hˈaʊɚd bɪɡˈæn hɜː pɹəfˈɛʃənəl kɚɹˈɪɹ æz ɐ sˈɪŋɚsˈɔŋɹaɪɾɚɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti sˈɛvən, ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ fɔːɹ pˈæɾi lˈʌvləs, dʒˈɑːn mˈaɪkəl mɑːntɡˈɑːmɚɹi, dʒˈɛsɪkə ˈændɹuːz, lˈiːlə mə kˈæn ænd ˈʌðɚz.
Howard began her professional career as a singer-songwriter in 1997, writing for Patty Loveless, John Michael Montgomery, Jessica Andrews, Lila McCann and others.