LeAnn Rimes
Encyclopedia
LeAnn Rimes is an American country/pop singer. She is known for her rich vocals and her rise to fame as an eight-year-old champion on the original Ed McMahon
version of Star Search
, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue
" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her becoming the youngest country music star since Tanya Tucker
in 1972.
Rimes made her breakthrough into country music in 1996. Her debut album, Blue
, reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and was certified multiplatinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA). The album's eponymous leadoff single, "Blue
," which was originally intended to be recorded by Patsy Cline in the early 1960s, became a Top 10 hit. With immediate success, Rimes attained widespread national acclaim for her similarity to Cline's vocal style. When Rimes released her sophomore studio effort in 1997, You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
, Rimes went more towards country pop
material, which would set the trend for a string of albums that would be released into the next decade.
Since her debut, Rimes has won many major industry awards, which include two Grammys, three ACMs, one CMA
, twelve Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music
award. In addition, Rimes has also released ten studio albums and four compilation albums through her record label of 13 years, Asylum-Curb
, and placed over 40 singles on American and international charts since 1996. She has sold over 37 million records worldwide, with 20.3 million album sales in the United States
according to Nielsen SoundScan
. She was ranked the 17th Artist of the 1990-00 decade by Billboard
.
), she is the only child of Belinda Butler Rimes and Wilbur Rimes. The family relocated to Garland, Texas
when she was six years old. She was singing by the age of two, was enrolled into vocal and dance training, and by the age of five was performing at local talent shows. One of her best friends, Jordan Villarreal, supported her when she sang.
Rimes initially began her career in musical theatre
, performing in a Dallas, Texas
production of A Christmas Carol
, and almost landed the lead part in the Broadway
production of Annie
. However, after appearing on the network television competition show — and clearly charming host Ed McMahon
in addition to the more important fact of being a one-week champion on — Star Search
, Rimes decided to pursue a career in country music
. Following her national television appearance, Rimes made a number of appearances on Johnnie High's Country Music Revue
in Arlington, Texas
, which garnered the attention of national talent scouts.
By the age of nine, LeAnn was already an experienced singer. She toured nationally with her father and also regularly performed a cappella
renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the opening ceremonies of the Dallas Cowboys
football games. In order to bring his daughter more national attention, he began recording her under the independent label Nor Va Jak when she turned eleven. She released three albums under the label between 1992 and 1996.
Rimes was discovered by Dallas disc jockey
and record promoter, Bill Mack
. Mack was impressed by Rimes' vocal ability, and over the following three years, he also made various attempts to bring Rimes to a mainstream level. The center of Mack's plan to bring her success was his self-penned composition, "Blue," which he had written in the early 1960s. Mack claimed that the song was intended to be recorded and made a hit record by Patsy Cline
, but she had been killed in a plane crash before ever recording the composition. By 1995, Mack was able to gain Rimes a contract with Curb Records
, after record executives heard Rimes sing "Blue."
.
While Curb was releasing "Blue," a claim was also sent out that Mack had been waiting over 30 years to find the perfect artist to record "Blue." However, the story was later found to be an exaggeration, as it was discovered that "Blue" had already been recorded by three different artists. Mack himself and Kenny Roberts
both released versions of the song on Starday Records in the 1960s. In 1993, Australian artist Catherine Britt
released her own version as a single in her native country. The story, though, was continually spread throughout the national press, adding to the idea that Rimes was the successor to Patsy Cline's legacy.
Rimes's album Blue
was also released in 1996, and sold 123,000 copies in its first week, which was the highest figure in SoundScan history up to that point. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Top Country Albums and debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard 200
albums chart, eventually selling a total of four million copies in the United States and 8 million copies worldwide.
Allmusic considered the album to be "delightful" and that it could "help inspire other young teens."
Rimes followed up the single with several charting country singles from her 1996 album, starting with "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)
", which reached Number 1 on the Billboard Country Chart in 1996. She also released a duet single with Eddy Arnold
from the album, a remake of his 1955 hit "The Cattle Call
".
The album's other hits included the Top 5 "The Light in Your Eyes
" and the minor hit "Hurt Me."
With the album's success, Rimes received many major industry awards. In 1997, she won the Country Music Association
's "Horizon Award," becoming the youngest person to ever be nominated and win a Country Music Association award. The following year she was awarded Grammy Awards, one for Best New Artist and another for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue". She is the youngest person to win a Grammy, at 14 years old. She was also the first Country music artist to win the Best New Artist.
In 1997, Rimes released a compilation
of previously recorded material under the Nor Va Jak label, Unchained Melody: The Early Years
. The album mainly consisted of cover versions, ranging from Country to pop covers, including songs originally recorded by The Beatles
, Whitney Houston
, Bill Monroe
, and Dolly Parton
.
Rimes' version of the title track
became a major country hit in early 1997 and helped increase sales for the album.
In September 1997, Rimes released her follow-up studio album to Blue titled You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
. The album covered classic inspirational songs, such as "Clinging to Saving a Hand" and "Amazing Grace
". It also featured pop music remakes of songs such as Debby Boone
's "You Light up My Life
" and Bette Midler
's "The Rose
". The album was a departure from Rimes' previous releases as it contained more Adult Contemporary-styled music than Country.
The album sold over four million copies in the United States, certifying 4× Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
.
The album contained the single "How Do I Live
", which became a major pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100
, reaching Number 2.
"How Do I Live" set a new record for becoming the longest-running single in Billboard Hot 100 history, spending 69 weeks on the chart.
The song was originally recorded for the film Con Air
, along with a version also recorded by Trisha Yearwood
. Yearwood's manager at the time had told the press that Rimes' version sounded "too pop". Therefore Rimes' version received little country airplay (only reaching Number 43) and was rejected for the film. Yearwood's rendition was released to country radio shortly afterwards, peaking at Number 2 on the Billboard Country Chart in 1997, becoming the country hit instead of Rimes' version.
Rimes released her third album for Curb in May 1998, Sittin' on Top of the World
. The album leaned more progressively towards Adult Contemporary and mid-tempo pop music. It included pop material written by Carol Bayer Sager and David Foster
.
It also included a remake of Prince's "Purple Rain
" and was produced by her father. The album was given mixed reviews. Allmusic gave the album two out of five stars.
Rolling Stone said Rimes vocal style "holds her own in the more popular style of Mariah Carey
and Celine Dion
, wherein a spectacular voice upstages a song, grins and goes on about her business."
Upon its release, Sittin' on Top of the World debuted at Number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and Number 3 on the Billboard 200,
and sold over a million copies in the United States
, certifying "Platinum" in sales by the RIAA
.
The album spawned the Number 4 Country hit "Commitment
", the Top 20 Pop hit "Looking Through Your Eyes
", and the Number 10 country hit "Nothin' New Under the Moon
".
Rimes released her fourth studio album for Curb, LeAnn Rimes
, in October 1999, a collection of country standards.
The album covered songs mainly by Patsy Cline – which included "Crazy
", "I Fall to Pieces
", and "She's Got You
" – that were primarily taken from her 12 Greatest Hits
album. The album also covered Marty Robbins
's "Don't Worry" and Kris Kristofferson
's "Me and Bobby McGee
". The album included one new song, "Big Deal
". The song gained many positive reviews. Allmusic called the song, "a return to her roots" and "a salute to one of her idols, Patsy Cline." The album in general received much praise. Allmusic called the album one of her "better" efforts, since they had disliked her previous releases.
