Kalie Layne, Texas most talented 10 year old singing sensation!

Kalie, who attends fifth grade and joins in the choir at DeLeon Elementary School, gave her best rendition of Cline's "Crazy" and other country favorites on Sunday before an audience of about 45 at Hearthstone in Victoria. And many residents among the crowd rewarded her efforts by stating she was the best talent they'd seen in quite a while.
Kalie took a break from performing for a year and was testing out her vocal chords with a familiar audience before she jumps back into the entertainment circuit. During a past show at Hearthstone, Kalie even inspired one resident to join in her music.
"There was an older lady there that hadn't really talked in several years," said Kalie's father, Kevin Shoemake. "And when Kalie started singing, that lady started singing with her and that just blew (Kalie) away."
Kalie donned a black cowboy hat and pink country-western shirt and, with mic in hand, sent her music into the crowd, something she's been doing since about age 6.
"We were camping and we had a radio," said Kalie, remembering her first time singing before an audience, albeit a small one. "They started playing a song I knew and I got on a picnic table and started singing. Everyone started gathering up and listening."
Since then, she and her father have been hooked on her singing. Her favorites involve the likes of Loretta Lynn and Patsy Cline.
"I think I sound more like them and I like their songs," Kalie said.

Jennifer Lloyd/Victoria Advocate

Kalie Layne, 10, on Sunday sings country tunes like Patsy Cline's "Crazy" for residents of Hearthstone at Victoria. "A lot of them don't get visitors, so I just wanted to make their day, make them smile," Kalie said.

But with the residents she shared a few other songs that hold meaning for her, such as Alison Krauss' "When You Say Nothing At All."
"It reminds me of my great-grandmother," Kalie said. "She passed away a few years ago."
Shoemake said Kalie sang the song right before her great-grandmother died.
Kalie has performed at the Victoria Country Opry, Refugio Country Opry, Yoakum Country Music U.S.A. Show and the Lake Theater in Lake Jackson.
She has also been invited to open for bands such as the Mason Dixon Band and Neal McCoy.
Her sometimes deep and powerful singing voice is contrasted by the light thank you's she gives after each song.
"It's wonderful that she can do it at her age," said Virginia Henry, a resident of Hearthstone who watched Kalie's performance from the first row of tables. "It's the most amazing thing that I've been around. I've heard a lot of children sing."
Her father thinks her talent lies in her mostly untrained voice.
"She takes every song and kind of makes it her own," said Shoemake, standing beside Kalie's younger sister, Katana. "(Kalie's) got a natural country twang."
Kalie was happy to share her twang with the residents.
"I don't think we've ever had anyone sing like that," said Margaret Worthy, a resident at Hearthstone.
"A lot of them don't get visitors," Kalie said, "so I just wanted to make their day, make them smile."

• Jennifer Lloyd is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6516 or jlloyd@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

Kalie along with her MeeMaw Margaret and myself (the Dad) took Kalie to San Antonio to compete in the Spurs Open Talent Day! This is a video I recorded of Kalie while she performed on center court at the SBC Center, Kalie was on top of her game the video is not all that great, we did not know we could bring video cameras so I used my small digital camera. If you listen closely you'll still be able to see how truly talented this amazing girl is. I really look forward to the possibility of Kalie performing in front of thousands of SPURS fans. More to follow soon.

Kalie and Dad gearing up for 2005 standing by their new trailer, more to follow soon!