Victoria Banks is the personification of a local success story.

A self-made musician who cut her teeth strumming a guitar on the patio at The Old Station restaurant in Bracebridge, the award-winning songwriter returns to Muskoka this week just as one of her songs rockets up the North American country music charts.

Banks co-wrote the song Come on Over, the first single by pop star turned country singer Jessica Simpson. Last month the song made history after it became the highest ranked debut single ever for a new country artist on Billboard Magazine.

Her star is on the rise and this Saturday you can see the Port Carling-raised singer/songwriter perform in person at Gravenhurst Opera House.

Banks, who now calls Nashville home, will be playing along with fellow Nashville songwriters Lisa Brokop and Mary Sue Englund, in a show dubbed Nashville Nightingales.

B.C.-bred Brokop is a multiple Canadian Country Music award winner and her current single Break It is in heavy rotation on Country Music Television.

Englund is an award-winning independent musician and a professional side-musician for the likes of Pam Tillis and Jeff Carson.

Speaking on the phone from Nashville, Banks, who was known as Victoria Dodington in her Muskoka days, said life has been a roller coaster since the record-breaking debut of Come on Over.

“It’s like a snowball that’s started to roll,” said Banks. “I’ve already noticed that the number of demands and the calibre of co-writers wanting to work with me has skyrocketed.”

Banks has had some success over the past decade writing songs for artists like Julie Roberts and Gretchen Wilson, but nothing quite as big as the latest single.

The song came about after Banks and frequent collaborator Rachel Proctor came up with a tune called Remember That, which caught Simpson’s ear.

“She was crazy about it and decided she wanted to write with us,” said Banks. “The first day we wrote together, Rachel had completely lost her voice and I was on crutches after knee surgery. We didn’t get much done that day, but it was really quite productive because she (Simpson) told us so much about herself and really opened up. By the time we got back together, we wrote two songs very quickly.”

Being Simpson’s first foray into country music, Banks said she was a little nervous about how the effort would be received. However, her fears were put to rest when she heard the final product.

“She sounds fabulous in the country genre. It sounds like she should have been here all along,” said Banks. “She’s a nice person and she gets picked on pretty badly by the media. Now I feel like she’s my girl and nobody better mess with her.”

Banks is currently focused on her own album, which she hopes to have out by the end of the year. Her first release on a major label, Banks is keeping her fingers crossed that her songwriting success will parlay into radio exposure for her own songs.

Banks said last year’s show at the Opera House, her first hometown gig, was a great experience and she’s looking forward to this Saturday.

So is Brad Rundle, arts and culture manager for the town of Gravenhurst.

“Last year’s show was fantastic, my favourite show of the year,” said Rundle. “It was very entertaining and humorous. The girls tell the stories behind the songs. I think it’s great for people to see that these songs come from everyday experiences.”

Rundle said he appreciates Banks taking time out of her schedule to come back to Muskoka, and he hopes a big crowd will come out to show their support.

Tickets are $30 and available at the Gravenhurst Opera House box office.