Esry one of performers at country show set for Sunday

Although she's only 16, Ginelle Esry has a deep appreciation for older country music artists like Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Crystal Gayle, Ernest Tubb and especially, Patsy Cline. She'll be taking to the stage to sing some of Cline's tunes, along with music from Linda Ronstadt, Randy Travis and others at the Fort Scott Country Music Show, set for 2 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Hall, 1 E. Third St.

Tickets are $10 and those 15 and under get in free. The event is being organized by Steve and Nancy Cliffman.

Esry, an El Dorado, Mo., resident, started singing at age 7. She won Fort Scott Idol at age 12 and has several other regional music titles under her belt.

She also sang at the Fort Scott Jamboree and the Fort Scott Jubilee for more than a year and now sings karaoke at the El Dorado Opera House, usually with a small group of other youngsters. One of her favorite venues to perform in is Memorial Hall. She sang at a show there earlier this summer.

"There's nothing more that I like than singing on that stage. It was completely fun. I'm glad Steve and Nancy Cliffman have sponsored us and helped us reopen," Esry said.

The young artist has never had voice training, but has sung since she was 7. "I just took a liking to singing," she said. "We had the records going. We always had some music. I decided to do 'Walking After Midnight' for a talent show. I had to buy a Patsy Cline CD."

She found some of Cline's music "classy" and other songs "meaningful."

If it was possible, Esry would like to make a living in music, but she's planning to get a registered nurse degree as a fallback. "It would be nice, but I am going to be an RN. If I could make it, that would be great. We're going to take it one step at a time," she said.

An El Dorado Springs R2 High School student, Esry was involved in show choir for five years, but her singing schedule conflicted with that. She was vice president of her FFA chapter and competed in national contests in creed speaking. She showed rabbits at the recent county fair and won grand champion for her rabbits. Esry is the daughter of Gary and Nancy Esry and granddaughter of Merle and Helen Sorensen and Jim and Evelyn Esry.