By 1988 Courtney was a rising star in the Austin music scene. One day, much to everyone's surprise, she announced she was moving to Los Angeles. “I was a single mom by then. I wanted to move back so my son and I could be closer to family. I also had, okay I know this sounds woo woo, but I had this feeling that something was there for me. There was something there for me alright....really hard times. Not at all what I had in mind!” But then something happened that unbeknownst to Courtney would change her life.

She was down to her last five dollars and had not found a job. A friend of Courtney's who ran a pre-school asked if she would come and sing for the children. “I told her I had no idea how to sing for children. But she assured me I'd think of something and said she'd pay me. Of course I said yes. I was in full on panic on the way to the school I didn't know what to sing. I wrote my frst children's song, titled Mo, in the car on the way to the school I sing it to this day. Anyway I have no idea what else I sang but the children listened and did not run me out of the school!”

The response to Courtney's performance was fantastic. The children and then the parents demanded she return again and again. Courtney's friend took her aside and said, “This is not normal. You should pay attention to this.” She gave her a list of schools to contact. Another friend loaned her money to live on. Within a month Courtney was being hired to sing for children and her unexpected career as a children's entertainer was launched.

Courtney and her son Grady circa 1982

For the next three years Courtney sang in schools, gave concerts and started giving workshops for teachers. She recorded her first CD of songs and stories titled, “Mustard Pancakes.” “Red Raincoat”, her second CD came out a year later. “It was wonderful because the work kept coming. I was selling CDs and I didn't have to promote myself much at all. My career was growing on it's own. What a concept!”

In 1991 Courtney took a huge risk and moved to Holland. Families and teachers in international and department of defense schools took to her performances and CDs like bees to honey. She started touring almost immediately. To this day teachers in Europe and Asia use her work in their classrooms. Families from every corner of the globe play her music and sing her songs. “It makes me smile from ear to ear. I perform and have performed in sixteen countries and counting. I have met so many wonderful people young and old and have had so many remarkable experiences. I'd say it was a dream come true but I never dreamed this would happen to me. It's all been a total wonderful surprise. Not that I haven't worked hard and made a lot of it happen, but this career defnitely came to get me. However once I experienced it and all that it was I said let's go. I'm in!”

Courtney moved back to the United States in 1994. While expanding her work in the US she continued touring in Europe and Asia performing and giving workshops. In 2004 she met a man who would change her life yet again. He saw her perform and told her she should be on television. Courtney already had an idea and characters for a TV show. Together they developed and wrote the TV show Mustard Pancakes. Courtney starred in the show which was hosted by Oregon Public Broadcasting. It has become a much loved, multi-award winning TV/DVD series. “It was an amazing experience collaborating with so many talented people. First I never dreamed I would be performing all over the world and that I would have CDs out. But then to be writing and starring in my own TV show, well that was unbelievable. It was the hardest work ever but also remarkable-a real privilege.”

Courtney continues to tour, performing and speaking to audiences world wide. She is developing a one woman show for adults and is writing her first chapter book for children.