IS PENNY Lebyane, aka the Phly One, out to emulate the entries into music that were mounted by the likes of DJ Unathi Msengana and Keabetswe Motsilanyane, who is best known by the stage moniker of KB?

This was prompted by Lebyane reluctantly starring in the second annual Gospel In Me concert in Johannesburg at the weekend. It all started with Afro soul singer Wanda Baloyi telling the crowd that while the music fans had fun watching featured acts Ishmael, Benjamin Dube, Jamali and herself - an unofficial "concert" had been taking place backstage.

And, much to the audience's surprise, Baloyi said the "additional artist" singing backstage was none other than the Phly One, who is best known for presenting the SABC2' swomen empowerment show, Motswako.

Baloyi then challenged Lebyane to do in front of the people what she had been doing backstage.

At first Lebyane hesitated, and then finally summoned all her courage, rose to the challenge and belted out a popular gospel piece, Any Crown by Jaunita Bynum, and sent everyone into a frenzy.

After the show Lebyane was the most besieged "artist" since everyone wanted a piece of her in the foyer, taking pictures with the Phly One, who seemingly enjoyed the instant popularity from gospel music fans. But she is dodging questions as to what this means for the former Soweto Community Radio, Metro FM DJ, who is also currently on Thobela FM?

Topping these was: Is this a launching pad for a gospel music career? She blushed in a follow-up chat with Sowetan yesterday and was only prepared to say: "No, that was not the intention. That certainly was not a launch of my music career.

"I actually did not expect that kind of reception from the crowd. I am flattered that a music promoter even offered to feature me in a major jazz concert, and yet another impressed person, a lawyer, offered to be my lawyer. I am however keeping my options open in case there is someone who would want to come up with a suitable music contract."

Lebyane added that she came from a gospel music background, and therefore praising and worshipping was not something new to her.

"Being in showbiz, I used to be shy about my Christianity, thinking mistakenly that the two were not consistent, which of course is not true," she said.

However, if Lebyane successfully launches her music career alongside that of radio and TV, she will not be the first presenter to have done so.

When Unathi Msengana, the Idols judge and a Metro FM presenter, first launched her music career by collaborating with Zola some years ago, many a sceptic might have thought it was a joke of the year.

Today, she is regarded as a solid musician, who is also juggling radio and TV.

KB, who first made her entry into the local showbiz scene by being a member of a Pretoria-based dance group, Crowded Crew, has not only successfully launched a music career, but is also an actress with an admirable fan base on e.tv's popular soapie, Rhythm City.

Others have however found it hard to make it both as musicians and actors.

Cases in point include socialite Khanyi Mbau, and - up to a certain extent - singer and actress Kelly Khumalo, who both still need to prove their staying powers as both TV and music personalities of note.