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Columbiaville residents Robert and Richard Fay will try out for the TV show "Nashville Star" for a chance at a recording contract. For the 17-year-old twins the opportunity means everything.

"It's like 'American Idol' and will be on NBC," Robert said. "We're going to audition with 'We Danced' by Brad Paisley."

"We're always waiting for that chance to be seen," Richard said. "We had no clue we'd sing 'We Danced.' We were going to sing 'Proud Mary' and we sang Brad Paisley and thought that was it."

Richard said the Lapeer West High School juniors had to have a fast song to sing from a "Nashville Star" list. The twins have chosen "Never Wanted Nothing More" by Kenny Chesney.

The trip to Nashville will be the first for the twins. Robert said he and his brother have been practicing in choir class at Lapeer West. The duo are juniors at the school. "We've been practicing with Cheryl Burnside, our choir teacher," Robert said. "The audition means a lot. I don't know what would happen if we won. We'd get a contract with a major record label."

Their mother, Tammy (Fay) Kinney, said she's biased, but hopes it's her sons' big shot. "This is their dream. I'm hoping this is their chance for someone to see them for their talent," she said. "We're going March 21 for an audition and we'll probably leave March 17. It's a first come first serve basis. On the Internet, it says it should be televised between May 21 and summer on NBC."

Kinney said her sons have been performing since the age of 5 and first went on stage when they were 8.

Their teacher at West, Cheryl Burnside, thinks the twins are going far. "I think they're very talented," she said. "They have a strong stage presence and they're incredibly strong performers. They blend well and have each other for support. They have their mom too. They have a strong bond between them. If they make it, it would be like 'Wow.'"

Along with practicing at school, Richard said the duo sings in their garage. "We practice a lot and sit in our garage," Richard said. "We practice once a day. Sometimes I practice by myself and sometimes Robert practices by himself. We've been working at harmonizing more, but it comes with more practice."

Kinney said there will be a benefit 1-7 p.m. March 16 to raise funds for the twins to go to Nashville. The benefit will be held at Lapeer Lanes, 3373 Davison Road, Lapeer. Tickets are $10 and will include pizza, a 50/50 raffle, and entertainment by R&R DoubleTake 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door, around the county, or by calling Kinney at (810) 656-2235.

Donations can also be made to: Richard and Robert Fay, 5250 Columbiaville Road, Columbiaville, MI 48421.

"If you see us on TV—vote for us," Richard said. "It's like 'American Idol.'"

Jennifer Decker can be reached at 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com