Entertainment Weekly
gave the album a positive review and said that Rimes's voice, "dares listeners to take note of what is missing in her interpretations -- the gutsiness and gut-wrenching urgency of performers who felt what they sang."
The album was a major success like her previous releases, debuting at Number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, topping the country albums chart for two weeks. In addition, it also peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard 200
albums chart.
The album also sold over one million copies in the United States, and was certified "Platinum" in sales by the RIAA.
The album's new song, "Big Deal", was the lead single off the album, and became a Top 10 country hit that year, peaking at Number 6.
Also in 1999, Rimes recorded a duet with Elton John
for the stage musical Aida
, titled "Written in the Stars".
The song became a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The album would spawn a second single, a cover of Cline's "Crazy" that was released outside of the United States.
In 2000, Rimes would make her full crossover into pop music
. On March 8, 2000, Rimes contributed to the soundtrack from the 1999 TV movie Jesus
, called Jesus: Music From & Inspired by the Epic Mini Series. The song, "I Need You
", would be released as a single from the soundtrack on July 18, 2000. "I Need You" was characterized by Allmusic as having similarities to that of Adult Contemporary and Pop music. The song became a Top 10 country hit and also a major pop hit, reaching Number 11 on the Hot 100. Rimes would make her first theatrical acting debut in the 2000 film Coyote Ugly
. She would also contribute four songs for the film's soundtrack on August 1, 2000.. Two singles were released from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. "Can't Fight the Moonlight" was released as a single for the soundtrack on August 22, 2000 with the second single from the soundtrack, "But I Do Love You", as the B-side
track. By February 2002 "Can't fight the Moonlight" became a crossover Pop hit, reaching Number 11 in United States and becoming the highest selling single of 2001 in Australia. "Can't Fight the Moonlight" won Rimes a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for "Favorite Song from a Movie."
In January 2001, Curb Records
released another compilation of previously recorded material, I Need You. The album topped the Top Country Albums chart for one week, and also peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard 200. I Need You did not garner praise from many critics and was mainly given negative reviews. Rolling Stone gave the album two and a half out of five stars and called the album, "synthetic-feeling." Despite very little praise from critics, the album was sold well, certifying "Gold" in sales by the RIAA. Rimes would later go on to publicly disown the album, which she stated was compiled together from studio outtakes her father had produced and that it was released without her knowledge or input. At the time, during the litigation with her label, Rimes was asking "that Curb give Rimes the rights to all past recordings and videos, give up all publishing interests in her compositions and destroy all currently available recordings."
In mid-October 2001, Curb released a compilation of patriotic and inspirational songs, titled God Bless America
, in order to benefit the disaster recovery for the September 11 attacks. It included the title track
, as well as inspirational songs such as "The Lord's Prayer" and "The Sands of Time".
In February 2002 Rimes reissued the I Need You
album with 9 of the songs originally released on the album, an extended version of the song You Are, the song "Light the Fire Within", which she sang at the Olympics the previous year, and 4 bonus remixes.
Rimes would later that year release her seventh album (sixth studio album) titled Twisted Angel
, which contained more adult material.
After battling managerial control over her career the previous year, Twisted Angel became the first album released by Rimes that was not produced by her father.
Instead, Rimes executive produced the album. A month following the album's release, Twisted Angel was certified "Gold" by the RIAA, her second Gold-certified album.
The album received mainly negative reviews by most music critics and magazines. Allmusic stated that the album could possibly "alieniate her from her original fans" and "the songwriting is a little uneven."
Rolling Stone gave the album two out of five stars, stating that the album sounded too "country-pop crossover."
The album peaked at Number 3 on the Top Country Albums chart and Number 12 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
Three singles were spawned from the album between 2002 and 2003, however none of the singles were Top 40 hits on the country or pop charts. The lead single, "Life Goes on
", reached the Top 40 only on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
chart, peaking at Number 19. The second single, "Tic Toc" was a Top 40 Dance club hit in 2003. The third single, "Suddenly" only peaked at 43 on the US Country charts, 47 on the UK charts and 53 on the Australian charts.
The following year when Rimes turned 21, she released a Greatest Hits
compilation in November.
The album recapped Rimes' major hits under Curb records from "Blue" in 1996, to "Life Goes on" in 2002. The album peaked at Number 3 on the Top Country Albums chart and Number 24 on the Billboard 200 in November.
Featured on the album was the song, We Can, which was originally released as a single for the Legally Blonde 2 soundtrack in July 2003.
The album would eventually be certified "Platinum" in 2007. The following year in October 2004, Rimes issued her first holiday-themed album titled, What a Wonderful World
.
Although the album received mixed reviews from magazines and critics, it was Rimes' best-selling album in over five years,
reaching Number 3 on the Billboard 200 and Number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart in 2005,
selling more than 100,000 copies within its first week. Rimes explained to the Chicago Sun-Times
that the album helped mature her as a person, "I have 10 years of experience, so it's tough to get anything past me in this business. I've become a very strong woman because of all I've gone through, good and bad."
This Woman would eventually be certified "Gold" later in 2005, after selling more than 500,000 units nationwide.
The album's singles were Rimes's first Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Songs
chart in five years. The three singles released from the album — "Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense
", "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way
", and "Something's Gotta Give
" — all peaked within the Top 5 on the country charts between 2005 and 2006.
From the album, Rimes was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Something's Gotta Give". In addition, she was also nominated for an American Music Award for "Favorite Female Country Artist." In 2006, Rimes recorded a cover version of Barbara Mandrell
's "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)", for a tribute album to Mandrell's career titled, She Was a Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell.
Rimes also would record a track for Disneyland
's fiftieth anniversary celebration album titled, "Remember When."
In summer 2006, Rimes released the studio album Whatever We Wanna
, which was released exclusively outside of the United States and Canada. It was originally planned on being released in North America, however due to the success of This Woman, it was never released. The album spawned three singles, "And It Feels Like
", a duet with Brian McFadden
titled, "Everybody's Someone
" and "Strong". The album leaned more towards Pop Rock
and R&B
music instead of country.
Rimes would release one final single in the US from her album This Woman in August 2006 called "Some People
" which would peak at 34 on the US country charts.
, "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore".
Family was the first album released by Rimes in which every track was co-written by Rimes herself.
Rolling Stone said the songs on the album are "uneven" and rated it three and half out of five stars.
Allmusic gave Family four out of five stars and said that the album, "illustrates her range as a singer along with some true strength as a writer."
The album helped nominate Rimes for the Academy of Country Music
's "Top Female Vocalist" award in 2008.
The album's lead single, "Nothin' Better to Do" was released in mid 2007, and peaked at Number 14 on the Billboard Country Chart before the end of the year. The album has released two singles to date; "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine
" and "What I Cannot Change
."
In 2008, Rimes toured with Kenny Chesney
where she opened every show on his 2008 Poets and Pirates Tour, along with other artists on select dates such as Brooks & Dunn
, Keith Urban
, Sammy Hagar
, Gary Allan
, Big & Rich
, and Luke Bryan
.
In late 2008, Rimes was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "What I Cannot Change", the third single from the album.
In 2008, she recorded For Good with Delta Goodrem
for the Wicked 5th Anniversary album. LeAnn teamed up with Joss Stone
for a CMT Crossroads
special aired in fall 2007.
.
The first single from the album is a cover of John Anderson's 1983 single, "Swingin'
. LeAnn first debuted the song at the 2010 CMT Music Awards. The single was released on June 8, 2010.
