She is the daughter of Fred Carter, Jr. Despite her contact with many of the musicians she knew through her father, her efforts to begin a musical career took several years to begin showing any results. Her first attempt was at age 17, going around with her father in the attempt to get a record deal. When she was initially unsuccessful, she entered the University of Tennessee, majoring in Rehabilitation Therapy and becoming a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and a Sigma Alpha Epsilon Little Sister. While attending, she sang at various campus locations, performing for the enjoyment of singing, rather than with the intent of pursuing a musical career. After she graduated, she worked with recovering stroke and head injury patients. Although she found the work rewarding and worthwhile, she eventually realized that her first love was music, and decided to pursue the music career she left earlier.

Her first big break came when one of her demo tapes caught the attention of Willie