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The 13-year-old Pine-Richland singing sensation dishes on walking the red carpet, singing with José Carreras and plans for her next album. It was on the Kean Quest stage five years ago that Mike Evancho first realized his daughter had a gift. “We thought she sounded pretty, but doesn’t every parent?” he said. Her performance at the popular local talent competition at the Kean Theatre in Richland was the first time Jackie Evancho, who at the time had just turned 8, ever sang in public. As she let loose a number from Phantom of the Opera, Mike Evancho recalled seeing jaws drop in the audience. “It kind of went from there,” he said.

Jackie wound up coming in a first runner up in the contest, but soon started to receive requests to sing at events around the region, including at a Pittsburgh Pirates game. The Pine-Richland native also attracted the attention of Grammy-winning producer David Foster and in 2009 sang in his "David Foster & Friends" concert in New Jersey. By the following year, she gained a national audience, winning the hearts of millions as the first-runner-up on "America's Got Talent". The classical crossover singer brought down the house (again), and became a fan favorite, with her aria "O Mio Babbino Caro" in the show's quarterfinals. These days, Jackie’s resume includes platinum records, sold-out concerts—and an acting career.

Last Friday, Jackie made are starring Robert Redford. The new 13-year-old, who celebrated her birthday April 9, plays Redford’s daughter in the political thriller "The Company You Keep". To promote the event, Jackie walked the red carpet at the Toronto Film Festival in September and attended the film’s premiere last week in New York City. “It was really awesome,” Jackie said with a laugh of walking the red carpet and having her photo taken. “I felt like a star.”

Mike Evancho said Redford treated his daughter like one of his own. The screen icon also talked to numerous media outlets about being wowed by Jackie after seeing her sing on TV. “Even this past week, in all the interviews, he ends up going right back to Jackie and telling the story about that,” Mike Evancho said. “He’s very proud of it and he’s proud of her.”

On acting in the future, Jackie said she’ll keep her eyes peeled for the right role, but her main focus is on her voice. “I’d love to in the future, but my main concentration is going to be on singing,” she said.

On April 5, Jackie returned to where it all began, appearing as a guest judge at Kean Quest and presenting the third annual "Jackie Evancho Award" to Cranberry resident Paige Hubanek. “I still can’t believe I have my own award,” Jackie joked. Prior to that, she sat down with Pine-Richland Patch to discuss what's next in her career. “It feels great, I love being here,” she added of appearing at Kean Theatre. “This is where I began singing, so it was really nice to come back.”

In the immediate future, Jackie, who previously attended Eden Hall Upper Elementary School before beginning Cyber School because of her schedule, is going international. She travels to Taiwan later this month to perform a concert with Spanish tenor José Carreras. “It’s going to be really fun,” she said. She also continues to tour the country as part of her album "Songs From the Silver Screen". “It’s kind of 50 percent home and 50 percent on the road, which is really nice because I love both lifestyles,” she said of her busy schedule.

Jackie said she has not begun work yet on a new CD, but she is looking for the right songs. For the next album, the teen said she hopes to incorporate some new tunes. "We’re hoping to have more original songs,” she said. “I’d love to start writing some of my songs.” As for all those young hopefuls at Kean Quest hoping to become the next Jackie Evancho, the newly-minted teenager had some simple words—keep it humble. “My advice would be not to make too much of a big deal about it,” she said. “Just go out there and relax and have fun.”