According to LeAnn Rimes' official website, she is planning on re-recording her hit, "Blue
" for the new album. She stated that she wants "the album to be perfect." Since she is doing this, the album would take a longer waiting time to come out. On November 8, 2010, LeAnn released her second single titled "Crazy Women" to radio. "Crazy Women," "Blue" and "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" were announced, in the same post, as the three extra tracks that LeAnn went back in the studio to add to the album. A third single, "Give
", debuted at #60 in July 2011. Rimes announced via her Twitter account on July 17, 2011 that the new release date for her Lady & Gentlemen album would be September 27, 2011.She has also stated that her next studio album is already done and will be released next year.
. Cline showed distinctive emotional expression in most of her material. Rimes has also used distinctive emotional expression in many of her songs, most notably her first single, "Blue
", which was sung in the style of Cline. Rimes' vocal similarities to Cline had brought wide interest to the idea that Rimes was the successor to Cline's legacy, and brought her novelty appeal. Many music critics have argued that Rimes' vocals were only a reproduction of Cline's original sound, while others have disagreed.
Allmusic has called Rimes' vocals "rich and powerful."
Her vocal ability has also brought Rimes to comparisons to past teenage country stars, including 50s country star Brenda Lee
and 70s country star Tanya Tucker
. Rimes was also known for choosing mature material that was beyond her age range. In her first album, Rimes recorded such material as Deborah Allen
's "My Baby", whose lyrics provocatively say, "my baby is a full-time lover, my baby is a full-grown man."
Other material such as Diane Warren
's "How Do I Live
" had also been considered too mature for Rimes' age and was the main reason why her version of the song was not chosen to be used in the soundtrack for the film Con Air
.
and pop
. She has stated that Barbra Streisand
, Wynonna Judd
, and Reba McEntire
have been primary influences on her career.
Rimes has stated the main influence on her career is Patsy Cline. She has covered many of Cline's hit songs since the beginning of her career. Her 1999 self-titled album is primarily a tribute to Cline, as Rimes recorded five out of ten songs for the album that had been hits for Cline years before.
later in the year with her mother to pursue an acting career.
That year Rimes played a role in the Made for television movie, Holiday in Your Heart
, which is based on a book she had helped write. For participating in the film, Rimes was awarded the "Rising Star" award from the Lone Star Film & Television Awards.
She made her official film debut in 2001 for Coyote Ugly
, providing the singing voice for Piper Perabo's character Violet Sanford and making a cameo appearance towards the end of the film. In addition, she also recorded four songs for the film's soundtrack, including the Top 20 Pop hit, "Can't Fight the Moonlight."
In 2005 Rimes hosted the country music television competition, Nashville Star
on the USA television network. However she only held the position for one season after deciding to depart from the show's cast.
In early June 2007, she was chosen at the last minute to record the leading song for the soundtrack of Evan Almighty
called "Ready For A Miracle" (previously recorded by Patti LaBelle
). The song can be heard in the movie, during the end credits, and in the trailers of Evan Almighty.
Rimes played in the movie Good Intentions with her friend Elaine Hendricks which is filming near Atlanta, Georgia
.
Rimes plays Meg Galligan in the made for TV movie, Northern Lights, based on the Nora Roberts
novel of the same name. The film aired on the Lifetime network on March 12, 2009.
In 2007 Rimes began hosting The Colgate Country Showdown
, a nation wide televised country music talent competition, similar to that of American Idol or Nashville Star. In 2011 Rimes hosted the show for her 5th consecutive year, when the show switched sponsorship, to Texaco
.
against her father, Wilbur Rimes, and her former manager, Lyle Walker in Dallas, Texas
. Rimes claimed that her father and former manager took over seven million dollars from her in the preceding five years. Rimes also alleged that both men made unreasonable fees and took advantage of Rimes' label, Asylum-Curb
, in order to acquire financial gain. Rimes sought unspecified damages because her attorney was not sure of how much money had been lost in the preceding five years. According to Rimes' lawyer, her mother hired two accountants to investigate how much was taken from Rimes's fortune, and it was estimated that the men acquired around eight million dollars in royalties. In 2002, Rimes's lawsuit with her father was "settled on undisclosed terms."
Rimes reconciled with her father for her wedding.
In November 2000, Rimes filed a second lawsuit against her label, Asylum-Curb. Rimes wanted permission to be released from the contract that was signed by her parents on Rimes' behalf when she originally signed with the label in 1995. She also wanted her label to turn over the rights of her music, video work, and publishing interests, and destroy all of her recordings that were currently available to the label at the time of the lawsuit. Part of Rimes's legal battles ended in December 2001, when Asylum-Curb started a new contract with Rimes.
Rimes is currently married to Northern Lights
co-star Eddie Cibrian
, with whom she had a well-publicized extramarital affair prior to the split from Sheremet. Cibrian, the father of two children, left his wife for Rimes and filed for divorce in August 2009, after eight years of marriage. In June 2010, Rimes spoke for the first time about the end of her first marriage, stating that, while she was sorry that people were hurt, she had no regrets about the outcome of the affair. On December 27, 2010, it was announced via Billboard
that Rimes and Cibrian were engaged. The couple wed on April 22, 2011 at a private home in California.
. She participated in a PSA
to raise awareness about the disease.
Rimes lent her voice to the 2008 song "Just Stand Up." The proceeds benefited Stand Up to Cancer. As a result of SU2C fundraising endeavors, the SU2C scientific advisory committee, overseen by the American Association for Cancer Research
, was able to award $73.6 million towards cancer research.
On December 19, 2010, she performed "The Rose," joined by The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles in remembrance of the many gay teenagers who committed suicide in 2010. On her weblog she wrote on June 18, 2011: "I believe in equality for everyone. I believe everyone should have the right to love and commit to whomever they want. [...] All I know is that in God's eyes we are all the same. I just wish we could see through the eyes of God more often."
Ed McMahon
Edward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
version of Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
, followed by the release of the Patsy Cline-intended single "Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American country music singer, LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name . The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old....
" when Rimes was only age 13, resulting in her becoming the youngest country music star since Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
in 1972.
Rimes made her breakthrough into country music in 1996. Her debut album, Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes album)
Blue is the debut album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996 by Curb Records. It reached #3 on Billboard 200, and #1 on Top Country Albums....
, reached #1 on the Top Country Albums chart and was certified multiplatinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA). The album's eponymous leadoff single, "Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American country music singer, LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name . The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old....
," which was originally intended to be recorded by Patsy Cline in the early 1960s, became a Top 10 hit. With immediate success, Rimes attained widespread national acclaim for her similarity to Cline's vocal style. When Rimes released her sophomore studio effort in 1997, You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs is the third album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States by Curb Records on September 9, 1997, when Rimes was 15 years old. The album was hugely successful but many critics thought that much of the material did not do Rimes'...
, Rimes went more towards country pop
Country pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
material, which would set the trend for a string of albums that would be released into the next decade.
Since her debut, Rimes has won many major industry awards, which include two Grammys, three ACMs, one CMA
Country Music Association Awards
The Country Music Association Awards, also known as the CMA Awards, or the CMAs, and not to be confused with the ACM Awards, are voted on by business members of the Country Music Association. The first CMA awards were presented at an untelevised ceremony in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium in 1967...
, twelve Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music
American Music Awards
-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
award. In addition, Rimes has also released ten studio albums and four compilation albums through her record label of 13 years, Asylum-Curb
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
, and placed over 40 singles on American and international charts since 1996. She has sold over 37 million records worldwide, with 20.3 million album sales in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
according to Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
. She was ranked the 17th Artist of the 1990-00 decade by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
.
Early life
Born Margaret LeAnn Rimes (in Pearl, MississippiPearl, Mississippi
Pearl is a city in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 21,961 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area....
