Holly Starr finalist for female artist award

QUINCY — Less than two months after opening for LeAnn Rimes, Quincy musician Holly Starr received more exciting news.

Starr, a Christian-pop artist and high school senior, is a finalist for Female Artist of the Year in the 2009 Momentum Awards.

She will find out Saturday at the Christian Independent Alliance Annual Summit in Nashville, Tenn., if she received the award.

“I’m honored to be nominated. It doesn’t even matter to me (if I win),” Starr said. “I would never have expected to go to Nashville so soon.”

Since writing her first song when she was 14 years old, Starr’s career has been progressing fast.

Her first professionally produced CD, “Embraced,” was released in October. Three months later, Starr opened for country musician LeAnn Rimes at Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee.

She also just finished recording her first music video. The song recorded was “I Love You Anyway,” which was a Gospel Music Association Music in the Rockies 2008 semi finalist.

Starr said the music video was made for a small-group bible-study video on forgiveness.

“I had to go to Wisconsin for a week, and we shot different scenes at a high school there,” Starr said.

The song, “I Love You Anyway,” is about a real experience in Starr’s life with a close friend.

Starr said she enjoys writing her own songs, because she can relate to them.

“I understand the root of every single word in that song,” she said.

The Momentum Awards nomination and music video aren’t the only exciting events in Starr’s life.

Her schedule is packed with performances, including a summer tour called Lifest and participation in Creation Festival.

She also opened for Rush of Fools in Spokane and Wenatchee last week.

In addition, Starr is writing new music for another CD.

Asked if she plans to stay in Quincy, Starr said, “I love Quincy. I love it. I want to stay here as much as I can.”

She thanked the community for all of the support she is receiving.

“The community of Quincy itself is amazing,” Starr said.