(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Simon Cowell has signed a ten-year-old girl to his record label after seeing her perform on the internet.

The music mogul was so impressed watching Canadian-born Heather Russell sing on YouTube, he has decided to help launch her music career. Heather became an internet sensation after posting a clip of her singing Every Step of the Way, a song she wrote herself.

The footage has attracted more than 100,000 viewers and Simon is hoping he has found a talent who could be as successful as Justin Bieber - who was also discovered on YouTube when he was just 12.

"Simon just loved her. He said she was amazingly talented from the first time he saw her," a spokesman for Simons company Syco UK revealed.

Simon isnt the first famous face to praise Heather. She has also attracted fans including Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore, who have spoken about her on their Twitter accounts.

Heather who is being hailed as the next Mariah Carey - wrote her first song when she was eight and can also play the piano. She has revealed she is inspired by musicians including Prince, Queen and Justin Timberlake.

The fledgling stars father James always knew she was destined to be a success and is predicting big things from his daughter.

"At eight years old Heather wrote her first song called Beautiful on the piano, he said. "At nine, Ashton Kutcher tweeted about her to Demi Moore, Ellen DeGeneres wants her on the show and Grammy winning music producer Rob Fusari has taken her under his wing.

"Stay tuned for more from Heather." (C) Cover Media