Federal Relations

February 11, 2004

Arizona's Yodeling Sweetheart

In the past yodeling has often been associated with the Swiss Alps, but not anymore. At the November 2003 International Yodeling Competition in Wichita, Kansas, Tiffany Jo Allen an eleven-year-old from Tucson, Arizona yodeled her way to first place. Now nicknamed, "Arizona's Yodeling Sweetheart" Tiffany Jo is gaining public attention and quite a following. 2003 was a big year for Tiffany Jo; in addition to winning the competition she released her first CD, Take Me Back to Tucson, which became a Borders Books & Music 2003 #1 top seller for local artists and was played on over 250 radio stations in the US, Canada, and Europe.

When she was five, Tiffany Jo's nana discovered she could yodel and once Tiffany Jo started yodeling she couldn't stop, she was hooked. Tiffany Jo has performed as a country western singer and yodeler for the past four years, but her first big performance was actually the very next year at age six when she sang a song she wrote and played the piano in front of an audience of 400.

Tiffany Jo's parents and her nana have homeschooled her for the past four years. "We started homeschooling not because of performing, but because the school she attended wanted to jump two grade levels with her." Tiffany Jo's mother, Amber Allen, told HSLDA's Bright Spots. The flexibility that is characteristic to homeschooling certainly benefits a young performer like Tiffany Jo. "She enjoyed singing, but once we started to homeschool she could really enjoy her talent!" added Amber.

When she's not performing or doing schoolwork Tiffany Jo enjoys playing with her little brother, her friends, and pet mice. She also enjoys swimming, reading, cooking and sewing and most likely can be found yodeling at the same time.

Besides having fun Tiffany Jo is touching lives. In the last few years Tiffany Jo raised thousands of dollars for the Red Cross, the United Way, and the MDA. Then in 2003 she decided to start her own charity and Children Helping Children became a reality. Tiffany Jo takes $2 from each CD sale and delivers the money to the Funtasticks Amusement Park to purchase admission passes. Along with her family, Tiffany Jo hand delivers the tickets to Sergeant Kaylor at the Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, who in turn presents them to the children of parents serving in the Middle East.

For more information about Tiffany Jo's charity, upcoming performances, or to listen to a sampling of her yodeling or purchase her CD, visit her website at: www.YodelingStar.com.