Greg Merritt, Stephanie Dudley and friends, performed Saturday night at the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild with the song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee, representing the American Heart Association. (Photo Provided)

PARKERSBURG – People came out Saturday to see the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild.

Participants pick recordings of popular or meaningful songs for them and act them out on stage while mouthing the words.

This year’s version of the contest featured seven popular contestants from past years along with one new act.

“It was a great show and it is always so much fun,” event spokeswoman Sherry Wilson Braid said. “We had a packed house.”

This is the fourth year they have held this event that benefits both the Actors Guild and all of the non-profits chosen by the contestants, Braid said.

Margaret Hoschar performed Saturday night at the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild with the song “She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline. representing the Voices for Children Foundation. She won third-place for the evening and received $200 for the organization. (Photo Provided)

The first-place winner was Wood County Society, who was represented by Linda Lawson, Jennifer Morrison, MacKenna Merrifield, Brianna Walcutt, Shannon Goff and a number of people served by the group. Their skit was based on the song “This Is Me” by Keala Settle from “The Greatest Showman.” They received $500 for the Wood County Society.

Second-place was Anna Hughes and Marsha Parsons, representing the Humane Society of Parkersburg with the song “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked.” They received $300 for their non-profit.

Third-place was Margaret Hoschar, representing the Voices for Children Foundation, with the song “She’s Got You” by Patsy Cline. She received $200 for the non-profit.

Other participants included:

* The Artisan Society, including Clayton McCoy, Marissa Binegar, Elizabeth Fisher, Paige Lagneaux, Katelynn Martin, Allison Roddy, Emily Stewart, Rebecca Wright, Morgan Hodgson, Elizabeth Zimmerman, Samantha Watson, and Modi Mallett with the song “Artisan Girl,” representing The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

A group from the The Artisan Society performed Saturday night at the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild with the song “Artisan Girl,” representing The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. (Photo Provided)

* Brittny Hensley, Dave Welch, Trey Martin, Jamie Barbe, and Stephen Smith with the song, “Look What You Made Me Do” by Taylor Swift, representing the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

* Zak Huffman and Erin Bice, with the songs “Obsessed/ Honey / Heartbreaker” by Mariah Carey, representing The Gathering.

* Senta Goudy, Becky McGinnis and friends with the song “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, representing the West Virginia Symphony of Parkersburg.

* Greg Merritt, Stephanie Dudley and friends, with the song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee, representing the American Heart Association.

The band Track 9 played a number of songs before the show.

Senta Goudy, Becky McGinnis and friends performed Saturday night at the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild with the song “Girls Just Want To Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper, representing the West Virginia Symphony of Parkersburg. (Photo Provided)

Each of the remaining non-profits each got $50.

The Parkersburg Actors Guild also received a portion of the money.

The event raised $12,000, Braid said adding early estimates had around 210 people attending the event.

“It is always so much fun watching people on stage lip syncing to a song they love,” she said. “It is fun to see people on the stage acting out songs when they are not used to being on the stage doing something like that.

“It is always entertaining and it is very heartfelt for me because I know they are up there for their cause and to help other people.”

The Wood County Society performed Saturday night at the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild with the song “This Is Me” by Keala Settle from “The Greatest Showman.” The group won first place and received $500 for their organization. (Photo Provided)

Anna Hughes and Marsha Parsons, performed Saturday night at the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild with the song “Defying Gravity” from “Wicked,” representing the Humane Society of Parkersburg. They won second-place and received $300 for the organization. (Photo Provided)

The band Track 9 performed Saturday before the start of the Lip Sync Battle 2026 Tournament of Champions at the Parkersburg Actor’s Guild. (Photo Provided)