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AOLiveMC21: Welcome, Billy Gilman! We are so glad to have you here with us!

Billy Gilman: Hi, guys, thanks for having me, and this is my first time talking here on the Internet.

AOLiveMC21: Are you ready for our first audience question? It is from AOL Kids, from Tiffany. Here we go:

Question: Who is your role model? From Tiffany.

Billy Gilman: Well, my role models are my parents. As artists, Tim McGraw, George Strait -- but basically my parents.

AOLiveMC21: Parents are good folks! OK, here is another question. It is also from AOL Kids, from Ali:

Question: Did you have any publicity with singing when you were younger? How did you get discovered? From Ali.

Billy Gilman: When I was discovered I was about 10, almost 11, but I started with a vocal trainer when I was 8.

AOLiveMC21: Here is one from Kristen, also from AOL Kids:

Question: Out of all the singing experiences that you have had, what would you say is your favorite? From Kristen.

Billy Gilman: That's a hard question, probably doing the George Straight tour. That was really, really great and fun.

Question: Hey -- I saw you last night on "Jay Leno", and you were AWESOME!! I was just wondering what you are going to do when your voice starts changing, and if you plan to sing after the "change."

Billy Gilman: Thank you, and I do exercises so that I am prepared, so I am not too worried about the voice changing. I will just continue with my voice exercises, and I should do just fine.

AOLiveMC21: Billy, here is another question from AOL Kids:

Question: Did you always want to be a singer? From Britt.

Billy Gilman: I've always wanted to be a singer, when I was 3 years old. Now singing is my life, and I guess at 3 singing was my life. I have always wanted to sing.

Question: Hey, Billy!! Do you find it hard to make time for your school friends, being a music star now?

Billy Gilman: No, I don't, actually. When I get home from the touring, everybody is so close to my house, so I get to see my friends a lot.

AOLiveMC21: Here is our next question:

Question: When are you going to start touring?

Billy Gilman: Well, there's so many possibilities in the making that we don't know which will come up first. 'Cause right now I'm doing a lot to promote my album, so I guess you can say I'm doing a little touring.

AOLiveMC21: Cara from Vancouver sends this:

Question: Hello, Billy. What was your inspiration for the song One Voice? Thank you! Cara from Vancouver, Washington.

Billy Gilman: Two of my producers wrote that for me, Don Cook and David Malloy. What I am trying to do with One Voice is to help to bring the kids together to decrease the violence in the schools.

AOLiveMC21: Billy, I think someone wants to send you a birthday present:

Question: When is your birthday?

Billy Gilman: My birthday is May 24th.

Question: Have you had the chance to meet many celebrities? And if so, could you name a few?

Billy Gilman: I have met Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood and LeAnn Rimes, and they are like cousins to me. They are really, really nice.

AOLiveMC21: Wow, Billy. That is so neat! OK, here is our next question:

Question: Hey, Billy!! What kind of music do you like to listen to?

AOLiveMC21: Might the answer be country? ::grin::

Billy Gilman: I like everything from pop to Broadway to country to rock, but not rap. There is something about rap that I don't like.

AOLiveMC21: Going back to One Voice:

Question: Do you plan to tour out of the country, and have you released your song One Voice in other countries?

Billy Gilman: I don't think so, not yet.

Question: Hi, I am a huge fan. I love you!! My question is, when you met Dolly Parton, what did you think of her?

Billy Gilman: She is the funniest. She is so unique, she is a very wonderful girl. She is wonderful.

AOLiveMC21: Josephine sends us this question:

Question: What are your favorite hobbies?

Billy Gilman: My hobbies... I love to fish, bowl, ski -- water and snow -- and like to fight with my younger brother Colin. He is 8.

Question: How do you include an education in your career? Is it difficult?

Billy Gilman: It is not difficult, actually. Whenever I am off, I always get all my schooling in so I don't have to struggle to get through to the next grade.

Question: How does your new career affect your daily life?

Billy Gilman: Good question. It doesn't, because I love this so much, I want more and more and more, and they tell me I need to rest, I go for hours at a time. And I have dreamed about this since I was so little, but there's some days that I have off so that I can do lots of fun things.

Question: I am 13 and I really love to sing. I believe that I can make it in the business. Even though I sing pop, what advice would you give to someone who wants to start a music career?

Billy Gilman: Well, keep following your dreams, because no dream is too extreme. It's not an overnight thing. It took me over two years to accomplish my dream. You just need to keep pursuing it.

Question: Hello, Billy. My kids are really crazy about your video, and with all the violence in the school systems today, I have to say that I was also very impressed with this video.

Billy Gilman: Thank you, and thank you for liking the video, and I hope it helps to wipe the violence out of the schools.

Question: Hi, Billy, how is your tooth doing?

Billy Gilman: It's doing very well, thank you. I do have full braces on the top of my mouth. It was traumatic, but everything is going great so far. But it will take another six to eight weeks to know if it's gonna adjust and stay.

AOLiveMC21: Billy, you have a lot of fans out there. They all want to know:

Question: Hey, Billy!! I think you're soooooo cute!! I'm 12 too. My question is, do you have a girlfriend?

Billy Gilman: No, I do not have a girlfriend. I just got done with a relationship, but I don't have one now.

AOLiveMC21: All right, girls... you heard that! Here is our next question:

Question: Does anyone else in your family sing?

Billy Gilman: No, they do not. None of my family sing.

Question: Was it fun performing on "Rosie"?

Billy Gilman: It was really fun. Rosie is just a sweet, nice, down-to-earth lady. It was really fun.

Question: You are so young -- do you ever feel pressure to act more grown-up?

Billy Gilman: Oh yeah, yes. I love to talk with adults, but I still love being a kid.

Question: Do your mother and father travel with you?

Billy Gilman: Well, there most of the time they are taking care of my 8-year-old brother. I don't want him to feel that it is all me, and I want him to feel important. Most of the time my managers travel with me, Scott Siman and Angela Bacari.

Question: Hi, Billy, I think you're great. I sent you a letter in the mail -- it's a green envelope -- I colored it with a crayon hoping you would see it and read it. I hope you get it.

Billy Gilman: Thank you for sending the letter. I try to read all the mail that I receive.

Question: What is your favorite song that you ever did?

Billy Gilman: Well, all the songs that I have done are excellent, but if I have to pick one, it would be a Thurston Harris song in 1957, Little Bitty Pretty One, was my favorite.

AOLiveMC21: We are running out of time, I am sorry to say. Here is our last question of the evening:

Question: Billy! Colleen here! My piano teacher, Gary, got me your autograph on Sunday at your grandparents' house. So... are you going to take piano lessons? Thanks for the picture! -- Colleen

Billy Gilman: You're welcome. Thank you, and I am not taking piano, I am learning to play the guitar. I love to fiddle with a piano, but I don't feel the need to learn it at this time. Thank you guys for having me, it was a pleasure talking with you all.

AOLiveMC21: Billy, thank you for talking with us tonight.

Billy Gilman: My Web site is www.billygilman.com. Thank you for having me!!!

AOLiveMC21: Thanks, Billy! Great info... we will be checking it out! Good night, everyone!

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