She was born in Calgary, Alberta, and at the age of seven she moved with her family to Victoria, British Columbia.

She studied classical music, and at age twelve she and her brother Tyler Carson were regular soloists for a children's concert series with the Victoria Symphony.

Following her stint with the Youth Orchestra, she joined the Celtic rock group The Paperboys in Vancouver on the strength of her experience with Spirit of the West.

[1] She also performed with Spirit of the West at several shows in 2012 when regular member Geoffrey Kelly was ill. Later, at an outdoor concert with The Paperboys, she met Chip Taylor, the noted songwriter famous for such songs as "Angel of the Morning", and he became her mentor, musical partner, and producer.

[4] She also records and performs with Stephanie Cadman and Miranda Mulholland in a country music trio called Belle Starr.