Deana Carter is the toast of the country musicindustry.

And she's being toasted with Strawberry Wine -- her first No. 1 single off herdouble-platinum album Did I Shave My Legs For This?

"This success is mind-boggling," the beautiful blonde tells Sun Country. "But Ihaven't really had the time to appreciate it yet."

Strawberry Wine's story of a teen coping with her budding sexuality on hergrandparent's farm immediately touched fans. Local radio stations frequently receivedcalls from women who shared similar coming-of-age stories.

The tale of a lost love is a true one for Carter.

"That song is about me," says Carter, who spent many a summer day on her grandparentsfarm in Louisiana. "(My old flame) and I are really good friends -- he's just likepart of the family."

In fact, the unnamed man recently attended one of Carter's concerts and told her that"when he hears the song on the radio, he says `Wow!' "

But Carter is quick to add she is now happily married to Chris DiCroce. In fact,DiCroce -- a drummer and singer -- will co-star in Carter's next video We DancedAnyway, which was filmed in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The music bug doesn't stop with Carter and her husband.

Carter is the daughter of noted Nashville session musician Fred Carter Jr.; hence, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkelwould just drop by her home.

"Simon and Garfunkel are very vivid in mind," she says about her youth.

Being surrounded by such outstanding talent rubbed off.

"It gave me a level of excellence for myself to achieve. And it made me appreciativeof the writing. I want to be unique and special," says Carter, who co-wrote six of heralbum's songs.

"All these stories I've lived -- it was an album of therapy."

Wearing your heart on your sleeve can be a frightening thing.

"It's terrifying. It's very scary to let people in and expose yourself, but it's theonly way I can be as an artist. I want to make a difference."

Her craving to make a difference first came about in a medical way. She earned abachelor's degree in physical rehabilitation and worked with stroke and head-injurypatients.

"It broke my heart. I had a patient that passed away and that was difficult.... Whenyou see people not surviving, you realize you can't change fate.

"I also realized I wasn't doing what I was put on the earth to do."

Look for Carter to play in Calgary in March.