DALTON, Ga. — A week ago, Sanna Shoates Danley was at her desk at a Nashville, Tenn., television station.

Minutes later, she was on live television sharing the stage with a famous country singer.

Danley, a 1997 Dalton High School graduate, lives in Nashville and works for the local NBC affiliate, channel four. She works in marketing, sells sponsorships and helps book guests for the morning show “Today in Nashville.” Last Friday while sitting at her desk, a co-worker came to her with an unlikely proposition. Country music artist Billy Ray Cyrus was in their studio and needed a singer to accompany him for a live performance.

Cyrus wrote a song about the Nashville Predators, the NHL team which has made an improbable run to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup Final appearance. The song “Bring the Stanley Cup to Tennessee” has become an anthem for fans. He was appearing on the morning show to be interviewed about the song and was about to perform it.

Danley had only heard about the song while she was on her way to work. She had not even heard it played before her co-worker took her to meet Cyrus.

“I was just sitting in my office at work and my co-worker came and got me,” Danley said. “I had heard on the radio that morning that he had written a song, but hadn’t gotten the chance to hear it. I had Googled it and hadn’t even watched it yet when she came to get me and said, ‘Billy Ray is here and he needs a singer.’ I walked in and he looked right at me and said, ‘Are you a singer?’ I said, ‘Yes’ and he said, ‘Let’s do this.'”

Danley had only one opportunity to hear the song played before she was asked to accompany Cyrus in singing live on television. They had not practiced it a single time. At the end of the song, Cyrus exclaimed “A star is born!” — referring to Danley. Her brother Schylar, also a musician, said the song came together perfectly.

“I have to admit, if ever two people needed to meet it’s Billy Ray Cyrus and Sanna Shoates Danley,” Schylar Shoates said. “It’s a match made in honky tonk heaven. I’m just so proud and happy for her. My sister is a very talented young lady, and I think Billy Ray said it right at the end of the segment when he said ‘A star is born.'”

It was a special moment for someone who has a long history with the music industry, but had moved on to other ventures. Danley began singing in church and with the Dalton High chorus program before attending Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn., to study music business. She played and sang with Schylar. She also worked in the music business in Nashville for nearly 10 years. Schylar Shoates is currently producing for several artists and also owns Sky Studios, a recording studio in Nashville which provides private lessons to young artists. He also performs in a Rolling Stones cover band called Music City Stones.

After Danley met her husband, Lee, the pair moved to Chattanooga. Danley admits she didn’t get to sing as much as she would have liked.

Two years ago the Danleys moved back to Nashville and she began working for the television station. She missed the music industry, and the opportunity to perform with Cyrus certainly has rekindled her desire to perform.

“He really ignited the fire again too because he was really gracious,” Danley said. “He played back the recording and said ‘That’s pure gold, I’m not touching that.’ He said he wanted to get me in the studio with him and compared my voice to all these wonderful singers. His agent got my information, so hopefully I can work with him again.”

Cyrus came through on his words as Danley was contacted Tuesday about recording the song in the studio. The experience made her passionate about singing again, and it all came because of the Predators.

Nashville has drawn attention from national and local media throughout the playoffs due to its passionate fan base. Danley said the atmosphere is unlike anything she’s seen.

“This town is electric right now, it’s so fun,” she said. “For those people that say we’re not a hockey town, we are showing them differently. It’s just unbelievable. Being in the music business I’ve been to all the festivals and concerts, but there’s nothing like this. The crowds have been great, everyone is having a great time and is so friendly. I think that has been something that the national attention has focused on, that we’re a super friendly, welcoming town.”

Another feature which has gained national attention is the tradition of throwing a catfish on the ice at Predators games. Schylar Shoates was amazed by this phenomenon and the unique spin which one Nashville fan put on the southern staple.

“At the last game someone threw a catfish on the ice that was wearing a hat with rhinestones on it, which just shows how crazy Nashville is for this team right now,” he said. “The crazy thing is someone is sneaking those catfish in under their pants! This town has hockey fever. I never knew a town in the South could go so crazy over hockey.”

Danley recalls fond memories of the team as she went on dates with her husband to the games before they were married. They have continued to go since they moved back, and though she hasn’t had the chance to attend the playoff games, she has joined the rest of the city in cheering them.

After Nashville lost the first two games of the series only to come back and tie it 2-2, the anticipation is growing for the city’s first professional championship. Game 5 of the series was played Thursday night, but concluded after the Daily Citizen-News’ deadline.

What would it mean to Danley and her fellow Nashville citizens to see the team win a title?

“Pride,” she says. “I would just be even more proud. We are already so proud of our city, but for one of our sports teams to finally get the attention and reward they deserve, we would just be so filled with pride. It would be incredible.”

Video of Dalton native Sanna Shoates Danley singing with Billy Ray Cyrus can be seen on a YouTube video titled “Billy Ray Cyrus – Bring The Stanley Cup To Tennessee” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJcwhZsWKPM.