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An up-and-coming country singer from Abertridwr has clinched yet another award stateside – and could win more later this month.

Twenty-year-old Caitlin Mae Nedahl, who goes by her stage name Caitlin Mae, has won the EP of the Year category at the Josie Music Awards in Nashville, Tennessee.

She received the award for her EP, titled PERSPECTIVE.

The awards, which are one of the largest independent music award shows in the world, saw more than 50,000 nominations across a number of categories, with the winners chosen by a panel of industry experts.

The event was held on October 23 at the Grand Ole Opry – an iconic country music stage in the heart of Nashville’s Music Valley district.

She attended the ceremony with her mother, Helen Nedahl, who spoke to Caerphilly Observer about the experience.

Helen said: “We were really surprised to win. We weren’t expecting it at all.

“Caitlin Mae has been nominated in previous years, but with Covid affecting international travel this was our first year attending.

“We had no expectations to win, we were just happy she was nominated. We were ecstatic when they read out that she had won – it was a bonus to our trip.”

During a two week trip to Tennessee, Caitlin Mae also performed at The Listening Room Cafe in Pigeon Forge – something which was on her bucket list.

Her performance in Pidgeon Forge, which is just a few miles away from Dolly Parton’s home town, impressed – and she has been invited back to perform there again.

Caitlin Mae and her mother will be heading back across the Atlantic this month to attend the Who’s Hoo Awards in Columbus, Indiana on Saturday, November 19.

Caitlin Mae will be performing at the awards and is also nominated in four categories – Female Vocalist; Songwriter of the Year; Video of the Year; and Song of the Year.

It follows on from recent success for Caitlin Mae in the USA, having won at the International Singer Songwriter Association Awards, which were held in Atlanta. There, she won the gold award for the Female Vocalist of the Year category, as well as winning the International Music Video of the Year award for her song Take my Demons.

Caitlin Mae’s music journey began at a young age, where she was involved in musical theatre. By the time she was 13, she was performing as a solo singer.

In 2019, Caitlin Mae performed on stage with her idol, American singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

Helen said: “It’s gone crazy lately. Caitlin Mae performed in London last weekend after flying back. She had a good reception and absolutely loved it. We’re tired after all the travelling but it’s been well worth it.”

Visit caitlinmae.com to keep up to date with Caitlin Mae’s journey.