Girl, formerly of Butler, on ABC's 'GMA'
A 9-year-old former Butler girl got national television exposure and even a drumstick from the drummer of Florida Georgia Line last week during her appearance on ABC's “Good Morning America.”
Isabella Firster, the daughter of Melissa and Ed Firster, who recently moved from Butler to Shenango Township in Lawrence County near New Castle, appeared on the Aug. 24 broadcast of the network morning show.
Isabella was one of 10 children gathered around a table as the Food Network's Sandra Lee made healthy back-to-school treats with host Amy Robach.
“She had the opportunity through Queens of the East,” said her mother, Melissa Firster. “It's a pageant coming up in October.”
Firster said she, Isabella and another mother and daughter drove to New York City, leaving at 11 p.m. Aug. 23 to arrive at the GMA studios by 7 a.m.
Isabella said the segment was filmed outside the GMA studios.
“I thought it was really amazing. I always dreamed of being on TV. I thank my mom for letting me go,” said Isabella.
One drawback about being featured in a cooking segment is the food, she found out.
“I ate a ton of fruit, and my one friend said, 'You better stop eating.' I really tried, but it was fun, though,” said Isabella.
“We taped it. I've seen it and I'm really proud of how it turned out. I am really happy about it,” she said.
Almost as happy as she was to have a brief encounter with Florida Georgia Line, the country music duo of vocalists Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.
Isabella said, “Florida Georgia Line was awesome. I'm not much of a country music fan, but I do like their music.”
Isabella said after the children's segment ended, they returned to a dressing room.
“After we got changed, Florida Georgia Line walked by the dressing room. Everybody started talking, 'Florida Georgia Line is coming in.'”
“The drummer walked by where me and another girl was standing and gave us each a drumstick. We got really excited. We started jumping up and down,” said Isabella, who will be entering the fourth grade as the school year starts.
“I had been on TV before, just for the Butler parades, but this was on national TV for the first time,” she said.
“I really hope to be on TV again. I just loved being with all my friends and meeting the cast of GMA. Sandra Lee, her food was so good, and she was really nice,” she said.Jeannie Neff of Karns City, Isabella's grandmother, got to see the show live. “There were 10 slots and she got chosen to be one of them,” said Neff. They were all standing around the table during the back-to-school food segment.”Isabella's mother credits the pageant with getting her daughter onto “Good Morning America.”Firster said, “They got to meet Florida Georgia Line, they were on a segment with Sandra Lee and got to meet her.”
