Lynn gained respect early in her career with her 2011 LP release, 'Have You Met Lera Lynn?' The collection included her song Bobby, Baby, which won Merlefest's 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition (an honor she shared with Gillian Welch and Tift Merritt) and best alternative country song at the Independent Music Awards. Following the album's release, she walked away with best country artist honors at Athens 'Flagpole Music Awards. Lera Lynn followed up the debut album with a hair-raising cover of June Carter Cash's classic Ring of Fire, recently heard on the hit TV show Pretty Little Liars, backed with the original Don't Make Me Wait.