PAYTON Riley began breaking into country music when she was only seven.
The now-14-year-old has become a favorite around Texas and fans want to know more about the emerging artist.
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Who is country singer Payton Riley?
Payton Riley is a country singer and songwriter born in 2008 in Conroe, Texas.
Riley began her music career singing the national anthem around her hometown.
When the Texas native was only nine years old, she learned how to write her own songs.
That same year, she performed an original song on the Dosey Doe Big Barn stage in The Woodlands, Texas.
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In 2022, Riley was invited to train as a songwriter with country singer, Grace Askew, at a retreat in Memphis, Tennessee.
On August 12, 2022, Riley released her first EP called Make It Sad which featured three of her own original songs.
During her downtime, the 14-year-old dedicates her time as a volunteer at Love Heals Youth, a nonprofit that offers mental health services to foster youth.
Love Heals Youth's founder, Rebecca Smith told The Courier of Montgomery County just how special she believes Riley is.
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Smith said: "When I heard her, I stopped my conversation and walked to the front to listen to her. I knew right then she is a very special young lady.
"Payton has a heart bigger Texas. To be so young and to have so much passion, she is nothing short of unbelievable."
On Friday, July 14, 2023, Riley is set to release a new song called Long Live Cowboys.
She will be performing her new song at the Table at Madeley in Conroe at 7.30 on July 14.
Who are Payton Riley's parents?
Payton Riley is the daughter of Weston Henry Kuehn and Tonia Vaught Kuehn.
Weston owns his own home renovation company called Kuehn Custom Home.
Tonia, on the other hand, oversees her daughter's business decisions.
Speaking to The Courier of Montgomery County, Tonia recalls Payton being born to sing.
She said: "From the moment she was born, she had a healthy set of lungs on her."
It was then her parent's decision to put Payton into vocal lessons when she was seven.
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What award is Payton Riley nominated for?
Due to Payton's rising success, the 14-year-old has been nominated for Young Artist of the Year at the 2023 Texas Country Music Awards.
Riley is nominated alongside Jenna Katherine, Logan Papp, Sadie Lee, and Grace Patridge.
The annual award ceremony will commence on November 12 in the Fort Worth Stockyards at Billy Bob's Texas.
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The voting poll opened on July 1 and will conclude on August 15.
Voting is currently opened to the public on their website where people can also purchase tickets to the yearly event.
