She’s a St. James Parish girl who still calls Paulina home, but you won’t always find Katy Nicole Roussel in town.

Last week alone, she was in Gretna, Harvey and DeRidder.

The teenager uses her youthful energy to support her burgeoning music career, one backed by local veterans and a growing base of fans.

Using the stage name Katy Nicole, she released her first CD last month, “Bayougirl.”

Although only 16 years old, Katy’s album took almost a year to produce and follows numerous successes, including earning three Overall Vocalist titles in Branson, Missouri, where she has performed at the Dixie Stampede, the Doug Gabriel Theater, the Hamner Barber Theater and several others.

She has already performed on music row in Nashville, the opry stages of Louisiana and numerous locations along the Gulf Coast.

Her latest project, “Bayougirl,” led by a single of the same name, is her most ambitious. It boasts 12 original songs written by Katy and Baton Rouge songwriter Clinton Preston Smith. It also contains assistance from Louisiana’s Waylon Thibodeaux.

When I had a chance to speak with the young talent recently, she said the album contained songs representing a variety of genres.

“It’s country, it’s blues and it’s Louisiana-style with that swamp pop sound,” she said. “I think there is something for everybody. Everybody has different tastes in music, and every song is different.

“(Lead single) ‘Bayougirl’ is fun. It talks about being a bayou girl, getting out in the swamp, but being a lady and putting pearls on, wearing heels and letting down your hair for your only man. It is a very fun song.”

She recorded the song with Thibodeaux.

Old fans and those just learning about her can stay connected to Katy through her Facebook page at Katy Nicole or at her website, katynicole.com.

Her music is available digitally through Amazon, iTunes and Google Play. CDs are available for purchase at D & J’s Grocery in Gonzales, Belmont Lumber in Lutcher and by order at amazon.com.

Available for only a couple of weeks now, Katy is excited for what the future might hold for her album and career.

“I would love for it to go everywhere, the typical dream stuff,” she said. “I love to travel. Wherever God wants it go, that where it’s going to go. I’m going to follow wherever that is.”

Katy caught the performance bug almost five years ago when attending a festival in Westwego.

“I heard these kids singing for (Louisiana Kids, Inc.),” Katy said. “My mama asked me if I was interested in that. I listened to them, eventually got their card, looked them up on the website and that’s how I got started.”

She performed for the first time with the group soon after at the Alligator Festival in Luling, and the rest is history. However, she still remembers the jitters from the first show.

“I didn’t act nervous, but I was nervous,” she said. “I was actually going through a time where I had a lot of sinus issues and I remember being back stage and trying not to gag. Everybody was really supportive, though.”

She has performed numerous shows since with Louisiana Kids, a non-profit organization that performs all across South Louisiana at private parties, church events, festivals, nursing homes and retirement centers.

“It was a matter of God opening the doors for me and me gaining more experience by those doors being opened,” Katy said of her journey. “I realized how much I loved it. As time went on, more doors opened.”

Luckily for local music fans, “Bayougirl” provides a chance to see a young music sensation on the rise to stardom.

She is certainly a fun one to watch, and more importantly, listen to.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.