Farmington Reality TV Winner to Sing at Grisham Inauguration in SF

Nothing says America like scheduling a long-winded early-morning political event on what must be the biggest hangover day of the year.

If the thought of getting up first thing on New Year's Day for the inauguration of New Mexico's new governor isn't enough to get New Mexicans excited, party planners announced Friday afternoon that 16-year old Farmington resident Chevel Shepherd, who recently won the NBC singing competition show The Voice, will sing "God Bless America" when Michelle Lujan Grisham takes the state's highest office on Tuesday Jan. 1 at 9 am. The inauguration at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center is free and open to the public, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Shepherd will reportedly sing other selections at Grisham's two inaugural balls later that evening at the convention center and the Eldorado Hotel (tickets to which cost $100 and $500, respectively), in addition to performances from acts like Santa Fe Latin rock band Nosotros and the legendary Al Hurricane Jr.

According to a release from Grisham's camp, the governor-elect is thrilled to have Shepherd onboard. "She continues to make New Mexicans proud with her remarkable talent and stewardship in her community," Grisham said.

Shepherd enthralled her home state and wowed legions of television viewers—not to mention a singer you might have heard about called Kelly Clarkson—with her quaint and accessible country-rock style and relatable background story about how she's just a regular teen who likes working on cars with her dad.