DECATUR — The Chamber of Commerce announced that country singer Ashlyn Metheny will be opening for Buddy Jewell at the 57th Annual Decatur Barbecue Festival on Aug. 6.

Metheny, of Farmington, grew up with a passion for music. She began cultivating her talent by using her parents bed for a stage and a hairbrush for a microphone, playing and practicing for hours every day after school, according to a press release.

Metheny’s drive paid off and in 2004 she won the Colgate Country Showdown, earning the honor of performing at the Arkansas State Fair.She has also performed at the Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair, the Old Fort Days Rodeo, and the Greenwood Fourth of July Freedomfest. Metheny has opened for national acts Ballentine, John Anderson, T.J. Shepard, Ricochet and Bobby Bare.

“Although she favors country music with what she calls a ‘pop twist,’ Ashlyn is extremely versatile, pivoting between traditional country, R & B,rock’n roll and contemporary Christian with surprising ease,” the release states.

Metheny will begin her performance at 7:30 p.m. and will be followed by Buddy Jewel from 9 to 10:30 p.m.

Other Barbecue festivities planned for Friday will include children’s games, a parade, tiny tot and beauty pageant, and afternoonentertainment by the Bobbycolecarter Band.

Saturday’s activities will begin with the fun run, and will feature a poker run and car show, as well as entertainment from the Bobbycolecarter Band and Dazzle’em Dance Studios.

A church service and gospel music by the Flint Hill Ramblers are tentatively scheduled for Sunday.

News, Pages 13 on 05/26/2010