), she is the only child of Belinda Butler Rimes and Wilbur Rimes. The family relocated to Garland, Texas
Garland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
when she was six years old. She was singing by the age of two, was enrolled into vocal and dance training, and by the age of five was performing at local talent shows. One of her best friends, Jordan Villarreal, supported her when she sang.
Rimes initially began her career in musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
, performing in a Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
production of A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...
, and almost landed the lead part in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Annie
Annie (musical)
Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and the book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years with a blonde Annie as the poster...
. However, after appearing on the network television competition show — and clearly charming host Ed McMahon
Ed McMahon
Edward Peter "Ed" McMahon, Jr. was an American comedian, game show host and announcer. He is most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's sidekick and announcer on The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. He also hosted the original version of the talent show Star Search from 1983 to 1995...
in addition to the more important fact of being a one-week champion on — Star Search
Star Search
Star Search is a television show that was produced from 1983-95, hosted by Ed McMahon, and created by Alfred Masini. A relaunch was produced in 2003-04. The show was originally filmed at the old Earl Carroll Theatre at 6230 Sunset Blvd...
, Rimes decided to pursue a career in country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. Following her national television appearance, Rimes made a number of appearances on Johnnie High's Country Music Revue
Johnnie High's Country Music Revue
The Johnnie High's Country Music Revue is a weekly variety show held at the Arlington Music Hall in Arlington, Texas near the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. It helps to showcase local talent; Old or young. It was created by Johnnie High, a singer, musician, songwriter and businessman. The Revue began...
in Arlington, Texas
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, which garnered the attention of national talent scouts.
By the age of nine, LeAnn was already an experienced singer. She toured nationally with her father and also regularly performed a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
renditions of "The Star Spangled Banner" at the opening ceremonies of the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
football games. In order to bring his daughter more national attention, he began recording her under the independent label Nor Va Jak when she turned eleven. She released three albums under the label between 1992 and 1996.
Rimes was discovered by Dallas disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and record promoter, Bill Mack
Bill Mack
Bill Mack is one of the most recognizable voices in country music radio. For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth...
. Mack was impressed by Rimes' vocal ability, and over the following three years, he also made various attempts to bring Rimes to a mainstream level. The center of Mack's plan to bring her success was his self-penned composition, "Blue," which he had written in the early 1960s. Mack claimed that the song was intended to be recorded and made a hit record by Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
, but she had been killed in a plane crash before ever recording the composition. By 1995, Mack was able to gain Rimes a contract with Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
, after record executives heard Rimes sing "Blue."
1996: Blue
After signing with Curb, Rimes re-recorded a new version of "Blue" that was to be released on her debut studio album on the label. In 1996, the new version of "Blue" was released as a single, peaking at Number 10 on the Billboard Country ChartHot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
.
While Curb was releasing "Blue," a claim was also sent out that Mack had been waiting over 30 years to find the perfect artist to record "Blue." However, the story was later found to be an exaggeration, as it was discovered that "Blue" had already been recorded by three different artists. Mack himself and Kenny Roberts
Kenny Roberts (musician)
Kenny Roberts was a country music singer, born in Lenoir City, Tennessee, but raised on a farm outside of Greenfield, Massachusetts....
both released versions of the song on Starday Records in the 1960s. In 1993, Australian artist Catherine Britt
Catherine Britt
Catherine Britt is a country music artist who has had success in both her native Australia and in the United States. She was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, United States in 2004...
released her own version as a single in her native country. The story, though, was continually spread throughout the national press, adding to the idea that Rimes was the successor to Patsy Cline's legacy.
Rimes's album Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes album)
Blue is the debut album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996 by Curb Records. It reached #3 on Billboard 200, and #1 on Top Country Albums....
was also released in 1996, and sold 123,000 copies in its first week, which was the highest figure in SoundScan history up to that point. The album peaked at Number 1 on the Top Country Albums and debuted at Number 3 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart, eventually selling a total of four million copies in the United States and 8 million copies worldwide.
Allmusic considered the album to be "delightful" and that it could "help inspire other young teens."
Rimes followed up the single with several charting country singles from her 1996 album, starting with "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)
One Way Ticket (Because I Can)
"One Way Ticket " is a single, released in 1996, by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes. The single made her the fourth teen-aged country music act to score a Number One single on the U.S. Billboard country music charts. It is also her only Number One country hit.According to one of her...
", which reached Number 1 on the Billboard Country Chart in 1996. She also released a duet single with Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
from the album, a remake of his 1955 hit "The Cattle Call
The Cattle Call
"The Cattle Call" is a song written and recorded in 1934 by American songwriter and musician Tex Owens. It became a signature song for Eddy Arnold....
".
The album's other hits included the Top 5 "The Light in Your Eyes
The Light in Your Eyes
"The Light in Your Eyes" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, released as the sixth and final single from her major label debut Blue. The song made it to number five on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart in 1997....
" and the minor hit "Hurt Me."
With the album's success, Rimes received many major industry awards. In 1997, she won the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
's "Horizon Award," becoming the youngest person to ever be nominated and win a Country Music Association award. The following year she was awarded Grammy Awards, one for Best New Artist and another for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue". She is the youngest person to win a Grammy, at 14 years old. She was also the first Country music artist to win the Best New Artist.
1997–2001: Pop crossover and Worldwide Success
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
of previously recorded material under the Nor Va Jak label, Unchained Melody: The Early Years
Unchained Melody: The Early Years
Jose F. Promis of Allmusic gave the album two and a half out of five stars stating that it's "a tad bizarre" due to the album consisting of recordings released prior to Blue, that were recorded when Rimes was eleven years old, as a flow up to her debut album....
. The album mainly consisted of cover versions, ranging from Country to pop covers, including songs originally recorded by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Bill Monroe
Bill Monroe
William Smith Monroe was an American musician who created the style of music known as bluegrass, which takes its name from his band, the "Blue Grass Boys," named for Monroe's home state of Kentucky. Monroe's performing career spanned 60 years as a singer, instrumentalist, composer and bandleader...
, and Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton
Dolly Rebecca Parton is an American singer-songwriter, author, multi-instrumentalist, actress and philanthropist, best known for her work in country music. Dolly Parton has appeared in movies like 9 to 5, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Steel Magnolias and Straight Talk...
.
Rimes' version of the title track
Unchained Melody
"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
became a major country hit in early 1997 and helped increase sales for the album.
In September 1997, Rimes released her follow-up studio album to Blue titled You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs
You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs is the third album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States by Curb Records on September 9, 1997, when Rimes was 15 years old. The album was hugely successful but many critics thought that much of the material did not do Rimes'...
. The album covered classic inspirational songs, such as "Clinging to Saving a Hand" and "Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn with words written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton , published in 1779. With a message that forgiveness and redemption are possible regardless of the sins people commit and that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God,...
". It also featured pop music remakes of songs such as Debby Boone
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a then record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year...
's "You Light up My Life
You Light Up My Life (song)
Many artists have covered "You Light Up My Life" since 1977. The following year, Johnny Mathis recorded and named his album after the song. LeAnn Rimes released her version as a single in 1997, 20 years after Boone's version was released and on the same record label . Her version fared modestly...
" and Bette Midler
Bette Midler
Bette Midler is an American singer, actress, and comedian, also known by her informal stage name, The Divine Miss M. She became famous as a cabaret and concert headliner, and went on to star in successful and acclaimed films such as The Rose, Ruthless People, Beaches, and For The Boys...
