NORWAY – Chassie McKeen of Norway is only 16, but her voice doesn’t know that.

She sings country music like an old pro, and when she sings, people dance.

Her goal is to become a country music star, and earn a lot of money.

“I want to build the biggest animal shelter in the world,” she said. Her other love, obviously, are animals.

Chassie owns a horse, an Alaskan husky and two “kitties” as she calls them, because they are between the ages of a kitten and a cat.

According to Chassie’s mom, Liz Blacquiere, at three-years-old Chassie wanted to be a singing mermaid.

Later, at seven, when she realized that wasn’t going to happen, she decided she wanted to become a singer like Wynona Judd.

“She even started playing acoustic guitar and took lessons,” said Blacquiere.

According to Blacquiere, in the spring of 2003 Chassie competed in Downeast Country Music show in St. Albans, a state-wide competition with four divisions.

“She won first, second and third place trophies in competition for country, bluegrass and gospel.” Blacquiere said.

The event qualified Chassie for nationals at the Pigeon Forge Country Tonight Theater in Nashville, Tenn., where she competed with others from 43 states and three countries.

Chassie took a fifth place in duet and second place in the Horizon Future Star of Tomorrow.

She’d also like to be on CBS Star Search.

Chassie now has her own CD titled “Chassie” and is working on another.

She’d like to attend a college for performing arts such as Nashville State in Tennessee. She attends Poland Academy, where she’s a high honor student.

While country music is her specialty, she also likes pop and rock music and would enjoy finding a summer job singing with a band.

“That would be awesome,” she said.

Chassie may be find herself singing at the Oxford County Fair in the fall.

Her favorite country music singer at 16?

Martina McBride.