Courtney Jaye was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, when she was a freshman in high school. It was at this time she discovered The Grateful Dead and Neil Young, and also began to play the guitar. After becoming immersed in the bohemian culture, she headed out west and lived in mountain town of Flagstaff, Arizona. She worked as an acupuncturist's assistant by day and performed in a bluegrass band at night.