's "The Rose
The Rose (song)
"The Rose" is a pop song written by Amanda McBroom and made famous by Bette Midler, who performed it in the 1979 movie, The Rose. Since then it has been covered by a variety of artists.-Bette Midler version:...
". The album was a departure from Rimes' previous releases as it contained more Adult Contemporary-styled music than Country.
The album sold over four million copies in the United States, certifying 4× Multi-Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
The album contained the single "How Do I Live
How Do I Live
"How Do I Live" is the title of a song written by Diane Warren. It was originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes in 1997 and shortly afterward by Trisha Yearwood...
", which became a major pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, reaching Number 2.
"How Do I Live" set a new record for becoming the longest-running single in Billboard Hot 100 history, spending 69 weeks on the chart.
The song was originally recorded for the film Con Air
Con Air
Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
, along with a version also recorded by Trisha Yearwood
Trisha Yearwood
Patricia Lynn Yearwood, professionally known as Trisha Yearwood , is an American country music artist. She is best known for her ballads about vulnerable young women from a female perspective that have been described by some music critics as "strong" and "confident."Trisha Yearwood signed with MCA...
. Yearwood's manager at the time had told the press that Rimes' version sounded "too pop". Therefore Rimes' version received little country airplay (only reaching Number 43) and was rejected for the film. Yearwood's rendition was released to country radio shortly afterwards, peaking at Number 2 on the Billboard Country Chart in 1997, becoming the country hit instead of Rimes' version.
Rimes released her third album for Curb in May 1998, Sittin' on Top of the World
Sittin' on Top of the World (album)
-Remixes:*Digital download#"Sittin' on Top of the World" 5:34#"Sittin' on Top of the World" 4:36-Charts:...
. The album leaned more progressively towards Adult Contemporary and mid-tempo pop music. It included pop material written by Carol Bayer Sager and David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
.
It also included a remake of Prince's "Purple Rain
Purple Rain (song)
"Purple Rain" is a power ballad by Prince and The Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name, and was released as the third single from that album. The song is a combination of rock, pop, gospel,...
" and was produced by her father. The album was given mixed reviews. Allmusic gave the album two out of five stars.
Rolling Stone said Rimes vocal style "holds her own in the more popular style of Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
and Celine Dion
Celine Dion
Céline Marie Claudette Dion, , , is a Canadian singer. Born to a large family from Charlemagne, Quebec, Dion emerged as a teen star in the French-speaking world after her manager and future husband René Angélil mortgaged his home to finance her first record...
, wherein a spectacular voice upstages a song, grins and goes on about her business."
Upon its release, Sittin' on Top of the World debuted at Number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart, and Number 3 on the Billboard 200,
and sold over a million copies in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, certifying "Platinum" in sales by the RIAA
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
.
The album spawned the Number 4 Country hit "Commitment
Commitment (song)
"Commitment" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, release as the lead single from her album Sittin' on Top of the World. The song placed at #4 on the US country charts, #38 in the UK. It was later featured on Rimes' Greatest Hits and its international version, The Best of LeAnn Rimes.-Charts:...
", the Top 20 Pop hit "Looking Through Your Eyes
Looking Through Your Eyes
"Looking Through Your Eyes" is the second single from LeAnn Rimes' album Sittin' on Top of the World. The song placed at #4 on the Adult Contemporary charts, #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #38 in the UK. The song was also featured on The Quest for Camelot soundtrack...
", and the Number 10 country hit "Nothin' New Under the Moon
Nothin' New Under the Moon
"Nothin' New Under the Moon" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, released as the third single from her album Sittin' on Top of the World. The song placed at #10 on the US country charts.-Charts:...
".
Rimes released her fourth studio album for Curb, LeAnn Rimes
LeAnn Rimes (album)
-Charts:LeAnn Rimes debuted at #8 on Billboard 200 with 115,000 copies sold in its first week.-Peak positions:-Year end-chart:-Sales:-References:...
, in October 1999, a collection of country standards.
The album covered songs mainly by Patsy Cline – which included "Crazy
Crazy (Willie Nelson song)
"Crazy" is a ballad composed by Willie Nelson. It has been recorded by several artists, most notably by Patsy Cline, whose version was a #2 country hit in 1962....
", "I Fall to Pieces
I Fall to Pieces
"I Fall to Pieces" is a single released by Patsy Cline in 1961, and was featured on her 1961 studio album, Patsy Cline Showcase. "I Fall to Pieces" was Cline's first #1 hit on the Country charts, and her second hit single to cross over onto the Pop charts...
", and "She's Got You
She's Got You
"She's Got You" is a famous pop song written by Hank Cochran and was first recorded and released as a single by Patsy Cline in 1962. Musically the song is an upbeat jazz-pop song with country overtones to support it.-History:...
" – that were primarily taken from her 12 Greatest Hits
12 Greatest Hits
Patsy Cline's Greatest Hits is a compilation consisting of American country pop music singer, Patsy Cline's greatest hits. The album consists of Cline's biggest hits between 1957 and 1963...
album. The album also covered Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins
Martin David Robinson , known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist...
's "Don't Worry" and Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...
's "Me and Bobby McGee
Me and Bobby McGee
"Me and Bobby McGee" is a song written by Kris Kristofferson and Fred Foster, originally performed by Roger Miller. Others performed the song later, including Kristofferson himself, and Janis Joplin who topped the U.S. singles chart with the song in 1971 after her death, making the song the second...
". The album included one new song, "Big Deal
Big Deal (song)
"Big Deal" is the title of a song recorded by LeAnn Rimes, released as the first single from her album, LeAnn Rimes , on September 28, 1999. The song charted at #6 on the US country charts and #23 on the US Hot 100 chart...
". The song gained many positive reviews. Allmusic called the song, "a return to her roots" and "a salute to one of her idols, Patsy Cline." The album in general received much praise. Allmusic called the album one of her "better" efforts, since they had disliked her previous releases.
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
gave the album a positive review and said that Rimes's voice, "dares listeners to take note of what is missing in her interpretations -- the gutsiness and gut-wrenching urgency of performers who felt what they sang."
The album was a major success like her previous releases, debuting at Number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, topping the country albums chart for two weeks. In addition, it also peaked at Number 8 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
albums chart.
The album also sold over one million copies in the United States, and was certified "Platinum" in sales by the RIAA.
The album's new song, "Big Deal", was the lead single off the album, and became a Top 10 country hit that year, peaking at Number 6.
Also in 1999, Rimes recorded a duet with Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
for the stage musical Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
, titled "Written in the Stars".
The song became a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The album would spawn a second single, a cover of Cline's "Crazy" that was released outside of the United States.
In 2000, Rimes would make her full crossover into pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. On March 8, 2000, Rimes contributed to the soundtrack from the 1999 TV movie Jesus
Jesus (1999 film)
Jesus is a Biblical telefilm that retells the story of Jesus. It was shot in Morocco and Malta. It stars Jeremy Sisto as Jesus, Jacqueline Bisset as Mary of Nazareth, Debra Messing as Mary Magdalene and Gary Oldman as Pontius Pilate.-Overview:...
, called Jesus: Music From & Inspired by the Epic Mini Series. The song, "I Need You
I Need You (LeAnn Rimes song)
"I Need You" is a song performed by American country pop artist, LeAnn Rimes. It was released on July 18, 2000 as a single from Jesus: Music From & Inspired by the Epic Mini Series. It spent 25 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Chart and peaked at #11...
