Carlton Daze grand marshal is a hometown girl

Carlton teen Abrianna Schmidt will be the grand marshal of this year's Carlton Daze parade on July 28.

Schmidt won the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum's Journey of a Song contest earlier this year, with a song inspired by growing up in Carlton.

Schmidt's song, "Small Town Girl," won her an all-expenses-paid trip to Nashville, and participation in the Hall of Fame's weeklong songwriting camp in June, working with music producers and other artists.

The 18-year-old found out she was grand marshal when she stopped at her dad, Ryan's, soon-to-open bookstore in downtown Carlton.

"It was really meaningful to find out in the heart of town," she said. "I felt surrounded by community, even though I was just with my dad and sister."

Abrianna won't be the first family member to lead the community parade. That honor belongs to her grandmother, Kitty O'Hara.

While Schmidt has been writing songs since she was 13, she got her first guitar and started participating in musical theater when she was 9.

Schmidt started transitioning to online school in the sixth grade, so she could travel more for her music. She graduated from Minnesota Connections Academy in June and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in May.

With all of her traveling, Schmidt found herself yearning for the town she grew up in, she shared in a Pine Knot story last spring.

"I wrote down kind of everything that I love about my town and found what rhymes and strung everything together," Schmidt said. "And then I recorded it in my bedroom, actually, and I submitted it along with my lyrics, and I don't think I really expected anything."

One of the emotions Schmidt writes about is her appreciation for her small-town childhood, and all of the people who made it special. Some of her favorite memories are from her time at South Terrace Elementary School.

"I'm so grateful for the education that they gave us," Schmidt said previously. "Being able to be surrounded by the nature and all those wonderful humans who always got us outside and got us to do unique things and take advantage of this really cool town that we live in. It's something I'll always be thankful for."

It's been a remarkable few months for Schmidt. First she won the songwriting contest and went to camp.

Next week she is scheduled for a Zoom meeting with a music producer next week, thanks to a mentor from songwriting camp.

"From there we are going to figure out how to record ... and get some of my music out on Spotify and Apple," she said.

Finally, she got a call last week from the Minnesota Twins organization. Schmidt will be singing the national anthem at the Twins game Aug. 4, starting just after 1 p.m.

It's something she started applying for three years ago.

"It's such a huge honor, and I've never actually been to a Twins game," Schmidt said.

It will be an event that brings both the sports and arts sides of her family together.

"We are a huge sports family, but I'm kind of the odd one out with my pursuit of the arts," she said. "I'm excited to sing at such an incredible and amazing place, with my friends and family."

Read more about Abrianna's songwriting contest win here: https://www.pineknotnews.com/story/2024/05/03/people/carlton-teen-wins-song-contest-and-a-trip-to-nashville/11095.html