Try not to feel invincible and on top of the world when you listen to Courtney Cole's music. The Louisiana native is on a mission to empower you and inspire you with her passion, her dazzling personality and her vibrant and sweet pop-country, drawling vocals.

She grew up right outside New Orleans on all types of music -- from jazz to blues to pop -- but country music was her destiny. After all, her parents met while two-stepping in a country bar.

Cole had been onstage since age 5, but after arriving at Belmont University in Nashville, she began honing her songwriting skills and took an internship with a record label. That led to a job in publishing and in radio, where she got a real taste of what makes the music business tick.

But she wasn't giving up on her dreams of being an artist, going home each night to write her heart out. Since then, she's toured with Miranda Lambert, released a self-titled EP and also traveled across the nation to perform and speak to college students about the importance of education as the ambassador for CMT's Empowering Education campaign, which provides resources and support to those seeking to further their education.

But perhaps the most important thing Cole has done is stayed true to herself, her style and her goals -- to make people happy and to let them know it's OK to be yourself. What a role model, indeed.

Check out her feisty performance of "Ladylike" for CMT Next Women Country Live. February's series of exclusive performances wraps up next week with music from Cassadee Pope and Tara Thompson.