Coffeyville, Kansas Man With Rare Disorder To Perform At ACM Awards

Emory Bryan, News On 6

COFFEYVILLE, Kansas -- A young man will take the stage this weekend, singing alongside the stars of country music and shining a spotlight on a relatively unknown disorder.

You cannot contain the enthusiasm of 21-year-oldTrenton Gomaz. Like most people with his disorder, Williams Syndrome, he's almost always happy and he's unusually attracted to music.

That's how he ended up meeting country stars like Leann Rhimes and Kix Brooks.

"And she said I'm going to Williams Syndrome camp. And I said Awesome! And it's a country thing," Trenton said.

Trenton attends a summer camp in Nashville for people with the syndrome. It's a chance for them to both explore their musical interest and take part in studies of their brains. The camp is a project of Vanderbilt University and the Academy of Country Music.

See Pictures From Trenton's Camp

"We've never considered it a disability," Deborah Toye, Trenton's mother, said. "A lot of people envy him because he's always happy."

Because of his experience at camp, Trenton is getting a chance to sing, as backup, with a choir, at the Academy of Country Music Awards this Sunday night, April 3, 2011.

Trenton will be singing with Darius Rucker. The song was written by the young people at the camp.

"We get to go out to parties with the starts and just have fun," Trenton said.

For Trenton, it's going to be a night to remember. But the appearance is part of an effort to raise money for the camps and the studies.

"Now they're getting more interest in it, to figure out what causes it," his mother said.

 While Trenton is on stage and screen, his while family will be watching.

"I hope my mom and my family just watch and say yeah!" he said.

The ACM Awards air on KOTV Channel 6 Sunday night at 7 p.m.