Serpentine country music star, Sally Jane Pottinger, is celebrating another nomination at the West Australian Country Music Awards.
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A finalist in this year's Emerging Artist of the Year category, as well as the People's Choice Award, the vibrant young singer and instrumentalist is certainly making her mark on the country music scene.
She has performed alongside the likes of Troy Cassar-Daley, Adam Harvey and Kasey Chambers, writes her own songs and helps to support other young Mandurah musicians through the Peel Music Hub initiative.
At just 18 years old, Sally Jane already has a number of awards and nominations to her name, including the 2019 WA Country Music Junior Vocalist of the Year and 2018/19 Tamworth Songwriters Association (TSA) Anzac Song of the Year semi-finalist.
This year, she is up against the talents of Dan Howls, Dove and Helen Townsend - all vying for the prize of their own video clip, worth $1000.
Sally Jane, who is currently enjoying a family holiday on the Gold Coast after performances at the iconic Tamworth Country Music Festival, told the Mandurah Mail she felt "honoured" to be nominated
"It's really cool, especially to have a nomination for the second year for People's Choice Award," she said.
"It's nice to be recognised and winning Junior Vocalist last year was so special and a real surprise.
"I am really excited about the WA Country Music Awards, even though I won't be home for them."
Festival music director Sharon Winter said the awards were an important way to recognise and celebrate an array of local country music artists.
"We are once again pleased to shine a light on the outstanding country music talent in Western Australia", she said.
"Some award winners will have the chance to perform at this year's milestone 35th festival - headlined by Adam Harvey.
"We look forward to seeing finalists and winners going on to further carve out their place on the country music scene."
If you could believe it given her outstanding success, the young star has only been performing for about three years.
"I started playing guitar when I was 12 and then my parents would send me to the back of the paddocks to practice singing and playing," Sally Jane laughed.
"I didn't get half decent until I was about 15 and dad found the Australian Academy of Country Music - an initiative of the Country Music Association of Australia, which I recently graduated from the senior academy.
"Country music allows me to express myself and tell my story. I love it that people can dance and sing along with me and share the experience."
Country music allows me to express myself and tell my story. I love it that people can dance and sing along with me and share the experience.
- Sally Jane Pottinger
Already establishing herself as a musical force to be reckoned with, Sally Jane has even bigger plans for 2020.
"My first gig back is just a day or two after I get home at the Ravenswood Hotel on March 28," she said.
"Then I plan to record my debut EP - that's really cool so I can't wait.
"I'm also being flown to Karratha for the Red Country Music Festival up there soon too."
The winners of this year's West Australian Country Music Awards will be announced at the Boyup Brook Country Music Festival on Friday, February 14.
For more information, visit the Country Music WA website.
