Dancing for Toby Keith: Foutch to make live TV performance

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

When country music superstar Toby Keith performs Wednesday for the CMT Flameworthy Awards, Warren County High School senior Lakelyn Foutch will be one of his six backup dancers. (Photo courtesy Toby Keith)

Lakelyn Foutch has picked quite a way to break into the world of country music.

The Warren County High School senior was selected as one of six background dancers for superstar Toby Keith during his live performance for Wednesday night’s CMT Flameworthy Awards.

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Foutch when informed Thursday that she made the cut. “Hopefully more things will come from this. Backup dancing and choreography is what I want to do.”

Sixty young ladies auditioned for the six spots recently in Franklin. The two-day audition required them to learn two brief routines which were performed for judges. After performing those two routines, each participant was then given a surprise.

“They just turned on the music and said dance,” said Foutch. “They wanted to see how we could freestyle.”

The highly publicized Flameworthy Awards will be broadcast on CMT from Vanderbilt University with host Dolly Parton.

In addition to Parton and Keith, there are also scheduled live performances from Martina McBride, Sheryl Crow and Alison Krauss.

“I think it’s one of the best award shows on TV, right up there with the Country Music Association Awards,” said Parton. “CMT goes all out for it. They’ve really been promoting it and I’ve been doing all sorts of things for it.”

Foutch, who has been dancing since eighth grade, is a Pioneerette and she also dances with Paula’s Dance Academy. She will attend the University of Memphis and, coincidentally, was in Memphis this weekend to try out for the school’s dance team with fellow Pioneerette Ericka Porter. Former Pioneerettes such as Jennifer Barnes, Emily Hallum and Hilary Phillips have been successful in making the Memphis dance team.

As for Wednesday’s performance with Toby Keith, Foutch admits she will be nervous because it’s live. But she is well aware of the big picture and that this could very well lead to bigger things.

“Now my name and bio is out there,” said Foutch. “And when CMT or anybody else needs a backup dancer, hopefully they will think of me.”

Lakelyn in the daughter of Buddy and Terri Foutch of Centertown.

What: Flameworthy Awards
Where: Vanderbilt
University
When: Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m.
On TV: Country Music Television (channel 26 locally).
Flameworthy pre-party will be televised beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Host: Dolly Parton