Bruce, who recently turned 18, made a huge impression on the judges last Monday night at this year's Telstra Road to Tamworth final.

Singing her own composition Into The Light and a cover song, Bruce made it into the top eight for the grand final last Tuesday night.

Although she didn't take out the Tamworth crown, she says she feels "privileged and grateful" to have got as far as she did.

The first step on the Road to Tamworth was sending in a video of herself singing and playing an instrument.

After viewing all the tapes, the judges invited 14 contestants to perform in the finals at Tamworth,

with eight going on to the grand final.

A spokeswoman for Telstra said the calibre of entrants was extremely high.

"The heat winners blew the judges and audience away, making it very difficult to choose the best eight grand-finalists."

Entertainment Edge CEO Rob Potts says the level of talent emerging continues to impress the judges.

"It gets more and more difficult to choose," he says.

"In just six years, the competition has become Australia's biggest and most recognised country music talent quest.

"It is the only country music talent competition in the world recognised by the US Country Music Association."

The competition offers a total prize package of $140,000, including a 12-month career development program and a trip to Nashville for an opportunity to record an album.

Just getting to the grand final has been a dream come true for Bruce.

She says she knew she had "tough competition" once she saw others perform.

"I watched them and thought how fantastic they were," she says.

Bruce has also won awards in Casey's Battle of the Band with her band Silver Reasons.

Last year, she entered the Monash Battle of the Bands as a solo artist - and took out second place.

More recently, she has been busy learning more about the country music industry during a two-and-a half-week stint at the Tamworth Country Music College before the competition.

All in all, it's been a hectic couple

of years for Bruce - performing, writing songs and studying hard for the VCE at St Francis Xavier College.

Casey Council voted last Tuesday to hold a civic reception in Bruce's honour to recognise her Tamworth success.

Cr Wayne Smith, who raised the idea, said Bruce was "putting Casey on the map".

"I suspect she will be the next Gabriella Cilmi for this area," he said.

For more information on the Telstra Road to Tamworth, call 1300769780 or visit www.visittamworth.com.