", would be released as a single from the soundtrack on July 18, 2000. "I Need You" was characterized by Allmusic as having similarities to that of Adult Contemporary and Pop music. The song became a Top 10 country hit and also a major pop hit, reaching Number 11 on the Hot 100. Rimes would make her first theatrical acting debut in the 2000 film Coyote Ugly
Coyote Ugly (film)
Coyote Ugly is a 2000 romantic comedy/drama based on the actual Coyote Ugly Saloon, set in New York City. The film stars Piper Perabo and Adam Garcia...
. She would also contribute four songs for the film's soundtrack on August 1, 2000.. Two singles were released from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack. "Can't Fight the Moonlight" was released as a single for the soundtrack on August 22, 2000 with the second single from the soundtrack, "But I Do Love You", as the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
track. By February 2002 "Can't fight the Moonlight" became a crossover Pop hit, reaching Number 11 in United States and becoming the highest selling single of 2001 in Australia. "Can't Fight the Moonlight" won Rimes a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for "Favorite Song from a Movie."
In January 2001, Curb Records
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
released another compilation of previously recorded material, I Need You. The album topped the Top Country Albums chart for one week, and also peaked at Number 10 on the Billboard 200. I Need You did not garner praise from many critics and was mainly given negative reviews. Rolling Stone gave the album two and a half out of five stars and called the album, "synthetic-feeling." Despite very little praise from critics, the album was sold well, certifying "Gold" in sales by the RIAA. Rimes would later go on to publicly disown the album, which she stated was compiled together from studio outtakes her father had produced and that it was released without her knowledge or input. At the time, during the litigation with her label, Rimes was asking "that Curb give Rimes the rights to all past recordings and videos, give up all publishing interests in her compositions and destroy all currently available recordings."
In mid-October 2001, Curb released a compilation of patriotic and inspirational songs, titled God Bless America
God Bless America (LeAnn Rimes album)
God Bless America is a compilation album by LeAnn Rimes. The album was released on October 16, 2001. The album comprises patriotic and inspirational songs that were originally recorded on her You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs album , as well as songs from her commercial album, All That ,...
, in order to benefit the disaster recovery for the September 11 attacks. It included the title track
God Bless America
"God Bless America" is an American patriotic song written by Irving Berlin in 1918 and revised by him in 1938. The later version has notably been recorded by Kate Smith, becoming her signature song ....
, as well as inspirational songs such as "The Lord's Prayer" and "The Sands of Time".
2002–2004: I Need You, Twisted Angel, Greatest Hits
I Need You (LeAnn Rimes album)
I Need You is the third compilation album from American recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The ten-track album was first released on January 30, 2001 through Curb Records, to help satisfy Rimes' recording contract obligations during litigation with the label and her management. Rimes publicly disowned...
album with 9 of the songs originally released on the album, an extended version of the song You Are, the song "Light the Fire Within", which she sang at the Olympics the previous year, and 4 bonus remixes.
Rimes would later that year release her seventh album (sixth studio album) titled Twisted Angel
Twisted Angel
Twisted Angel is the seventh album by American country pop singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on October 1, 2002 by Curb Records. The album was critically panned....
, which contained more adult material.
After battling managerial control over her career the previous year, Twisted Angel became the first album released by Rimes that was not produced by her father.
Instead, Rimes executive produced the album. A month following the album's release, Twisted Angel was certified "Gold" by the RIAA, her second Gold-certified album.
The album received mainly negative reviews by most music critics and magazines. Allmusic stated that the album could possibly "alieniate her from her original fans" and "the songwriting is a little uneven."
Rolling Stone gave the album two out of five stars, stating that the album sounded too "country-pop crossover."
The album peaked at Number 3 on the Top Country Albums chart and Number 12 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart.
Three singles were spawned from the album between 2002 and 2003, however none of the singles were Top 40 hits on the country or pop charts. The lead single, "Life Goes on
Life Goes On (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Life Goes On" is the first single from the album Twisted Angel, recorded and released by country singer LeAnn Rimes. The song didn't make it into the Hot 100 in the US, but it did make #9 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart, and was a bigger hit outside America...
", reached the Top 40 only on the Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
The Adult Contemporary chart is a weekly chart published in Billboard magazine that lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary and "lite-pop" radio stations in the United States...
chart, peaking at Number 19. The second single, "Tic Toc" was a Top 40 Dance club hit in 2003. The third single, "Suddenly" only peaked at 43 on the US Country charts, 47 on the UK charts and 53 on the Australian charts.
The following year when Rimes turned 21, she released a Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (LeAnn Rimes album)
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on November 8, 2003 by Curb Records....
compilation in November.
The album recapped Rimes' major hits under Curb records from "Blue" in 1996, to "Life Goes on" in 2002. The album peaked at Number 3 on the Top Country Albums chart and Number 24 on the Billboard 200 in November.
Featured on the album was the song, We Can, which was originally released as a single for the Legally Blonde 2 soundtrack in July 2003.
The album would eventually be certified "Platinum" in 2007. The following year in October 2004, Rimes issued her first holiday-themed album titled, What a Wonderful World
What a Wonderful World (LeAnn Rimes album)
What a Wonderful World is a Holiday/Christmas album by LeAnn Rimes. This is a jazz inspired holiday album. Rimes released four singles from this album: "O Holy Night", "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and "A Different Kind Of Christmas." LeAnn also...
.
2005–2006: Return to country; This Woman
In January 2005, Rimes released her seventh studio album, This Woman, her first album of contemporary country music in many years.Although the album received mixed reviews from magazines and critics, it was Rimes' best-selling album in over five years,
reaching Number 3 on the Billboard 200 and Number 2 on the Top Country Albums chart in 2005,
selling more than 100,000 copies within its first week. Rimes explained to the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
that the album helped mature her as a person, "I have 10 years of experience, so it's tough to get anything past me in this business. I've become a very strong woman because of all I've gone through, good and bad."
This Woman would eventually be certified "Gold" later in 2005, after selling more than 500,000 units nationwide.
The album's singles were Rimes's first Top 10 hits on the Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
chart in five years. The three singles released from the album — "Nothin' 'Bout Love Makes Sense
Nothin' 'bout Love Makes Sense
"Nothin' 'bout Love Makes Sense" is a song performed by American country music artist LeAnn Rimes. Released in 2004, it was the first single from Rimes' This Woman album. The song peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.-Chart performance:...
", "Probably Wouldn't Be This Way
Probably Wouldn't Be This Way
"Probably Wouldn't Be This Way" is a song by country singer LeAnn Rimes from the 2005 album This Woman; it was composed by John Kennedy and Tammi Kidd.-Content:It is generally accepted as a haunting song with a darker tone...
", and "Something's Gotta Give
Something's Gotta Give (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Something's Gotta Give" is the title of a song written by Craig Wiseman and Tony Mullins. It was recorded by LeAnn Rimes for her studio album This Woman, and released in December 2005 as that album's third single...
" — all peaked within the Top 5 on the country charts between 2005 and 2006.
From the album, Rimes was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Something's Gotta Give". In addition, she was also nominated for an American Music Award for "Favorite Female Country Artist." In 2006, Rimes recorded a cover version of Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Mandrell
Barbara Ann Mandrell is an American country music singer best known for a 1970s–1980s series of Top 10 hits and TV shows that helped her become one of country's most successful female vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s...
's "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Want to Be Right)", for a tribute album to Mandrell's career titled, She Was a Country When Country Wasn't Cool: A Tribute to Barbara Mandrell.
Rimes also would record a track for Disneyland
Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of the Walt Disney Company. Known as Disneyland when it opened on July 18, 1955, and still almost universally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be...
's fiftieth anniversary celebration album titled, "Remember When."
