EMC Entertainment - A popular local singer-songwriter is hoping Carleton Place's connection with Franklin, Tennessee will help give her career a further boost.

Brea Lawrenson, who is currently fine-tuning her fourth album, performed in Franklin Saturday. She was also scheduled to appear in nearby Nashville, the world's country music capital, Monday night.

For Lawrenson, 24, this marks her first visit to Nashville and although she traveled to Tennessee with no false expectations, she is hoping the trip will help boost her career.

"I'm very excited to see what comes from this," she told the EMC from Tennessee last Thursday as she prepared for her show in Franklin, a historic bedroom community of 56,000, located 15 miles south of Nashville.

Saturday Lawrenson was on stage for 90 minutes during Franklin's annual spring 'Main Street Festival' which attracts thousands to the downtown area.

"I am really looking forward to the opportunity," she stated.

Franklin and Carleton Place have been formally twinned since January 2005. Since that time numerous delegations have traveled back and forth between the Eastern Ontario town and the city in Middle Tennessee.

The successful 'Sister Cities Student Exchange' program involving the sister communities marks its sixth year in 2011. The American delegation will visit Carleton Place for one week beginning on Wednesday, May 25. The local students selected to participate and their adult chaperone will be in Franklin for a week beginning Aug. 14.

The Carleton Place Sister City Committee, which oversees the local part of twinning arrangements with Franklin and with the village of Comrie in Perthshire, Scotland helped clear the way for Lawrenson's visit to Tennessee.

"Any linkage we can help establish involving Carleton Place and our sister communities is beneficial," says local committee chair Jeff Maguire.

"That's why we have put these relationships in place - to assist as many people as possible in whatever way we can.

"All we did was utilize our contacts in Franklin. Brea did the rest. We are very pleased she has taken this opportunity and we're hopeful it will assist in furthering her career," Maguire adds.

"She is an outstanding young person and we know she will represent our community well during her stay in Tennessee."

Members of the Franklin and Williamson County Sister City Committee were instrumental in paving the way for the young singer's performance at Main Street Festival.

For example, the committee arranged for the professional musicians who backed her up during the Franklin show Saturday.

Lawrenson isn't the first local entertainer to perform in Franklin!

Carleton Place singer-songwriter Brock Zeman also played in the city during a fall visit to Tennessee several years ago. His show was a big hit.

Prior to her presentation at the festival Saturday afternoon, Lawrenson also performed during a Writer's Night in White Creek, Tenn. Friday.

Monday she played the Hotel Indigo in downtown Nashville.

"This is my first visit to Nashville and I am really excited," she says.

During her stay in the country music capital she will be speaking to the president of a record label in the city. She also had a meeting scheduled with a touring agency representative.

"These are all (possible) open doors. But I am going in with no (false) expectations," she stresses.

Lawrenson has become very well known locally since beginning her singing career as a teenager.

On her return from Tennessee she will hit the ground running.

"I have been asked to sing my song 'If I'm Not Here Tomorrow' (a tribute to Canadian Army troops) on Parliament Hill May 5 (today) during the Run for Military Families rally."

Tomorrow (Friday) Lawrenson will meet the military runners at the finish line in Petawawa where she will also perform.

Also on Friday Lawrenson will be interviewed by the A-Channel (television station) in Ottawa.

"I'm going to speak about the cause (military fundraiser) and perform some acoustic songs."

The young lady will also headline the entertainment at the Lambs Down Park Festival in Carleton Place on Saturday, June 11. She is hoping for some other local gigs this summer as well.

"The support in my hometown has just been impeccable," she observes.

"I'm a lucky girl and so thankful for the way things have come together."