Brooke Woods Smith can’t remember a time when she wasn’t singing. As a toddler, she sang solos at church. As a teenager, she sang in school productions. Now, this starry-eyed songbird has a record of her own – and plans to make it big. Smith, 28, recently celebrated the release of her self-titled debut album at the Harbor at Holley in Navarre. Smith credited her faith as inspiration for her music. “I grew up singing in church, so my background is strongly rooted in songs that have very deep meaning to a lot of people,” she said. “You can’t sing those kinds of songs your whole life and them not get in your soul and then come out in everything you sing.” “Every time I hear a poignant lyric in a song, or a beautiful piano solo,”she said,“I stand in awe of the beauty we have been allowed to create through music.” Smith, whose CD includes three original songs written by friend and colleague Brent Rader, who tours with country music sensation Jodee Messina, said that though her music is currently experiencing an “identity crisis,” she thinks it will appeal to a range of tastes. “I am very eclectic in my musical tastes, and that definitely shows up in what I sing,” she said. “My goal is for my music to appeal to a broad spectrum of people, old and young alike. One of my favorite things to do is to take an older classic song and rework it to have a modern appeal so that the younger generation can discover the song in a new way, but the older generation can still relate to and enjoy the song.” Smith’s poignant lyrics and soothing vocals are reminiscent of her idols Martina McBride and Mariah Carey, but her down-to-earth approach and unrelenting sincerity are obvious – by her own design. “The absolute most important thing to me as a performer is that the songs mean something to the people in the audience,” she explained.“Whether that meaning is a broken heart being soothed or feelings being sorted out or even just forgetting life for awhile, I want people to leave a concert better than when they came in.” Smith, who recorded her album at Coleman Production in Navarre, said the experience was both exhilarating and exhausting. “Recording an album was something I had wanted to do for a very long time, so it was incredibly exciting to see a dream become reality,” she said. “I was surprised that recording was such hard work. I always left the studio exhausted but feeling such a sense of accomplishment.” Though Smith has her hands full with a full-time job, her career as a full-time student and her role as a wife and mother, the rising star credits her music for getting her through. “I am actually probably some sort of record-holder for the world’s busiest girl,”says the crooner. “I do have a typical ‘9 to 5’ job, and I sing on the weekend at the Farmer’s Opry. I also am in college full time, and have an 18-month-old little girl so I am constantly multi-tasking to learn new material and practice.” For her, though, the trade-off is worth it – and it reinforces her heartfelt, girl-next-door appeal. “Pretty much anytime you see me riding down the road, I am practicing a new song so don’t be alarmed if you pull up beside me at a red light. I’m the girl singing to the top of her lungs, not caring who is watching,” said the petite brunette.