Photo by George Lauby Johnna Jane

Photo by George Lauby Johnna and two women who helped her: mom Sharon Pfeiffer, at left, and grandmother Pat Johnson.

Photo by George Lauby Michael Ross and son Austin

Photo by George Lauby Roni Rae

Johnna Jane, a 19-year-old Applebee’s employee, sang her way to first place Saturday at a showdown of country music singers during the Honky Tonk Barbeque.

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Jane was the best of seven contestants in the annual Colgate Country Showdown, which is a series of contests that begin at hundreds of locations and proceed with state, regional and national champions.

Jane sang a nearly-perfect version of Patsy Cline’s classic blues song “Crazy” and had the audience clapping with Sara Evan’s song “Suds in the Bucket.” She received a lengthy ovation when she finished and will move on the state contest in August at the Knox County Fair in Bloomfield.

Jane, whose real last name is Thayer, grew up in Eustis and Gothenburg. She loves to sing and performs occasionally with the No Budget Band of North Platte Community College.

Her mother Sharon Pfeiffer has encouraged her to sing throughout her life and the two enjoy harmonizing when they travel together in a car. Her uncle Kevin Janeski is a concert pianist in Scottsdale, Ariz., her grandmother Pat Johnson said.

Michael Ross of Sidney was the first runner-up in the contest. He belted out a version of Chris LeDoux’s Honky Tonk World.

Roni Rea, 18, of North Platte finished third.