The competition began in May with two days of open auditions for hundreds of applicants. Judges chose 18 competitors, who faced off in a series of public events ending on June 24. Botelho-Hoeg won with a rendition of "When You're Good to Mama" from the Kander and Ebb musical Chicago.

Botelho-Hoeg also entered the competition last year, but was eliminated in the second round.

The winner of last year's inaugural competition was Tracy Silva of Taunton, Massachusetts, a van driver for special-needs children and a mother of two. Since winning the competition, she has sung the National Anthem at a series of sporting events and appeared in concerts and musicals in Massachusetts.