When senior nursing major De’Tanya Hogan heard the gospel song “Breaking Every Chain,” she knew she was meant to sing it.
Nervously taking the stage, Hogan belted out the song that won her first place in ULM’s Got Talent.
ULM held its annual talent show in Brown Auditorium on Thursday.
The event hosted a variety of talents including singing, dancing and rapping.
Other talents were also showcased in between the competing acts.
Eleven contestants performed.
First place won $400, second place won $200 and third place won $100.
Radu Marian won second place, Lucy Mckenzie won third.
Hogan said, “I only listened to this song, and no others as I practiced for the show.”
She played the song persistently on her way to work, on her break and to and from Bossier City, where she attends church.
Hogan also found inspiration from watching Tasha Cobbs sing the song on YouTube videos.
“Singing in front of an audience was no new thing for me,” Hogan said.
Hogan has been singing at the True Holiness Tabernacle of Prayer Ministries for years.
“I wasn’t sure how people would react to a gospel song,” Hogan said, “I encouraged myself and rested in the fact that I’m doing this for the glory of God.”
As Hogan waited to go on stage, she tried to stay focused and not listen to the other performers ahead of her.
She always prays to God right before she sings for the audience to see God through her.
Hogan’s sister, cousin, friends from work and nursing school peers cheered her on the whole time from the audience.
Her performance brought tears to her sister’s eyes.
“I watched the video that my sister took three times, and I feel like I did really well. I could tell the spirit was really moving,” Hogan said. “As I sang the words, I believed what I was saying, and that really encouraged me.”
The first thing Hogan plans to do with her prize money is pay tithes…and a speeding ticket.
