Brianna Hedley wants to be the next Lorde.
The ambitious 10-year-old has been singing since she was a toddler and is honing her voice by singing at rest-homes around her home town of Gore, with high hopes of reaching stardom like her idol.
And given her recent competition successes, it appears to be working.
Already, she has been a finalist in the 2013 Gold Guitar junior country rock category, she teamed with Dunedin 9-year-old Jayden Jesudhass to win the 2013 Gold Guitar junior duet; and earlier this year won the junior country rock, the junior solo and the junior overall categories at the Gourmet Paradise Country Music Awards in Blenheim.
Brianna's name has spread in country music circles, to the extent she was asked to guest-star at the Silverpeaks Country Music Club Country Hoedown at Wingatui Racecourse at the weekend, along with the likes of Reg McTaggart, Melissa Partridge and Nic Leeden.
She was one of about 300 people who attended the two-day event which included showcases, blackboard performers during which members of the public could get on stage and try their hand at singing a country song, and an evening dance.
Club president Arthur Bouman said the event attracted performers from as far away as Auckland, and he was delighted with the turnout.
He said the event was traditionally held at the North Taieri Tavern, but was moved to Wingatui Racecourse this year to cope with the growing amount of participation in recent years.
