Katrina Elam

The story begins at that moment and runs through countless performances in her home state, diverts to Nashville, where she started chasing her dreams as a seventeen-year-old on her own, and leads to Katrina Elam, one of the strongest debut albums in recent years.

Her voice - sassy and strong on the up-tempo cuts, intimate and heartfelt on ballads - draws from a deep country well; and blends in to a sound that's both classic and contemporary. Her songs - she wrote or co-wrote all but two - are personal and universal. The playful innocence of "I Want A Cowboy," the assertiveness of "Normal," the bruised innocence of "The Breakup Song," each offers glimpses into moments from her life.

But to really savor this album, you have to look beyond the obvious. Her clear-headed determination, her willingness to challenge herself, to follow in the footsteps of her heroes, to conquer the music business on her own terns, are just as important as the talent and beauty that Katrina brings to the table.

She knew exactly who she wanted in the studio for her debut album too: Brown, of course, and as co-producer Jimmie Lee Sloas, best known for his work with Switchfoot, PFR and other Christian music headliners. "I had written some of my favorite songs with Jimmie Lee," she explains. "He and I have the same musical vision. So even though this was his first country project, Tony agreed to have him come in. I don't know if any other label would have let me do that."

On the other hand, not many could resist this determined young charmer. Since that talent show long ago, she's wanted to sing like the best in the business, write songs that weave her story into melodies that thread through infectious hooks, work with a legendary producer and be in control of her fate before she was even old enough to vote.