More than just a little bit country, Roseville sisters Kayla Hinkle Bryan and Brooke Hinkle see their future on the stage, performing the music they fell in love with as young girls.

And they owe their start to a karaoke machine.

“I was 9 when I got a karaoke machine as a present,” said Kayla, now 20 years old, “and I started singing along with LeAnn Rimes around the house.”

That led to performances in local venues for Kayla, who has earned more than 30 first-place awards as an amateur at talent contests, including one at the Rocklin Jubliee, her first contest win. Kayla turned professional at the age of 11.

Younger sister Brooke, emulating her older sibling, began singing on stage at the age of 8. Now 17, Brooke started singing as a professional just this year, joining her sister in the country duo, Kayla and Brooke.

The daughters of Dan and Cindy Hinkle, the sisters have been home-schooled most of their lives. Kayla since the sixth grade and Brooke since the third grade.

“We just did so much traveling,” said Cindy Hinkle, explaining the decision to take the girls’ education to their home.

“I got to graduate (from high school) early, so that was a plus,” Brooke said.

The girls have performed for two chiefs of state – the current President Bush and former President Clinton. Those performances were set up by David Foster of Los Angeles, a multiple Grammy Award-winning producer.

The Bush performance came at Capital 4th, an annual July 4th party in Washington D.C. That was after the attacks on Sept. 11.

Kayla performed for Clinton at a Los Angeles fundraiser for the Clinton Presidential Library.

Other notables in the performing lives of the sisters, include having sung with Josh Groban, Celine Dion, Lee Anne Womack, Aretha Franklin, Michael Buble and Enrique Iglesias and singing before Barbra Striesand.

Kayla also sang with Aaron Carter on the “Liberty’s Kids” show, a PBS program. The tune was “Through My Own Eyes.”

The sisters also performed at the recent Christmas tree lighting ceremonies at the state Capitol in Sacramento and received personal notes of thanks from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“I’m just getting back into it,” Kayla said.

She pretty much stopped performing at 18, taking time out to marry Mike Bryan of Roseville. The couple has a young daughter.

When she came back, just recently, she joined up with Brooke to form Kayla and Brooke. They hope to take the sister act all the way to Nashville – the Mecca of country music.

The girls currently are in the early stages of producing a CD of country music, with some original tunes.

“It’s a little old traditional country and kind of like Carrie Underwood,” Brooke said. “We’re trying to write (some of the songs).”

The only experience in song writing was by Kayla, who had a hand in writing “West Coast Country,” along with Gary Baker and four members of his staff.

“We’re getting ready to travel again,” Kayla said. Her daughter will travel with her – and – when possible – her husband of nearly two years.

Taking care of Kayla’s young daughter, well, that job falls to grandma, Cindy said.

As for Brooke, the younger sibling said, “I just want to sing. Hopefully we’ll get signed (to a recording contract). We’re looking for a manager or agent.”

Until they find one, the talented Roseville girls will just keep on doing what they’ve always done – sing.