The spotlight will shine on some of the Chattanooga area's most talented older adults as the seventh annual Morning Pointe Foundation Seniors Got Talent takes the stage on Thursday, at 6:30 p.m. at Silverdale Center Creekside Theater, 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive in Chattanooga.

The competition brings together contestants, families, volunteers, community partners and supporters from throughout the Chattanooga area to recognize the incredible talents and lifelong passions of older adults.

Finalists selected during this year's auditions will compete for cash prizes, including a $1,000 grand prize, while sharing musical performances, dance routines, comedy, instrumental acts and other talents that showcase the vibrant spirit of the region's senior community.

This year's Chattanooga Finals finalists include:
• Bluegrass Express – Bluegrass Band
• Kim Binkley – Pianist
• Bertha Lawrence – Singer
• Lance Johnson – Comedian/Magician
• Blake Roberson – Singer/Guitarist
• Ole Rhymers – Quartet
• Terri Hall – Singer
• Mark Walker – Dancer
• Suzanne Adams – Pianist
• Tim Miller – Harmonicist
• Wanda Chubbs – Singer
• Fernando Guadarrama – Saxophonist

This year's finalists represent more than musical and performing talent—they also bring extraordinary life experiences to the stage. The lineup includes a fourth-generation magician who has performed at Caesars Palace, the Bellagio and the Mirage in Las Vegas and competed on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, an Oklahoma Hall of Fame saxophonist who still teaches water aerobics, a Chattanooga Police Department dispatcher who sings a cappella spirituals, and a retired teacher performing an original song about aging after opening for the Atlanta Rhythm Section, Daryl Worley and Blake Shelton earlier in his musical career.

"One of the things that makes Seniors Got Talent so special is the way our community embraces these performers," said Miranda Perez, executive director of the Morning Pointe Foundation. "It's inspiring to see families, neighbors and friends fill the audience to celebrate older adults who are willing to step onto the stage and share something they love. This event reminds us that talent, creativity and confidence don't have an age limit."

The Chattanooga Finals will be held on Thursday, at Silverdale Center Creekside Theater. The event is open to the public, and community members are encouraged to attend and support this year's finalists.

More than a talent competition, Seniors Got Talent highlights the importance of staying engaged, pursuing lifelong interests and building meaningful connections. Many contestants perform alongside the encouragement of their families, senior centers and local organizations that have supported them throughout the competition.

"The energy in the room is unlike anything else," Ms. Perez said. "Whether someone is performing or cheering from the audience, everyone becomes part of the experience. It truly is a celebration of our community and the remarkable older adults who make it so special."

Since launching in 2020, the Morning Pointe Foundation's Seniors Got Talent competition has expanded throughout Tennessee and Kentucky, encouraging healthy aging while showcasing the extraordinary abilities of older adults.

Hosted by the Morning Pointe Foundation, Seniors Got Talent reflects the organization's belief that healthy aging extends beyond healthcare. While the Foundation invests in the future of senior care through caregiver education and scholarships for nursing, culinary arts, therapy and social work students, it also creates programs like Seniors Got Talent that celebrate the abilities, passions and contributions of older adults. Together, these efforts support the Foundation's mission of advancing the care of seniors while helping communities embrace aging with dignity and purpose.