Minister, musician, Cherokee

Radio host to hit stage at RiverfestMost people know Jeremy Lesley as a radio morning show personality, but the 33-year-old hopes that after Saturday night more people know him as an up-and-coming country music star.

Lesley kicks off the country music entertainment at Riverfest this year, but this is a long way from his first big gig.

Lesley won the Colgate Country Showdown in Georgia last year—the same competition that Toby Keith, Martina McBride and other country stars once won.

When Lesley is not working at WKXX on the morning radio show, he serves as minister of music at a church in Chattanooga, Tenn. He has served in that role in several churches through the years.The Native connection:Lesley stays busy between his family, job and church music ministry, but still is active in his native Indian community.

He is chief of the bear clan of the Echota Cherokee tribe and wants to make sure his children know about their heritage.