And then there was Kiari Mhoon, the last singer standing.

Mhoon, with his entertaining assortment of R&B love songs, won the Joint Base Lewis-McChord's ninth annual Operation Rising Star, a three-week talent competition that started with more than 40 singers.

"He's very good," said Elizabeth Thunstedt, manager of the base's Warrior Zone. "I think he's got a good chance at nationals. At a minimum, he'll go very far."

As the winner, Mhoon pockets $500 and advances to the first round of nationals. In the nine years of the competition, just three singers from the JBLM have advanced to the second round of nationals and just one reached the finals for the Armywide Operation Rising Star in Texas. Mhoon did his audition video on Monday and only the top placers advance.

This year's competition, which began Sept. 5 and concluded Sept. 26 at the Warrior Zone, had lots of talent with a wide variety of music, ranging from rock to country to rap to R&B.

"I think this year's competition was very good," Thunstedt said. "Our four top finalist, I mean, in any other year would have won. It was a really good group of people this time. All the top people were really good."

With Mhoon placing first, Rachel Gardner took second and Tiffany Bender finished third.

Mhoon, an Army private, is no stranger to singing competitions. There's a video of him online singing at the American Idol auditions in Nashville, Tenn.

"You're the one for me, the way you make me feel," Mhoon sang in the audition.

Mhoon said his passion is taking his emotions and creating forms of art with flow. When he thinks of home, he said he has to dance.

"It's my air, when I'm out of breath," he sang on the video.

There's also a video online of Mhoon, with him wearing his Army uniform, singing the national anthem at a rodeo. In a professionally done video, Mhoon, wearing black dress paints, a black suit jacket and white shirt with a black hat, dances in a grassy meadow as he sings "Don't Wake Me Up."

"He's very good," Thunstedt said. "He likes R&B, but he can sing everything. He's versatile."

It was the first time Mhoon had entered the Operation Rising Star competition at the JBLM.

The competition began with an audition, which was followed by three more sing offs. On the final night, only four singers remained.

Competition was decided by a panel of three judges and by the amount of support from the crowd. The judges and audience both vote. The unit that supports their singer the best wins the spirit award and $300.

"As much fun as it is for the performer, the audience also has a great time," said Bill Strock, the Rising Star coordinator and rec specialist at JBLM.

Last year, Jennifer Peltier, singing love ballads, won the JBLM's Operation Rising Star competition.

To sing in the talent show, contestants have to be at least 18 and either be in the military or have a family member who is active military.

"I'm amazed each year how much talent there is," Strock said. "There's some incredible talent each year."

The 2012 Operation Rising Star national winner was Spec. Constance Mack Presidio from Monterrey, Calif.

Mhoon's musical video that was made Monday will now be sent to the DA Army Entertainment and the top 12 are picked from all the garrisons in the country and they advance to Texas. The national winner will go to California to record a CD of their favorite songs.