Sonya Kitchell rhymes with ... Mitchell. As in, Joni, Sonya's folk-American idol. Except, guess who didn't show up to her own tribute concert.

Jazzy, sultry singer Sonya Kitchell, on the brink of 17, has been likened to Norah Jones. But she prefers the comparisons to her idol, the legendary songstress Joni Mitchell. Sonya recently had an amazing opportunity to perform at New York s Carnegie Hall with an impressive lineup of musicians there to honor Mitchell. But Joni didn't get to hear Sonya sing. Joni couldn't make it--her cat was sick. And Sonya was sick the day she talked to us. But she called anyway ... because this songwriter has style. A style all her own.

GL: What was it like to play Carnegie Hall?

SK: It was quite an experience. There's so much history in the room itself, so just being on the stage felt really powerful. And it was incredible because of the other people who were part of the performance, like Judy Collins, and all these great people--to be able to hang with them and sing for them and hear them.

What a contrast to play coffee shops and music stores, then Carnegie Hall.

Oh, yeah. I was talking to The Wood Brothers, two guys who played the Carnegie Hall thing, and one was like, "Yeah, man, last night I played a 40-dollar gig and tomorrow Carnegie Hall." The thing about that show is there were a lot of really successful musicians but also people who are playing clubs and, you know, just working. One night they play a sold-out concert in New York and, the next, they're in Kentucky playing for 20 people.

Were any of your music idols there?

Richie Havens. I saw him a couple years ago, and his performance moved me. And then I opened for him about a year ago, and he was really friendly. I gave my CD to him and, when I saw him this time, he was like, "I've been listening to your CD. It's great--I love it."

Who are your other music idols?

Joni Mitchell is certainly someone I've grown up listening to and, if I met her, I'd flip out a little bit.

Were you disappointed she didn't come to the concert?

Yeah, but I understand how very overwhelming it must be for her to have all these people who just completely worship and admire her.

Do you hope that's you one day?.

Well, I'd love to accomplish as much as she's accomplished, but I'm not sure how fond I am of being put on a pedestal or how much I'd like that.

Have you felt star-stuck by any musicians?

I was a little star-struck by Norah Jones when I met her. But it quickly faded since she's so cool.

You know, a lot of people compare you to Norah Jones.

She's got a beautiful voice. It's a very nice comparison. But, like anybody, I'd like to do my own thing. So I appreciate it but also, hopefully, someday that won't happen anymore.

When was the first time you picked up a guitar?

When I was 12, I decided I had to learn how to play guitar, so I asked for a guitar for Christmas and, uh, got one and started taking lessons.

Do you play any other instruments?

We have a piano so I've been playing since I was little, not taking lessons. I can, like, play the rock beat on the drums. And I'd love, love, love to play cello. That's my next goal: to learn cello.

Are your lyrics in any way autobiographical?

Um, definitely, a lot of it is about what is going on in my life ... or what's not going on in my life.

Which stag in the album is most about your life?

They pretty much all are. The only one that isn't is "Jerry."

Who's Jerry?

Oh ... do you really want to know? I met a guy I thought was named Jerry, and he was very attractive, and I went home and was playing the guitar and singing, "Ooh, Jerry." Then I realized I knew nothing about him, so I made up a story about this guy named Jerry.

So he's just a cute guy you met?

Yeah, and then it turned out his name was Jury.

Did you ever see him again?

I did! I saw him at a show. He was in the audience, and I was like, "That's the guy I wrote the song about, except he has no idea."

He doesn't know?

No, and he never will. And, the thing is, it has nothing to do with him at all. When I wrote it I thought people were going to laugh when they heard it because it's a really predictable, cheesy, kind of clich-like song about woman-leaves-man-and-gets-depressed. Then I played it for my parents and they started crying. And I started laughing. It was kind of terrible but, you know ... That's what happened when I played it for people. They cried, and I wouldn't be able to keep a straight face. But then I learned how to control it.

Are any of the other songs on your CD about particular boys?

"Can't Get You Out of My Mind" is about a guy. I wrote two songs about him. That was the first one I wrote. A couple of days later, I wrote another song about him called "Rejected."

Do you have a special guy in your ire now?

No, I don't. There's no time for that, unfortunately.

Do you have siblings?

I have a little brother.

Is he musically inclined like you?

No, he is more managerial. He's an 11-year-old manager. He likes to go to my shows, as he puts it, "no offense, not for the music," but for the people he likes to meet. He's all about schmoozing. His plan is to be my manager one day, but I said no. He's definitely smart, and he pulls out words I have never heard of, like old English words, technical, political words. He's very into big words.

What do your parents do?

Both my parents are artists. My mom's an illustrator. My dad is a painter, writer and photographer.

They must be extremely proud of you.

They are. I kind of forget how lucky I am to have parents who are completely supportive of what I'm doing, and who really trust and believe in me. It's pretty amazing.

Sonya Kitchell's debut CD Words Came Back to Me is in stores now.