DONIPHAN -- Felicia Hart doesn't remember a time in her young life when she hasn't enjoyed singing.
"I don't know how to play any instruments but I've sang since I could talk," said the 16-year-old Doniphan High School student.
Hart admits she surprised herself by winning the 2018 Hearts For The Arts talent contest sponsored by hometown Nashville star Billy Yates. As the winner, she will be the opening act at the fourth annual Hearts For The Arts concert set for Friday night at the Doniphan High School gym.
Following her on stage will be Yates and two other stars - well-known singer-songwriter Mark Narmore and actor/singer Scott Reeves.
Unlike Hart, those three won't be making their stage debut.
"I'm nervous but I'm going to have a lot of family there so I'll just look at them, I guess," said Hart.
That nervousness almost caused her not to enter the contest. But shortly before the deadline, Hart was tracked down at school by counselor Angel Kirby.
"She actually hunted me down," said Hart. "It's not that I didn't want to do it. I was more nervous than anything."
With Kirby's encouragement, an impromptu recording session was set up in the counselor's office.
Hart settled on one of her favorite songs -- "Lead Me Home," a country gospel song recorded by Jamey Johnson.
Kirby recorded Hart's winning entry - a three-minute video - using an Iphone.
"We did it without any music or anything," Hart said.
Hart isn't a member of any choral groups at school but enjoys singing at her church - New Hope Baptist.
Her favorite school activity is speech and drama. She has competed in poetry and duet acting.
She also was a standout softball player for the Donettes until a heart condition forced her to give it up.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. Friday at the DHS gym with the show set to start at 7.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. VIP tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children under 12 years will be admitted free if accompanied by a ticket-holding adult.
Advanced tickets are available online at www.heartsforthearts2018.eventbrite.com. Tickets also may be purchased at Southern Bank in Doniphan
Mark Narmore and Scott Reeves along with Yates will present an eve- ning of stories and songs. It's a relaxed, laidback with each artist taking turns singing their favorite hits.
Yates, Doniphan's own grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and international star, founded the concert in 2015 as a benefit for his Hearts For The Arts scholarship program for DHS grads.
Narmore is a well- known Nashville song- writer best known for 'That's What I Love About A Sunday,' record- ed by Craig Morgan, and 'The Moon Over Geor- gia,' a hit for the country group Shenandoah.
Reeves is the star of the TV series "Nashville," playing the role of Noel Laughlin. He also has had roles on the daytime dramas "The Young And The Restless" and was cast as Steven Weber on "General Hospital."
Reeves also is half of the country duo Blue County and is an accomplished writer, hav- ing penned Toby Keith's "Made In America."
Stars who have participated in the DHS show have included Jimmy Fortune, Buddy Jewell, Lulu Roman, T. Graham Brown and Jeff Bates.