5-year old wins 1st place in AF ‘U Got Talent’

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Imagine getting on a stage and singing in front of a group of strangers for a talent competition, your nerves and adrenaline have you trembling while trying to remember the words of your song and hitting that perfect note. Now imagine doing that and only being five-years-old.

That's exactly what Kennedy Cordle did for the Air Force "U Got Talent" program. Kennedy won the base-level competition in the three to five year age group for singing "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston. After winning at the base-level, Kennedy went on to compete at the Air Force-level where she took home first place and the title of "Best talent in the Air Force" in her age group.

Kennedy was given a wide variety of songs from different genres to pick from, but she picked the Houston song because she has previously sung it in front of her church.

"I was nervous but I knew God was with me," said Kennedy. "I knew I could go up there and sing it since he was looking over me."

Kennedy won $500 for first place and will be able to perform with the Air Force Tops in Blue when they come to Dover Air Force Base. She will also be able to have her act recorded professionally.

"I'm going to save my money for when I grow up," said Kennedy. "But I'm going to spend a dollar, and that's okay."

Mikka Cordle, Kennedy's mother, and Staff Sgt. Brandon Cordle, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron power production craftsman and Kennedy's father, said they noticed Kennedy had an interest in the performing arts around the age of three. Mikka said Kennedy loves watching musicals, listening to a wide variety of music and dancing.

"I was happy and very proud of her," said Mikka. "I think it was very brave and courageous of her to be five-years-old and get up on the stage and sing in front of all those people."

Kennedy's parents said she is very active for her age and participates in a variety of sports including basketball and soccer and is a member of the Girls Scouts."

Kennedy is in to just about anything and everything," said Brandon. "If she could play football, I'm sure she would be doing that too."

Kristy Grove, Youth Center programs team coordinator, has been in charge of the UGT program at Dover Air Force Base for the last four years and said that Dover AFB has placed in either first or second place all four years in the competition. Grove said she was really impressed with the song that Kennedy picked but wasn't surprised that she won.

"This is a great program and there is a lot of hard work that goes in by the contestants and staff," said Grove. "It gives them an opportunity to see where their talent can take them."

Kennedy plans on entering the competition next year, but hopes the results next year will differ just a little from this year.

"I wish everyone could win first place, that way everyone could win $500."