Before she started writing chart-topping love songs about her famous boyfriends, this country bumpkin was already singing sappy tunes on stage at a very young age.

The chubby-cheeked cutie in the floral prairie dress is none other than an 11-year-old Taylor Swift when she starred as Kim McAfee in the musical Bye Bye Birdie in her hometown of Wyomissing, Penn.

“She was so friendly during rehearsals,” her co-star told Celebuzz. “She was definitely well liked and the star of the group. She had a bubbly personality and was always laughing and joking.”

Her on-stage co-crooner played Swifty’s first fictional boyfriend in the 2001 performance with the Berks Youth Theatre Academy. And the two young thespians were such a convincing couple they went on to star in four musicals together during their small town days.

“She started taking guitar lessons and songwriting at that young age,” added her co-star. “I heard she was sending demo tapes to Nashville when she was just 12-years-old.

“I could tell she was bound for bigger and better things.”

That’s for sure. The 22-year-old has gone from small town girl to big time success with six Grammy Awards and a Golden Globe nomination under her belt.

Take a look at TSwift during her early days before Nashville came calling in the CB! gallery above.