Where to find funny kid?

PLEASANT GROVE — Olivia Petty's self-mocking song about wearing a dental retainer won her a spot in Wednesday's Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus street parade.

Folks who attend the Salt Lake City event will see her in a Volkswagen convertible — and possibly in a clown costume. And she doesn't know exactly what she will be doing Thursday when she makes a guest appearance in the circus as a clown.

"I hope it involves pie — in my face," she quipped.

She won the gig after being named "Utah's Funniest Kid" during a circus promotion at the Utah State Fair.

Petty, who turns 11 next month, made up the song about her retainer to the tune of Queen's "We Are the Champions" with her sister.

At the end of her performance she took the retainer out of her mouth as proof she knew what she was singing about. A copy of the song also went to her dentist, she said.

Petty has written a couple of other funny songs, one to the traditional Christmas song, "Joy to the World," and another to Bobby Day's pop hit "Rockin' Robin."

"She's just naturally funny," her friend Mary Price said.

Meanwhile, after capturing the Utah's Funniest Kid moniker, Petty has become sort of a media darling. She's appeared on local radio and television promoting her appearance with the circus.

"I've always wanted to be on TV," Petty said. "I was really excited to be on TV. But it wasn't as glamorous as I expected."

The KSTU Fox 13 broadcast house was smaller than she expected, she said.

Yet her excitement peaked while she was there.

"I was so excited I got muscle twitches and I could barely walk out," she said.

Her comedy isn't confined to home or the stage. She brought enough clown noses to fit every kid's nose in her Central Elementary School's fifth-grade class.

The class had a fun time, she said. In fact, it was so much fun her teacher had to call the class back to order.

"She's got a sunny disposition. She's always been happy," her dad, David Petty said. "Most of the time she sparkles."

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E-mail: rodger@desnews.com