She acquired a record deal in her early teens and released a self-titled EP in 2005. Besides her songs being featured on TV and in films, in 2007 McCauley appeared on the daytime talk show Dr. Phil to discuss her contentious relationship with her mother, whom she claimed was an abusive stage mom. Along with the emotional issues with her mother, McCauley discussed her alleged problems with drug abuse, all of which informed her first full-length debut album, Better Than Blood. Featuring the single "Tap That," Better Than Blood was released on Wind-Up Records in 2007. ~ Matt Collar