Emma-Charles Townsend, of Statesboro, Georgia, has captivated audiences at Dollywood since she was only eight years old. From a young age, Emma-Charles demonstrated her musical talents, humming in perfect pitch to songs in the car long before she could even speak.
Noticing her gift early, her mother, Nina Townsend, enrolled her in KinderMusik to nurture her love for music, which quickly became a natural part of her life.
When Emma-Charles was seven, a friend encouraged her to audition for a role at Country Tonite Theatre in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. With little expectation beyond the experience, Emma-Charles’ family took her to the audition. To their surprise, she was offered a contract on the spot.
“We knew she could sing, but this was a wonderful surprise,” Nina Townsend shared. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Emma-Charles continued performing professionally, one of the few in the industry able to work through COVID-19. By age nine, she had successfully auditioned for Dollywood’s 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, playing the role of Sara Baxter in the park’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Festival.
Supporting a young performer’s career can be challenging, but Townsend feels lucky to have found such a supportive community. Dollywood and Country Tonite Theater are both renowned for providing safe and encouraging environments for young performers.
Townsend notes, “I never had any reservations about Emma-Charles working in this field. The companies made sure Emma-Charles and the other children were safe and well-cared for, and I was always with her.”
The commitment to Emma-Charles’ dreams has required sacrifices from her entire family. Townsend describes time spent apart from her husband and son during performances in Tennessee, though they manage to stay connected through FaceTime and Zoom. Emma-Charles’ family visits her regularly, and her brother Charlie even spent a summer working at Dollywood alongside his sister.
Beyond her professional work, Emma-Charles stays grounded by enjoying activities outside of music. She participates in 4-H, archery, and dance classes at home and loves spending time with friends whenever possible. Mom emphasizes that music is Emma-Charles' passion, but she also has a full life outside of performing.
Emma-Charles’ journey hasn’t been without its challenges. Distance from family and handling misunderstandings from those unfamiliar with the performing arts are among the obstacles the family faces. Townsend, however, uses these as teaching moments for her daughter, reminding her to remain focused and let negativity fall by the wayside.
“Not everyone will be happy for you, and that’s okay—it’s not your problem to fix,” she tells her daughter.
One of Emma-Charles' proudest achievements has been learning to play guitar and writing her own songs. Recently, she was cast in “The Running Father,” a Christian TV series where she plays Mandy Baxter. Emma-Charles has plans to expand her music career to her hometown, exploring local gigs, including performing at nursing homes. She’s determined to share the joy that music brings her.
Reflecting on her journey, Nina Townsend says, “We don’t have a typical family life, but this is our normal. We’re blessed to watch Emma-Charles thrive, and we trust in God’s timing.”
With unwavering support, the family eagerly anticipates watching Emma-Charles continue to grow, both as an artist and as a young woman driven by her faith and love for music.
For the 2024 holiday season, Emma-Charles is performing in Christmas in the Smokies at Dolly Parton's Celebrity Theatre. Click the links below to follow her journey on social media!
- Instagram: emma_charles_sings
- Facebook: Emma-Charles Townsend
- TikTok: @ec_townsend
