Lucy Hale Credits Rascal Flatts With Country Music Career

Lucy Hale spent her teenage years listening to come of country music's biggest stars, including Shania Twain and Martina McBride, but she says she may have never even discovered her love of the genre, if not for Rascal Flatts.

“I think I was in fifth or sixth grade, and I was in Dallas on my choir trip and I had just gotten this sweet Discman, and so I went out and bought Rascal Flatts’ CD ['Prayin' for Daylight'],” she recalls to Taste of Country. “I’d never listened to their music before. I just remember I just listened to that on repeat, and I think that’s when I really started to be obsessed with country music was because of that album.”

The 'Pretty Little Liars' star has since gotten to work with some reigning hitmakers, including songwriters Mike Daly, Hillary Lindsey and Ashley Gorley, who all contributed songs for her freshman 'Road Between' album.

“I was completely, completely intimidated by some of the people I got to work with,” she admits. “I mean, these are kind of people that know what they’re doing. I was just blown away just talking about the songwriting process -- just going into it and seeing how these people work. They’re like machines.”

Hale's debut single, 'You Sound Good to Me,' is steadily climbing the charts. Download the album here.