Phayvanh MekAroun's "Saneh Sao Tennessee" DVD

Laotian-born singer and songwriter Phayvanh MekAroun of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who is dubbed by many as the Country Queen of the Lao entertainment circle in the U.S., talks to VOA about her background and her career.

She also discusses her latest album, "Saneh Sao Tennessee or the Charms of Tennessee Girls," which she collaborated with Ky Morakoth, a well-known singer of the Lao PDr. It is her 23rd since beginning her singing career in the early 1980's.

Phayvanh was born to a musician's family. So music runs in her blood. She has been singing and appearing on stage since she was twelve years old. And she intends to keep going until she no longer can, to promote and preserve Lao music.

Phayvanh writes and produces her own songs, though she relies on foreign tunes for some of them.

Listen to our Lao Diaspora report to learn more about this Lao artist. And for more of Phayvanh's music, stay tuned for VOA's upcoming Sunday music program.