Athlone teen sings on Late Late Show country special

Jessica Shine (18) from Bealnamulla had the experience of a lifetime when she was plucked from the audience and given the opportunity to sing on the Late Late Show with Nathan Carter and a host of other country music singers.

The Leaving Cert student in Yeats College, Galway won tickets for The Late Late Show country special recently but said “getting up and singing was a complete surprise."

"Ryan called me out of the audience, interviewed me, sent me backstage to meet some of my favourite country singers and I even got to perform with them on the show.”

“I didn't really know what to think when they pulled me up," Jessica added. "I don't think I was overly nervous, it was more just excitement.”

After seeing an advertisement for the country music special, Jessica decided to contact the national chat show and one of the producers offered her tickets to the show and asked to see videos of Jessica singing.

She explained: “Out of the blue they pulled me out of the audience and I got to meet Nathan Carter and sing with him. I'm a huge fan. He's been one of my favourite country singers since I was young so it was absolutely crazy.” Jessica was surprised when Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy told her she was the show’s 'Unexpected Country Star.'

Jessica sang a cover of the Dolly Parton song, 'Coat of Many Colors' with the Liverpool-born country music star along with other artists. “The whole experience was absolutely amazing. I got to sing with Nathan Carter, Daniel O’Donnell, Derek Ryan, Philomena Begley and so many more brilliant artists. It was a brilliant opportunity all around.”

Jessica continued: “I went back to the green room after the show and got to talk to Ryan. It was really nice to have a chat with him. My favourite out of everyone was Nathan Carter. He was really nice. He was giving me advice on how to get into the country music scene.”

Speaking on the Late Late Show, Jessia said that Margo O'Donnell gave her some brilliant career advice.

“It was an absolute honour to share the stage with so many artists I look up to. I’m still in shock from this absolutely mind blowing evening with some of the most talented people I have ever met.”

The former Cornafulla National School student often performs gigs in Athlone and Ballinasloe and in parts of Roscommon such as Athleague. She mainly performs country music along with some pop and rock. “I've a very different kind of voice to a lot of the female artists nowadays.”

Jessica is hoping to pursue a career in medicine following her completion of the Leaving Cert programme but added that music is always a second option.

Jessica is the daughter of Olivia Shine from Bealnamulla.