Nathan Carter's gran Ann McCoy has said that her grandson's early attempts at singing were "rubbish" but that he has improved over the years.
Carter was joined by Ann during the filming of The Nathan Carter Show, an hour-long special which will air on RTÉ One on December 30, and he asked his gran about his singing ability when he was a child.
"You were rubbish, but you used to charge people to come into our lounge . . . They'd ask for the money because it was rubbish," she said. "You did try hard, you got better as the time went on."
During the show, Carter performs a selection of his biggest hits and gets the chance to duet with some of his musical heroes including Mary Black, The Dubliners’ John Sheahan and Paddy Casey, in front of an audience of his biggest fans.
Some of those fans have had tattoos to mark their love of the country crooner and he told TEN during rehearsals for the show that he takes it as a huge compliment.
"It's a bit hard to get over. I've met at least 7 or 8 now at this stage who've come up and said they've got my face or name tattooed on them," Carter said. "It doesn't get any more easy to take in but I suppose it's a sign of them proving they're a big fan, but I don't expect them to do that! It's a big compliment."
Speaking about one of his icons, Daniel O'Donnell, Carter added that he is delighted that his career has allowed him to share the stage with the Donegal native on a number of occasions.
"Daniel would've always been on in our house growing up, my nan was a big fan and his music was always played. We were always taken along to the shows to go and see him, and yeah, I've got to perform with him a good few times now on stage, I'm delighted," he said.
"I'm very lucky that my musical career has really took off over the last two years, I've got great fans, I've had great support and I've met some lovely people."
The Nathan Carter Show RTÉ One, 9.30pm, December 30.
