Reilly Martin

PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. — Phil is the undisputed star of Groundhog Day.

But a Butler County girl shared some of the spotlight today. Reilly Martin, 9, of Hilliards performed in the second annual Gobbler's Knob Got Talent Contest.

She sang “Stupid Cupid” this morning to an estimated crowd of 15,000 gathered to see the groundhog's annual pop out of his burrow.

The results: Phil did not see his shadow, which means an early spring is coming, and Reilly won the singing contest, as determined by the applause of the gathered faithful. She got a $300 check and a front-row seat for Phil's performance just before 7:30 a.m.

Reilly's performance came about two hours before Phil took the stage.

To be in the contest, Reilly submitted a video and was one of about a dozen people to compete Saturday in a preliminary elimination round in Punxsutawney. Then, members of the Inner Circle — the folks in top hats and tuxedoes who care for Phil year-round — were among the judges.

The field was narrowed to two performances: Reilly's and a team of sisters who performed a rap song.“We go every year. This just makes it special,” said Reilly's mother, Desiree Hills. “This is something fun.”This year the whole family went to root on Reilly, including Hills, her husband, Joel Hills, and her 4-year-old sister, Adeline.Reilly, a fourth grader and cheerleader at Dassa McKinney Elementary School, has been taking singing lessons and already has sung the national anthem at some BlueSox baseball games in Butler.She will appear in April as a lost boy in Moniteau's performance of “Peter Pan.”

Nine-year-old, Reilly Martin of Hilliards was a finalist in the second annual Gobblers Knob Got Talent Contest. She performed this morning to an estimated crowd of 15,000 who gathered to see the ground hog's annual pop out of his burrow.