When the YouTube video started playing at the next table, I didn’t pay much attention. But then I glimpsed the face of the singer.
“She looks just like Bailey Ingle,” I thought.
And then I realized that the young country singer in the video was exactly who I thought. Bailey Ingle had just grown up a bit.
It was almost five years ago when I went to Bailey’s suburban Birmingham home to take photos of her for a community magazine. It was just another freelance photo shoot for me, but this impressive 16-year-old made a strongly positive impression.
When I met her for the photoshoot, she was just a talented young girl with big dreams. She sang at some local venues. Her big claim to fame was winning a radio station’s contest for a chance to sing a duet with country star Keith Urban at a local concert.
But this young woman had talent and dreams — and she’s come quite a way since the day I met her.

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