In summer 2006, Rimes released the studio album Whatever We Wanna
Whatever We Wanna
-Personnel:Credits for Whatever We Wanna were adapted from liner notes.*Brian Pruitt — drums*Charlie Judge — keyboards, programming*Chris McHugh — drums*Corky James — guitar...
, which was released exclusively outside of the United States and Canada. It was originally planned on being released in North America, however due to the success of This Woman, it was never released. The album spawned three singles, "And It Feels Like
And It Feels Like
"And It Feels Like" was the first single from American country pop singer LeAnn Rimes' album Whatever We Wanna. It was one of the only singles of her career not to be released in the United States.-Track listing:*UK CD Maxi Single...
", a duet with Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden
Brian Nicholas McFadden , is an Irish singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of the Irish boyband Westlife...
titled, "Everybody's Someone
Everybody's Someone
"Everybody's Someone" is the second single taken from American singer LeAnn Rimes' album Whatever We Wanna. The track features vocals from former Westlife singer Brian McFadden. The song also appeared on the Australian version of McFadden's second studio album, Set in Stone, and was released as the...
" and "Strong". The album leaned more towards Pop Rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
and R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
music instead of country.
Rimes would release one final single in the US from her album This Woman in August 2006 called "Some People
Some People (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Some People" is a song by LeAnn Rimes, released as the fourth and final single from her album This Woman . The single was released to radio stations in August 2006. The song is written by Darrell Brown, Joanna Cotten and Dennis Matkosky. A music video was also released featuring Rimes and her...
" which would peak at 34 on the US country charts.
2007–2009: Family
Rimes took a two year break, and then released her next studio album in October 2007, Family. The album was a mix of country, pop, and rock music, and included a duet with Bon JoviBon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
, "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore".
Family was the first album released by Rimes in which every track was co-written by Rimes herself.
Rolling Stone said the songs on the album are "uneven" and rated it three and half out of five stars.
Allmusic gave Family four out of five stars and said that the album, "illustrates her range as a singer along with some true strength as a writer."
The album helped nominate Rimes for the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
's "Top Female Vocalist" award in 2008.
The album's lead single, "Nothin' Better to Do" was released in mid 2007, and peaked at Number 14 on the Billboard Country Chart before the end of the year. The album has released two singles to date; "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine
Good Friend and a Glass of Wine
"Good Friend and a Glass of Wine" is the title of a song written by Darrell Brown, Blair Daly, and co-written and recorded by American country artist LeAnn Rimes. It was released in 2008 as the second single from her twelfth studio album, Family. A music video was also released for the single...
" and "What I Cannot Change
What I Cannot Change
"What I Cannot Change" is a ballad, revealing examination of love relationships and choosing acceptance instead of conflict.The 9513 also reviewed the single and praised Rimes's vocal performance, calling her vocals, "a tremendously sensitive vocal performance that is easily one of the most nuanced...
."
In 2008, Rimes toured with Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
where she opened every show on his 2008 Poets and Pirates Tour, along with other artists on select dates such as Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn
Brooks & Dunn was an American country music duo consisting of Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn, who were both vocalists and songwriters. They were paired by record producer Tim DuBois in 1990. Before the duo's foundation, both members of the duo were solo recording artists...
, Keith Urban
Keith Urban
Keith Lionel Urban is a New Zealand-born Australian, country music singer, songwriter and guitarist whose commercial success has been mainly in the United States and Australia. Urban was born in New Zealand and began his career in Australia at an early age...
, Sammy Hagar
Sammy Hagar
Sam Roy "Sammy" Hagar , also known as The Red Rocker, is an American rock singer, guitarist, and songwriter. Also sings Country Music....
, Gary Allan
Gary Allan
Gary Allan Herzberg is an American country music artist, known professionally as Gary Allan.Signed to Decca Records in 1996, Allan made his debut on the United States country music scene with the release of his single "Her Man", the lead-off to his gold-certified debut album Used Heart for Sale,...
, Big & Rich
Big & Rich
Big & Rich is an American country music duo composed of Big Kenny and John Rich. Both members alternate as lead vocalists and play rhythm guitar...
, and Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan
Thomas Luther "Luke" Bryan is an American country singer who debuted in 2007 with the single "All My Friends Say", a Top 5 single on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. His debut album, I'll Stay Me, was released on Capitol Records in 2007. This album also produced chart singles in "We Rode in...
.
In late 2008, Rimes was nominated for a Grammy award for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "What I Cannot Change", the third single from the album.
In 2008, she recorded For Good with Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem
Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
for the Wicked 5th Anniversary album. LeAnn teamed up with Joss Stone
Joss Stone
Jocelyn Eve Stoker , better known by her stage name Joss Stone, is an English soul singer-songwriter and actress. Stone rose to fame in late 2003 with her multi-platinum debut album, The Soul Sessions, which made the 2004 Mercury Prize shortlist...
for a CMT Crossroads
Crossroads (CMT TV series)
CMT Crossroads is a television show broadcast on Country Music Television and Palladia that pairs country music artists with musicians from other music genres. Each episode of CMT Crossroads features a different set of stars playing together....
special aired in fall 2007.
2010–present: Lady & Gentlemen & 14th Studio Album
Despite singing new material at several live shows earlier in the year, it was announced, on May 24, 2010 by Rimes via her Twitter account, that her new studio album would be a cover album of country songs, titled Lady & GentlemenLady & Gentlemen
Lady & Gentlemen is the thirteenth studio album by American country music recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The album is Rimes' second cover album The only new songs on the album are the two bonus tracks, "Crazy Woman" and "Give". It was released on September 27, 2011 by Curb Records...
.
The first single from the album is a cover of John Anderson's 1983 single, "Swingin'
Swingin'
"Swingin" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer John Anderson. Released in 1983, it was included on his album Wild & Blue. The song was the second of five Number One singles in Anderson's career, spending one week at the top of the Hot Country Songs charts...
. LeAnn first debuted the song at the 2010 CMT Music Awards. The single was released on June 8, 2010.
According to LeAnn Rimes' official website, she is planning on re-recording her hit, "Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American country music singer, LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name . The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old....
" for the new album. She stated that she wants "the album to be perfect." Since she is doing this, the album would take a longer waiting time to come out. On November 8, 2010, LeAnn released her second single titled "Crazy Women" to radio. "Crazy Women," "Blue" and "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down" were announced, in the same post, as the three extra tracks that LeAnn went back in the studio to add to the album. A third single, "Give
Give (song)
"Give" is the third single by American country recording artist LeAnn Rimes from her album Lady & Gentlemen. The song is written by Connie Harrington, Sonya Isaacs and Jimmy Yeary.-Background:...
", debuted at #60 in July 2011. Rimes announced via her Twitter account on July 17, 2011 that the new release date for her Lady & Gentlemen album would be September 27, 2011.She has also stated that her next studio album is already done and will be released next year.
Vocal ability and musical stylings
Since her debut in 1996, Rimes' voice and vocal style have often been compared to and identified with Patsy ClinePatsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
. Cline showed distinctive emotional expression in most of her material. Rimes has also used distinctive emotional expression in many of her songs, most notably her first single, "Blue
Blue (LeAnn Rimes song)
"Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American country music singer, LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name . The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old....
", which was sung in the style of Cline. Rimes' vocal similarities to Cline had brought wide interest to the idea that Rimes was the successor to Cline's legacy, and brought her novelty appeal. Many music critics have argued that Rimes' vocals were only a reproduction of Cline's original sound, while others have disagreed.
Allmusic has called Rimes' vocals "rich and powerful."
