artists from Salem and across southeast Iowa, and hopes her experience on the show will inspire others to chase after their dreams. The singer credits her access to the arts and music while attending Mt. Pleasant Community School District schools for having fostered her love for music and performing.

'The arts can be neglected at times and growing up in Mt. Pleasant, I had a lot of access to the arts. I had great music teachers and the opportunity to work in school musicals. I loved those opportunities, they made me grow in my love for music, and my love for the arts showed me that I could have a career in it,” she explained.

Wilson hopes her visit will encourage kids to”stay open to those opportunities and realms in school.”

'It's super important to have all sorts of representation in all types of jobs for kids, showing them what [alumni are] doing in their lives and how they're following their dreams,” she added.

'If [my visit] inspires some kids or anybody to go for their dreams, that's amazing. That's the goal. I want these kids to know they can do what I did and go even further,” she continued.

Wilson, who made it to the top 13 of the nationally televised singing competition, said her experience on the show has further motivated and encouraged her to keep chasing her dreams, despite the challenges she may face. The singer returned to Nashville, Tennessee following her elimination, and plans to make the southern state her home base as she continues to seek out opportunities in the music industry.

'I had an amazing experience on the show … I learned a lot from Blake, he cares about his artists so much. He told me that I deserve to be in music, that I shouldn't give up, and really expressed a lot of faith in my and a lot of confidence in me … that sort of mentorship has made me blossom as an artist and a person. I may not be the best, but I'm good at what I do. It's really shown me I can hack it in a career in music,” Wilson said.

Looking forward, the singer is hoping to 'put out music that [she's] proud of.” Wilson, who describes her music as genre-less, traveling between the lines of country and pop, wants to make music that listeners can relate to.

'Just putting out art that somebody can say, ‘hey, I felt like this,' that's my goal with my song writing,” she said.

Ultimately, Wilson is humbled by the support Iowans have shown her even beyond her time on The Voice.

'It means a lot to me that they will continue supporting me even off the show. I've felt it quite a bit in the last couple of weeks … I'd never thought it would happen on this type of scale and I'm so excited for the future,” she concluded.

Wilson's parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Salem Elementary School. Following the parade, the soup supper and action will be held at Feehan's Flowers at 306 East Liberty St. in Salem.