A Rock Hill High School graduate has been aiming for the stars since early childhood.

Thursday, August 10, 2000

A Rock Hill High School graduate has been aiming for the stars since early childhood. Now, she is one step closer.

Kelly Greco, 18, of Ironton recently won the WTCR True Value Country Showdown singing competition.

She has participated in the competition for three years.

Winners of the regional July contest are typically awarded money to prepare for the West Virginia state contest in addition to receiving the opportunity to be featured at many WTCR-sponsored events throughout the Tri-State for as long as she remains in the area, Miss Greco said.

"The first year I participated in the contest was really disappointing," Miss Greco said. "I was 15 and when I didn’t win the contest, I cried for a whole week. That first year inspired me to try harder. Last year wasn’t as hard on me as that first year. I think the past several times of losing that contest was time’s way of telling me that my day was coming and that I needed to work for it."

Growing up with a father who often sang at various times throughout her childhood, the talent continues to mature, she said.

"I always thought I could sing and I always liked to sing," she said. "When I was younger, my dad sang a lot. We always used to get together and sing all the time. I can remember when he bought me a little sound system once. It came with a microphone and later, a cousin bought me a tape of Debbie Gibson. I literally wore that tape out."

Each show continually provides experience in both voice and acting skills, she said.

She said watching video tapes of each stage performance has been a key factor in revealing imperfections.

"I have achieved a lot of my stage performance by getting involved in the Lawrence County Pride Team," Miss Greco said. "I have performed in several other contests – none of which are quite like the WTCR contest – and each one has continued to build my confidence on stage. Opera singing lessons were also extremely instrumental in improving my vocal skills."

While plans are underway for attendance at Shawnee University to become a nurse, a career in singing would "definitely be worth serious consideration," she said.

"If a professional career came my way at any point during this whole thing, I would definitely have to take it," Miss Greco said. "It would be scary for me to go that far. My dad keeps telling me I could end up standing on the same stage Patsy Cline stood on. I’m not sure exactly how I feel about that, but if I do win the state competition in Parkersburg, the national contest would follow (in Nashville at the Grande Ole Opry) and that would really be awesome."