Aaron Thompson is a 16 year old State and National Champion banjo picker from Olive, KY.  A member of Stars of Tomorrow since the age of 10, playing the banjo has provided many unique and fun opportunities such as playing for the Kentucky State House and Senate as well as playing the National Anthem for a UK Lady Wildcats basketball game.  As a member of the Kentucky Opry Band, Aaron has helped open for country music stars such as George Jones, The Oak Ridge Boys and Josh Turner. Aaron attends Eastwood Christian Academy where he is a member of the basketball and fine arts competition teams.  Aaron personally wants to invite you to come out and enjoy a Stars of Tomorrow Show at the Kentucky Opry this summer!

Laney Evans, age 7, is from Calvert City Kentucky. She entered her first talent competition as a kindergartener at Calvert City Elementary School singing Taylor Swift’s “Our Song.”  This will be Laney’s second summer performing with the Stars of Tomorrow. She loves performing with the Kentucky Opry Band.  When she’s not singing and playing the guitar Laney enjoys reading, fishing, and playing with her kitten, Bear.

Carson is a 12 year-old fiddler and a 6th grader at Symsonia Elementary in Symsonia, KY.  She started taking Suzuki violin lessons at age 3 and fell in love with bluegrass music after sitting in on some of her granddad and his friends' old-time music sessions.  Recently hired as the newest member of the Kentucky Opry band, Carson loves playing with Clay Campbell and the Kentucky Opry and is excited about her 5th season with the "Stars of Tomorrow"!  Her biggest thrill came this year when a youtube video of her Stars of Tomorrow performance was spotted by a production company in New York, and she was asked to play along with Charlie Daniels at the Sam's Club National Managers Convention in Dallas, TX.  She has also played at the local telethon and joined the band as they opened for the Oak Ridge Boys, Ray Stevens, Roy Clark, George Jones, and Josh Turner.  Carson also sings all three harmony parts, plays the guitar, clogs, plays tennis and basketball, enjoys church activities, and loves hanging out with her family and friends on Kentucky Lake!

Lauren Smethwick, age 15, discovered her love for singing and performing at the age of 8. She truly enjoys entertaining the crowd wherever she performs, but especially at the Kentucky Opry! Lauren has been a part of the Kentucky Opry Stars of Tomorrow show for five years. She enjoys playing guitar, songwriting, and spending times with friends and family. Lauren has won and placed in many talent shows and Idol contests throughout the region. She is a member of the Student Council, Beta Club, and Pep Club at her school. Lauren was the second place winner in the Beginner category in the 2009 and in the Junior division in 2010 KY Opry Talent Search. Lauren would like to thank Clay and Barbie Campbell, the KY Opry Band, and Ky Opry supporters for all of their encouragement.

Fourteen year old Ashley Mitchell, who is from the one stoplight town of Greenfield, Tennessee, discovered her passion for music at age six. Ashley enjoys expressing herself through songwriting and is currently learning to play the guitar.  She has competed over the years in several vocal competitions and is always looking for opportunities to entertain an audience. In May of this year Ashley was the first female ever to win the WEIO 100.9 Farmerican Idol talent search held at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center in Huntington, TN. Also, in May Ashley was named as the 2011 Over All Winner of the Kentucky Opry Talent Search. Currently, she has made it to the top 20 and is heading into the Radio Round of the WYNN 106.9 West TN Idol out of Jackson, TN. This will be her first year to participate in the Kentucky Opry Stars of Tomorrow show and she looks forward to the experience she will gain and lessons she will learn from the great group of professionals at the Kentucky Opry and the other “Stars” in the show.

Evan Watkins is 14 years old and is from Vero Beach, FL. Evan started playing the cello at the age of seven, after his sister Julia suggested he switch from the violin because he might make a nice cellist. She was right! Evan also plays the piano and enjoys tinkering with the mandolin, guitar, and viola.  Evan performs with his family quartet comprised of four of his older siblings at weddings and other venues. He also plays on the worship team at New Geneva Community Church in Paducah, KY. Evan won the instrumental division in the 2010 Kentucky Opry Talent Search, and has taken second twice.Evan's hobbies include tennis, soccer, and astronomy." 

Caylee Hall, age 13, is an 8th grader at Harrelson Junior High. She began singing at the age of 2 in local church’s and has continued her love for singing and entertaining while finding time to be active as a cheerleader. Caylee is beginning her 3rd season with the Stars of Tomorrow at the Ky Opry and thoroughly enjoys entertaining the crowd and meeting and making new friends. She is involved in many talent competitions and is currently involved in the 106.9 West TN Idol. She also placed 1st in the Beginner Category in the 2011 Kentucky Opry Talent Search. She enjoys playing her guitar, songwriting, and spending time with her friends and family.

Connor is a 14 year-old fiddler from Symsonia, KY.  He started taking Suzuki violin lessons at age 3 and was bitten by the Bluegrass bug at age 10.  This is Connor's 4th season  with the Stars of Tomorrow, and he appreciates the opportunity to play with the Kentucky Opry band.  He especially found it a great honor to join the band as they opened for stars including Ray Stevens, Roy Clark, George Jones, and Josh Turner.  Connor is an 8th grader at Graves County Middle School, plays quarterback on the football team, enjoys church activities, loves boating and skiing on Kentucky Lake, and looks forward to talking with you this summer at the Kentucky Opry!

Savanna Gardner is 14 years old and has been singing at the Kentucky Opry or 4+ years, but was just hired December of 2010 (a very exciting birthday present) Savanna has competed in mny contests in the area including the Ky Opry Talent Search in which she place in the top 3 in the Junior division in 2010. Savanna was chosen to perform in the Gifted and Talented Vocal Showcase where she was featured in a duet. She has been in Quad State and District Choirs the past 4 years. Savanna enjoys playing guitar and banjo, but most of all loves performing at the Ky Opry with Mr. Clay Campbell and the Kentucky Opry Band. Savanna is incredibly greatful for the oppurtunity that has been offered to her and many of the young talent in the area by

Mr and Mrs. Campbell.

16 year Hunter Wright is from Smithland Ky . She plays guitar, sings Lead, Harmony, beautiful alto, and plays the upright bass in a bluegrass group Blue Reigns and electric bass in a group Hearts at War. Hunter lives with her parents and little brother in Smithland, Kentucky. Hunter has a little brother Carson who sings occasionally at the Opry too.

4 year old Mason Ramsey from Golconda, Illinois is one of new members of the "Starts of Tomorrow" Show. We call him Little Hank as he loves hank Williams Sr. and sings almost all his songs. Mason came in 2nd place in the Beginner Division of the 2011 Kentucky Opry Talent Search.