Peyton Porter established himself as a pioneer of the latest country music with his debut project, In My Head.

Peyton Porter talks about the country star who inspired him to pursue his career.

Hearing Peyton Porter often speak is a bit euphoric.

"I seem to be stroking the sky," Porter, 24, told PEOPLE while still reeling from the happiness he felt at CMA Fest a few weeks ago. "I feel that this is my ultimate goal. I feel like witnessing my dream come true."

Indeed, you get the feeling that magic seeps through the pores of the innovative singer/songwriter, whether she is speaking her mind or singing her song.

"What's so special about CMA Fest is that I have an audience who took care of me since I came to Nashville, but also an audience who took care of me when I was a kid," Porter said. My Last Friday project debut. "There was also family there who took me to Nashville for two summers for free, so I could stay and try to write songs. It was a real moment."

Of course, healthy determination always burned in Porter's heart until he played basketball as a ponytail teenager who loved country music.

"I remember many times when I had a basketball game the next day but stayed up until 4 am watching the Blown Away DVD (Carrie Underwood) or listening to Taylor Swift reruns and reading every last credit," the girls averaged out of three. the year remembers. "I know I have to sleep, but I always feel it's more important than tomorrow's game."

Porter is also a family artist who started singing when he was just 12 years old in his hometown of Dawsonville, Georgia.

"I sing in church, write songs, and sing at several festivals," said Porter, who once used a Nashville silhouette as his cell phone wallpaper.