Arts & Entertainment

Movie Role, Christmas CD in Store for Jackie Evancho

Pint-sized singing star from Richland to perform Sunday with Pittsburgh Opera in sold-out show.

When 11-year-old Jackie Evancho tells you that dreams can come true, it's hard to keep up with just how big this kid can dream.

In the week leading up to her , two major announcements were made.

First, she is going to be in a Robert Redford movie, The Company You Keep.

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Secondly, her Christmas album will be released Nov. 1.

The Movie

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The movie is based on the novel by Neil Gordon, in which a former Weather Underground militant named Jim Grant must go on the run when a reporter exposes his identity, according to Variety.com.

Redford stars as Jim Grant and Jackie plays the part of his daughter, "who recently lost her mother and is unaware of her father's militant past," Variety.com reports.

The Christmas Album

Jackie’s first full-length holiday album Heavenly Christmas will be available Nov. 1 exclusively in stores and on Walmart.com.

Last year, Jackie released a short-version Christmas EP soon after the finale of , in which she was named runner-up. That EP, O Holy Night, topped the charts.

Heavenly Christmas is a collection of standards like White Christmas, traditional tunes like O Come All Ye Faithful and perennial favorites like The First Noel, the jackieevancho.com website states.

“It wasn’t easy to choose songs for this album because I love all Christmas songs so much! There’s always been a lot of music in our house during the holidays and I enjoy singing these songs every year,” Jackie said on her website.

“I hope this album is something that my fans will enjoy for many Christmases to come. It’s my gift to them for all their support and encouragement.”

Billboard’s 21 Under 21

Jackie also was recently named to Billboard's "21 Under 21" list, an annual ranking of the most powerful minors in the music industry.

Billboard said her spectacular successes in 2010 and 2011 – including placing second in the America’s Got Talent competition, the blockbuster releases of O Holy Night and Dream With Me and the artistic triumph of her Dream With Me concert appearances – set her apart from other young performers,” her website states.

A Very Jackie Quote

Despite a whirlwind year of sold-out concerts, national TV appearances, a certified-gold CD and international recognition, the golden-haired little girl from Richland Township offered a simple quote on her website.

“It’s been an amazing year,” she said. “But the thing that’s the best is being with my parents, my brothers and sister, and the rest of my family. They’ll always be my favorite audience!”


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