This week I sat down with Lillian Glanton at the Square Clock Coffee shop on The Square to talk about her career as a country singer.

A Limestone County native, she graduated from West Limestone High School a year and a half early. She is now attending the University of North Alabama working on a degree in entertainment.

Lillian is a singer/songwriter and plays guitar. She has been writing songs since she was 10 and playing guitar since age 5.

Her favorite singers are Dolly Parton, Shania Twain and the Dixie Chicks. When she’s not writing, she’s singing, listening to country music or bow fishing She was on West Limestone’s bass fishing team.

Lillian’s parents are Clarissa and Shane Glanton. Clarissa is a kindergarten teacher at Cedar Hill in Ardmore, while Shane is a poultry farmer. Lillian has two younger brothers.

Lillian’s favorite restaurant is Los Trojas Cantina in Athens. She attends Carriger Church of Christ. Nearly two years ago, on Jan. 21, 2015, she made an appearance on “American Idol.” The 15-year-old had to attend three auditions — one online, one in Nashville in front of six judges and one in Atlanta in front of celebrity judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick Jr.

Though she wasn’t crowned “American Idol,” Lillian’s interest in music has never wavered. She goes to Nashville once or twice a week to write songs and has since she was 13. She’s played several locations there, including the iconic Bluebird Cafe.

Her favorite place to sing locally is the Red Caboose in Elkmont. She’s recorded at Fame Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals and met legendary producer Rick Hall there.

She performs with a band, the Elk River Boys. Garret Browning plays bass, Drake Lopez plays drums and Hunter Jones and Ben Parker both play guitar.

Lillian will perform in Nashville three times in 2017. On Feb. 13, she’ll be at Belcourt Taps for a Love Your Melon cancer benefit show. She’ll perform March 12 at 3rd & Lindsley for a March of Dimes benefit. She’ll play several times at the County Music Association’s annual festival, set for June 8-11.

For more information, you can find her on Facebook at Lillian Glanton Music or her website, lillianglantonmusic.com.

A little closer to home, Lillian will perform March 25 at the Celebration Arena in Decatur as part of Party on the Farm. More information can be found on the event’s Facebook page.

If you have any news to share or a special event in your life, please email me at agibbs@my.athens.edu or write to me at P.O. Box 553 Athens, AL 35612-0553. I hope to hear from you soon.

One more thing — when you finish reading this article please call your mother and tell her you love her. I sure wish I could call mine.