Denny makes ‘Oprah’ finals

Plumber will compete again on Thursday

Donnie Denny — Perquimans County’s singing plumber — has crooned his way into the finals of Oprah Winfrey’s “Karaoke Challenge.”

Denny, owner of Standard Plumbing in Hertford, was named one of three finalists on the talk show host’s popular singing segment on Friday.

Denny will square off against two other finalists — Abraham McDonald of Los Angeles and Rob Weddle of Orlando, Fla. — on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” next Thursday.

Denny made the finals of the Karaoke Challenge after competing on the show Thursday against seven other semifinalists. Denny sang “Amazed,” the Lonestar hit, during his performance.

Denny was selected for one of the final three spots in the Karaoke Challenge based on the votes of audience members and viewers following Thursday’s performances.

Denny couldn’t be reached Friday, but a spokesman for his plumbing business said Denny is extremely excited about making it to the next round of the show. Denny is expected to return home to Perquimans County from Chicago, where “Oprah” is videotaped, sometime before the next competition on Thursday, the spokesman said.

Denny caught the eye of “Oprah” show producers in early October after his family sent in a video of him singing.

A show producer and film crew later visited him at his church, South Mills Church of Christ, to film one of his performances. He was also interviewed for the show at his home on Justin Avenue.

Denny said he enjoys singing karaoke at a variety of places and also sings with a praise group at his church.