devoN Nickoles

Devon has four loves in life - her family, her animals, helping others, and singing. As a young girl growing up on a farm, Devon's love and caring for others has been the driving force behind her passion for rescuing animals, taking part in community activities, and developing her career as a singer.

At the age of 17, Devon's voice exudes all of who she is: passion, adventure, independence, and selflessness. In first grade, Devon played a role in a high-school performance of The Wizard of Oz. She has competed in singing contests and performed in talent shows since the age of 7, sang the National Anthem at the opening of the 2008 4H Horse Show week, and performed a song on her 4H Club's 2008 parade float, all prestigious local events.

Through the years, Devon has rescued and adopted 4 horses, 2 roosters, 4 cats, a turtle, a dog, various fish, hermit crabs, a duck and 2 pygmy goats -- all of whom have thrived under her care. Her drive and ambition to give back to her community is demonstrated in her ongoing commitment to her school, classmates and others less fortunate. She served as a member of her elementary school's first student council, assisting in efforts to organize and deliver Christmas gifts to children in Baltimore, MD, and served as a puppy pal for new students in her school, helping them foster new friendship and get acclimated to their new surroundings. In middle school, Devon served as a member of her school's SHOUT (Students Helping Others Understand Themselves) program, serving to support other students and classmates in need. As a young girl, Devon was a Brownie and was involved with her local Girl Scouts troop.

Devon's other passions include equestrian jumping and riding, for which she has won numerous trophies and blue ribbons, though her life is not a need to compete; it is a need to help others, through singing, learning, and sharing her natural gifts and talents.

Devon’s has her music favorites and role models, those that personify an ability to "tell a story" in their lives and in their music. She admires and aspires to give back to the music industry in the likes of Jennifer Nettles, Taylor Swift, Reba, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, Faith Hill and Rascal Flatts.

To Devon, music is not just notes on a page or words on paper. Each and every song has a life, a meaning, and a feeling that are extensions of what happens to us in our own lives. Her voice resonates strong emotion and passion when she sings, a raw talent for a girl who has never had voice lessons. Devon's true love and passion for country music lives on in her desire for her music and singing to tell its own story and impact the lives of her fans.

Devon lives by the following saying: “Your future is always ahead of you, but the secret is to never try and catch it -- just let it take you where it takes you and enjoy the journey.” Devon knows the secret, and country music and its fans will all benefit from this part of her journey.