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Member of the Month
August 2010
~ Kennedy Horton ~
Kennedy Emma Horton entered this world on August 21, 1995 with a special spirit and love for music.  As soon as she was old enough to walk she would find some way to perform for her audience.  When she played outside as  a preschooler, she spent most of her time on a cement wall singing and dancing! She loved singing and putting on her little shows for her family.  Rumor has it that her mom has some pretty neat videos that are going to be worth a lot of money someday when Kennedy becomes famous!  Kennedy feels like she was born to perform and sing.  She says, "I feel like I am on top of the world when I'm on stage!".

Her mom and dad used to be amazed at how even at the age of 2 or so that she would sing a song, she may not nkow the words, but she ALWAYS got the beat and tune of the song right the first time she ever sang it.  Music has always been a part of her life.  Kennedy performed for the first time when she was in the 5th grade at her school talent show.  She had a  blast doing that, so when her hometown business lady asked her to sing at Harrah Daze, she jumped at the chance!  So, with just 3 days notice, she put on a 30 minute show for her hometown crowd.  She was hooked for sure after that day!  She loved it!  She has a permanent spot on that day as long as she wants it,  but she now does a 1 hour show every Harrah Daze.

Kennedy became a member of the Rodeo Opry in November 2009.  This was one of her big goals as a young performer and considers one of her big moments when they told her she made it on the Saturday Night Show!   It was at the Rodeo Opry about 1 1/2 years ago that she met Danny Griego and Jennifer Pelley.  They invited Kennedy to the CMSA show that night, which was a "16 and under" show.  She went jost to watch and see what it was all about and ended up auditioning that night and singing two songs.  Everyone welcomed the Horton Family with open arms.

Last March she made her first trip to Pigeon Forge and what an experience it was!  She won Most Promisiong Vocalist and Entertainer in Bluegrass for her age group.  If her mom had remembered how old she really was, she would have probably finished 1st!  Ha Ha!

Kennedy rarely ever passes up an opportunity to hit the stage.  She has done numerous shows that are benefits for different charities and sings at her school quite often.  Just last week, she got to do something very exciting and special.  She was asked by her mom's boyfriend, Clint, to help him propose to her mom!  She and Clint worked together with the Rodeo Opry staff and with Kennedy's voice coach to get things in place.  Her mom thought she was going to sing the song "Something to Talk About", but when the music started, she realized that wasn't the plan.  Kennedy had secretly learned and been practicing the song " My Last Name " by Dierks Bentley.  She sang the song and then on the last verse, Clint came from back stage and finished the song while proposing to Connie.  Kennedy considers this really special, as it has been just her and mom for the last 12 years.  She loves Clint and is excited to have him be officially her step father!  "I felt so special that I got to be a part of making my Mom so happy!", Kennedy said.  "That was Fun!"  Connie is still in shock that everyone kept a secret from her for two weeks.  Clint had told a lot of people he was going to do it when he came to watch Kennedy at competition, so Connie was for sure the last to know!

As far as future plans,  Kennedy has hopes of getting signed someday and being on teh CMA's!  She plans to finish high school and then attend cosmetology school.  Her plan isgetting her socmetology license and moving to Nashville, Tennessee.   This deal was sealed when Kennedy got to visit Nashville on her way to Pigeon Forge last March.  She fell in love with Tennessee and plans to move there someday!

Kennedy is also very thankful for all the new friends she has made in the CMSA.  One of her very dearest friends is Ariel Faith.  These two have become very close.  She had so much fun getting to know everyone that also went to Pigeon Forge!  She got to go through her first haunted house with Cameron and Cutter.  Does it really get any better than that for a young girl?  So many of the older girls have been such  inspirations for Kennedy!  Laney, Rebecca, and Emily always have such encouraging words for her!  These friends aren't the only things she has found in the CMSA.  She has gained more moms and dads and grandparents, too!  Everyone has just been so supportive and she and her family appreciate it so much.  Kennedy looks forward to every Thursday night at the "Open Mic" at Okie's Cafe.  She has lots of fans there, and always gets asked to sing the song called "Let'r Rip".  It will soon be that time again.