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Jade Cienega isn't one to brag, even though the aspiring country singer seems to have plenty to brag about.
"No one at my school really knows [that I sing]; I try to keep it on the down-low," the 16-year-old A&M Consolidated High School student said. "I try not to make a big deal about it or anything."
Despite her modesty, Cienega has a passion for performing and a natural ability to connect with audiences.
She has performed on stages across the country, in cities including Nashville, Tenn., Las Vegas and Branson, Mo.
On Saturday, she'll share a stage at the Grimes County Fair in Navasota with country star John Conlee. Their show begins at 9 p.m.
Cienega discovered her passion for singing while attending a Texas Opry performance in the mid-1990s. But it wasn't until she was 10 that she told her dad, Jessie, that she had dreams of being a country performer.
Cienega's dad arranged an audition with Cookie Douglas, the manager of the Texas Opry. Douglas told Cienega's parents that, if she did well at the audition, she might get a call in a few months. Cienega was invited to perform the following week.
"[Cookie] asked if Jade could sing on Saturday," said Cienega's mom, Carol, describing the day her daughter got her big break. "I agreed. She then asked if Jade could sing two songs. I said yes, hung up the phone and stopped breathing. Saturday evening came, and I still wasn't breathing."
Ever since, Cienega said, she's been performing in different venues every weekend.
"I love performing. There's so much high energy," Cienega said. "I love seeing my friends smiling from the audience and I love seeing people I don't know smiling and that they're happy. I love seeing the crowd's reaction. [Performing] is kind of addicting."
Even with four albums already released and a resume that would make any teen glow, Cienega has not been signed on to a recording label.
"My ultimate goal is to get a record deal," Cienega said. "I've been approached by lots of different people, but my age seems to always be an issue. They say I'm too young."
So, for the time being, Cienega sings mostly cover songs. Ike and Tina Turner's 1971 hit version of Proud Mary is her favorite because of its combination of blues and up-tempo elements, she said.
But when Cienega is not performing, she can be found in the studio, recording original songs submitted to her from different record labels.
"I have a lot of good songs that I'm working on right now. Most of them are from Sony, but the tracks aren't made for them yet," she said, adding that most of her songs have a "blues-y country" feel to them.
Much like her idol, Selena, Cienega does not speak fluent Spanish. But she hopes to cross over to Spanish radio one day.
"I love Tejano music," Cienega said." I love everything about the Hispanic culture."
In her free time, Cienega prefers hanging out with friends or shopping at the mall. She said she would like to attend Texas A&M University when she graduates from high school whether she makes it big or not.
