The road into country music stardom isn't cut and dry; there are lots of different avenues to take. Some artists win singing competitions, others play at every open mic night they can, many sign with a record label, and others focus on touring (and touring and touring). Rising artist Devon Worley is doing things her own way.

Worley won a music competition called the Colgate Country Showdown when she was just 11 years old. She wanted to play an original song, so she asked a band called Jug (comprised of all men) for help: The group's frontman helped her craft the tune, and the whole band backed Worley during the performance.

Apparently they liked playing with her because, after a show at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill in Saint Louis, Mo., the men of Jug became Worley's bandmates in the Devon Worley Band. The Minnesota native wasn't even through middle school yet, but she began playing wherever she could: bars, county fairs, festivals.

A whole lot of hard work, passion, miles and talent are behind the Devin Worley Band. Now 19 years old, Worley has opened for some of country music's biggest stars, and she's played at big-name festivals such as Country Jam and WE Fest.

To learn more about Worley, click through the photo gallery above.

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