LIVE OAK, Fla. — Prior to taking the stage at the Suwannee River Jam Audition finals April 13 at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, Branford’s Sadie Miller got one last piece of encouragement.

“My brother told me I better make it or else because he wants to see Alan Jackson perform,” Miller said laughing, adding later that she is also pretty excited about getting to see Jackson.

“So I said, ‘Thanks, no pressure.’”

No pressure indeed for the 10-year-old Miller.

Miller went on to win one of the regional artist spots in this weekend’s Jam where she will perform Saturday at 1:50 p.m. on the 1st Street Music Stage.

“It was one of my biggest dreams,” Miller said about performing at the Jam. “It’s just been something that’s always known in our area. And I thought it would be pretty cool to try it out.

“But I also found out that I was the youngest ever to perform on the Suwannee River Jam stage.”

Miller started performing four years ago. First at school talent shows while in the first grade before she progressed to singing at fairs and other places two years ago. That was also when she first started taking lessons.

“I just liked music and wanted to try it,” she said. “So I tried it and it was fun.”

To Miller, performing on a stage is pretty much fun regardless.

A couple of weeks ago, she performed at the Orange Blossom Opry in Weirsdale. It was the first time she has had a live band playing with her.

“It was scary, but it was fun,” she said. “It was a lot different.

“I sing the LeAnn Rimes version of “Swinging,” but it sounded like the John Anderson version. It was different.”

That difference kept her family in the audience on the edge of their seat.

“We couldn’t breathe until she came back off the stage,” her mother Melissa said.

Sadie added: “You guys never breathe.”

The Millers won’t have much time to catch their breath in the near future either.

Following this weekend’s performance at the Jam, Sadie will head to Nashville in June for a young artist showcase that will take place during the CMA Festival.

It will be the first time Miller has traveled out of the state to sing.

But it likely won’t be the last.

“I always thought music was pretty darn cool,” she said about if she’s ever thought of doing anything but singing.

Nor will this be the last time Miller performs at the Jam, at least if her plans work out.

“She told me she hopes to return in a few years in her own tour bus on the big stage,” Melissa Miller said.

Added Sadie: “Not any tour bus, a teal sparkly one.”