Shelby Dutertre pursuing country music this summer

Is a rising star paving a trail as we speak? 

Shelby Dutertre, 15-year-old from Bonnyville, is branching out as a country artist this summer, hitting stops across the province as she blooms on the stage. 

Although still quite young, music and performance started as far back as she can remember. 

“I was just a little kid, being in the kitchen on a stool, and just babbling out random words and making a performance for my family,” Dutertre told Lakeland Connect. 

“We always have a radio at home going and it’s always playing country music all the time.” 

With a little gig at Nick’s Lounge on Tuesday night, Dutertre is branching out with a busy next couple of weeks. 

 

 

She is playing at the Vermilion Fair on Thursday, before packing back up and hitting Highway 16 down to Edmonton to compete at K-Days. 

Bracketed by different age categories, she’ll be alongside fellow teenagers playing in front of a large audience. 

“They picked a couple kids to compete against each other to just give yourself a little bit of competition. You’re not really competing as much as just getting some more exposure,” she said. 

That’s all in the leadup to the country music mecca of the Alberta summertime experience – Big Valley Jamboree. 

On Saturday, August 5th, she’ll be playing a small set amidst country music fans from all over. 

“That one is kind of just a showcase. They picked again, a couple kids, and you just get to showcase what you can do. It’s not a competition. Just singing for people.” 

She’ll also be playing during Open Farm Days at Charlotte Lake Farms. 

She takes inspiration from a fellow local in Brett Kissel, who has transformed from a small-town kid to the big-time in Nashville. 

Perhaps one day, we’ll see Dutertre there. But in the meantime, there’s high school to contend with. 

Dutertre is preparing in the fall to enter Grade 10 at Notre Dame High School, but she’ll continues pursuing her craft, taking lessons with Clayton Bellamy and is a singing instructor from Edmonton. 

If you want to give her a booking, just get a hold of her mom, she says.