Janice ushers in a country music legend

After watching previous Stars in Your Eyes shows as a volunteer ASB Theatre usher, this time around Janice Thompsett will be front and centre in the guise of country music legend Loretta Lynn.

And while she’s no stranger to performing - having been to the Gold Guitar Country Music Awards in Gore twice – Janice says the hometown stage is what is making her the most nervous.

“Despite performing at Country Music Awards across the South Island for 25 years, it’s always more nerve-wracking to perform in your hometown because you know the people in the crowd and I always tend to pick their faces out,” she says.

“I’ve been involved in the performing arts a long time through highland dance originally, competing at Country Music Awards, and being a sewing mother for my daughters’ productions.”

And now she’s signed up for the competition, raising funds for Riding for the Disabled Marlborough, she credits local vocal coach Con O’Brien for pushing her into auditioning.

“I worked Stars in past years and thought, “I’d love to do it”, but never had the self-belief until Con O’Brien basically told me I was auditioning. Outside of this I’ve been doing administration for the family businesses, but I’ll be a Marlborough Tour Company tour driver soon – I’ve got my truck license at 62 to legally drive trucks for the family businesses when I was needed so it’s now being put to good use.

“There’s also a dress I want to make and picked up a few things I need, channelling Loretta and making it my brand of fun.”

The Stars in Your Eyes show is on October 11.