Amanda Stott's secret is out.

Until recently, most of Stott's high-school classmates didn't know she was a country recording star in waiting.

The 17-year-old from Brandon, Man., didn't tell most of her fellow Crocus Plains students she had signed a record deal with Warner Music.

"I didn't know if people would treat me differently, so I didn't tell people. I wanted to concentrate on studying while at school," Stott tells the Sun during a promotional stop in Calgary.

With Stott's self-titled album being released April 4 and her recent public appearances at such events as the Family Farm Tribute in Toronto, people have clued into her rising star.

"Now that most know, they have nicknames and stuff for me," says the Grade 12 student.

"A big one is Superstar," she says, mimicking the tone of Saturday Night Live's Molly Shannon doing her comedy character Mary Katherine Gallagher.

"They drive me crazy, but they're just joking," she shrugs.

Much of Stott's career milestones have occurred here in Calgary. After showcasing at Calgary's Canadian Country Music Week in 1996, the then-14-year-old was signed to a demo deal.

Two years later, at the next Calgary-hosted CCMAs, Stott was given her record deal.

The farm girl is determined to keep herself grounded.

During recording, she worked hard to keep adult lyrics off her debut album.

"When we started picking the music, we made it very clear as to what I wanted to sing. Lyrics like 'I woke up and saw your face this morning' -- I can't relate to that.

"I can sing about love, but not the deep love or love 'em and leave 'em songs. I wanted to sing about the fun you have in love -- the puppy-love kind of stuff."

With thinking like that, it's not surprising Stott is not worried about falling victim to the pitfalls some other child stars have experienced.

And you won't be seeing Stott wearing too-short skirts or cleavage-accentuating tops like teen stars in the pop world.

"I've never been comfortable in those types of clothes. If I'm not comfortable in what

I'm performing in, it's going to be a bad performance.

"By watching (other teen stars), you see what's happening. You have to remember you're a kid and that you're not growing up too fast," says Stott, who admires

Lila McCann as well as Amanda and Tyler Wilkinson, who have remained "normal" teenagers.

Stott is also following Amanda Wilkinson's lead and plans to attend her prom.

"I told them they can't make me sing that day. My mom's making my dress ... it's black with funky sewing on the bottom."

She even got brave and asked a boy to grad.

"I've never done anything like that before," she says with a giggle.

Firsts are something this little Canadian girl with a big voice better get used to.