ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A sealed envelope awaits in Rissi Palmer's Bible. Country singer Rissi Palmer performs for students in an after-school program at Atlanta's Parkside Elementary. It's her Grammy acceptance speech, the one she wrote as a 12-year-old. She vowed not to open it until she could read it from the stage accepting her award. Sixteen years later, the time may be nearer when Palmer can open the envelope. The road has been a long one, starting with her standing on a milk crate as a child so she could sing solos in the church choir. But these days, she is an up-and-comer in country music -- and a rare African-American performer in the genre.
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Singer Rissi Palmer has had a Grammy acceptance speech ready since she was 12
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Song off debut album made her the first black female to hit country charts in 20 years
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Palmer says her mother always loved country music and she likes telling stories
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Performer tells Atlanta students: "Anything you want to do, you can do it"
Rumble said many African-@placeholder artists probably gravitate to other genres.