TAZEWELL — Lindzi Parker, an up and coming country artist and Tazewell resident, will be a featured performer at the 5th annual Red Gate Festival and Rodeo. Parker, 17, will be singing during the Saturday, July 12, intermission. Her performance will begin at 7 p.m.

“I am very excited about performing this weekend,” said Parker. “This will be one of the biggest rodeos I have performed at.”

Parker says she began singing when she was 8 years old. “I was taking guitar lesions with Buster Turner, at his music shop, and he had a stage with microphones there.” Parker added, “Instead of me playing, I would make him play and I would sing up on the stage.”

One of Parker’s favorite country music artists is Faith Hill. Hill was the first artist Parker ever saw in concert, and she says she has been a big fan ever since. She is also a big fan of Patsy Cline and says she really enjoys singing Cline’s songs.

As a recent graduate of Claiborne High School Parker plans to move to Nashville at the end of the summer. “I just recorded a demo in Nashville,” Parker said. She has plans to work in Nashville and further her career as a country music artist.

Parker is the daughter of Tommy and Connie Parker, Tazewell, and the granddaughter of Margaret and Bill Hammons, and Andy and Leona Parker. She is the sister of Whitney Parker.