Musical Instruments: Vocals, harmonica and acoustic guitar.

Background: Born October 4 and raised in Healdsburg, CA (Sonoma County). Went to Nashville for the first time at age 13 to record some demos and returned as often as possible until moving there just after high school.
Musical Influences: Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn, Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner and early Tanya Tucker. Mother was a singer and greatly influenced her. Grandfather played the harmonica.

Songwriting Influences: Merle Haggard (favorite writer/singer), James Taylor and Carole King. Songwriting generally has to come to her organically... sometimes with a glass of wine, a martini or a cold beer.
Performing Live: The whole reason she sings. Most of her musical influences are not only great singers, but also terrific entertainers.

First Live Performance: At age 6 on a trail ride in northern California in front of about 300 people, she sang "Delta Dawn" and "Cow Patty."
Special Interests: Skydiving, fishing and horseback riding.

Favorite Holiday: Christmas, because it's the only time when the whole family gets together.

Credit: countrymusic.about.com