New Zealand singer Hayley Westenra says the chance discovery of a family name on a World War I memorial has inspired her to take time to entertain the troops.
Westenra, 21, who has sold more than 3 million records and sung for world leaders, will perform for the NATO troops in Afghanistan as well as taking part in a military show in Britain in September, the Daily Mail reported in London. "I'm following in the footsteps of Vera Lynn," she told the newspaper. "It all came about after I went to Passchendaele for the 90th anniversary of the battle and was taken aback to discover a cousin of mine had died there.
"Now I am going to Afghanistan later in the summer to sing for the troops," she said. "I will be going to remote areas and I do feel sympathy for the soldiers being in the front line away from their families."
Hayley said she was off to Japan this week to promote her new album, and had little time for a boyfriend.
"I'm too busy with work," she said. "But I'm enjoying being single and having fun with my friends."
Source:TV3 NZ