Her vocal ability has also brought Rimes to comparisons to past teenage country stars, including 50s country star Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
and 70s country star Tanya Tucker
Tanya Tucker
Tanya Denise Tucker is a female American country music artist who had her first hit, "Delta Dawn", in 1972 at the age of 13...
. Rimes was also known for choosing mature material that was beyond her age range. In her first album, Rimes recorded such material as Deborah Allen
Deborah Allen
Deborah Allen is an American country music singer. Since 1976, Allen has issued 12 albums and charted 14 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, most notably the 1983 crossover hit "Baby I Lied" which reached #4 on the country charts and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Allen has also...
's "My Baby", whose lyrics provocatively say, "my baby is a full-time lover, my baby is a full-grown man."
Other material such as Diane Warren
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren , is a US songwriter. Her songs have received six Academy Award nominations, five Golden Globe nominations, including one win and seven Grammy Award nominations, including one win. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001...
's "How Do I Live
How Do I Live
"How Do I Live" is the title of a song written by Diane Warren. It was originally recorded by LeAnn Rimes in 1997 and shortly afterward by Trisha Yearwood...
" had also been considered too mature for Rimes' age and was the main reason why her version of the song was not chosen to be used in the soundtrack for the film Con Air
Con Air
Con Air is an Academy Award–nominated 1997 American action-thriller film directed by Simon West and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It stars Nicolas Cage, John Cusack and John Malkovich...
.
Influences
Rimes has given credit to artists from various music genres, mainly from the genres of countryCountry music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
. She has stated that Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Ellen Judd is an American country music singer. Her solo albums and singles are all credited to the singular name Wynonna. Wynonna first rose to fame in the 1980s alongside her mother, Naomi, in the country music duo The Judds...
, and Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire is an American country music artist and actress. She began her career in the music industry as a high school student singing in the Kiowa High School band , on local radio shows with her siblings, and at rodeos. As a solo act, she was invited to perform at a rodeo in Oklahoma...
have been primary influences on her career.
Rimes has stated the main influence on her career is Patsy Cline. She has covered many of Cline's hit songs since the beginning of her career. Her 1999 self-titled album is primarily a tribute to Cline, as Rimes recorded five out of ten songs for the album that had been hits for Cline years before.
Film and television
After beginning to date actor Andrew Keegan in 1998, Rimes said to the press that she had some ideas about possibly getting involved in an acting career. Rimes later moved to Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
later in the year with her mother to pursue an acting career.
That year Rimes played a role in the Made for television movie, Holiday in Your Heart
Holiday in Your Heart
Holiday in Your Heart is a 1997 drama, based on a story written by LeAnn Rimes and Tom Carter. This made-for-television movie co-stars Bernadette Peters as a country singer. The movie aired on ABC television on December 14, 1997.-Plot:...
, which is based on a book she had helped write. For participating in the film, Rimes was awarded the "Rising Star" award from the Lone Star Film & Television Awards.
She made her official film debut in 2001 for Coyote Ugly
Coyote Ugly (film)
Coyote Ugly is a 2000 romantic comedy/drama based on the actual Coyote Ugly Saloon, set in New York City. The film stars Piper Perabo and Adam Garcia...
, providing the singing voice for Piper Perabo's character Violet Sanford and making a cameo appearance towards the end of the film. In addition, she also recorded four songs for the film's soundtrack, including the Top 20 Pop hit, "Can't Fight the Moonlight."
In 2005 Rimes hosted the country music television competition, Nashville Star
Nashville Star
Nashville Star is an American reality television program. It was transmitted during mid-2008 on NBC, following five seasons on USA Network. It premiered on March 8, 2003, and its five seasons on USA made it the longest-running competition series on cable television. In Canada, the show aired on CMT...
on the USA television network. However she only held the position for one season after deciding to depart from the show's cast.
In early June 2007, she was chosen at the last minute to record the leading song for the soundtrack of Evan Almighty
Evan Almighty
Evan Almighty is a 2007 American religious comedy film and the stand-alone sequel to Bruce Almighty . The film was directed by Tom Shadyac, written by Steve Oedekerk, and starring Steve Carell as the title character. Morgan Freeman also reprised his role as God from the original film. Production of...
called "Ready For A Miracle" (previously recorded by Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
). The song can be heard in the movie, during the end credits, and in the trailers of Evan Almighty.
Rimes played in the movie Good Intentions with her friend Elaine Hendricks which is filming near Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Rimes plays Meg Galligan in the made for TV movie, Northern Lights, based on the Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts is a bestselling American author of more than 209 romance novels. She writes as J.D. Robb for the "In Death" series, and has also written under the pseudonym Jill March...
novel of the same name. The film aired on the Lifetime network on March 12, 2009.
In 2007 Rimes began hosting The Colgate Country Showdown
Colgate Country Showdown
Currently in its 30th year, the Country Showdown is an annual talent contest to find undiscovered country music singers across the United States. As many as 100,000 acts compete in the Country Showdown annually, which is considered to be the largest country music talent competition in...
, a nation wide televised country music talent competition, similar to that of American Idol or Nashville Star. In 2011 Rimes hosted the show for her 5th consecutive year, when the show switched sponsorship, to Texaco
Texaco
Texaco is the name of an American oil retail brand. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owns the Havoline motor oil brand....
.
Personal life
Lawsuits
On May 21, 2000, Rimes filed a lawsuitLawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
against her father, Wilbur Rimes, and her former manager, Lyle Walker in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
. Rimes claimed that her father and former manager took over seven million dollars from her in the preceding five years. Rimes also alleged that both men made unreasonable fees and took advantage of Rimes' label, Asylum-Curb
Curb Records
Curb Records is a record label started by Mike Curb originally as Sidewalk Records in 1963...
, in order to acquire financial gain. Rimes sought unspecified damages because her attorney was not sure of how much money had been lost in the preceding five years. According to Rimes' lawyer, her mother hired two accountants to investigate how much was taken from Rimes's fortune, and it was estimated that the men acquired around eight million dollars in royalties. In 2002, Rimes's lawsuit with her father was "settled on undisclosed terms."
Rimes reconciled with her father for her wedding.
In November 2000, Rimes filed a second lawsuit against her label, Asylum-Curb. Rimes wanted permission to be released from the contract that was signed by her parents on Rimes' behalf when she originally signed with the label in 1995. She also wanted her label to turn over the rights of her music, video work, and publishing interests, and destroy all of her recordings that were currently available to the label at the time of the lawsuit. Part of Rimes's legal battles ended in December 2001, when Asylum-Curb started a new contract with Rimes.
Marriages
Amid the legal battles, Rimes fell in love with backup dancer Dean Sheremet. The two had met when he was chosen to dance during Rimes's hosting of the 2001 Academy of Country Music Awards. After her first date with Sheremet, Rimes told InStyle Magazine: "This is the guy I want to marry." The couple married the next year, in 2002. In July 2009, the couple separated and in September 2009, Rimes announced their plans to divorce. The divorce was finalized on June 19, 2010, exactly six months after Sheremet filed divorce documents for dissolution of marriage.Rimes is currently married to Northern Lights
Northern Lights (2009 film)
Northern Lights, also known as Nora Roberts' Northern Lights, is a 2009 made-for-tv movie directed by Mike Robe, which stars Eddie Cibrian, LeAnn Rimes, and Rosanna Arquette. The film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts 2009 movie collection, which...
co-star Eddie Cibrian
Eddie Cibrian
Edward Carl "Eddie" Cibrian is an American actor. He is known for his television roles as Cole Deschanel on Sunset Beach, Jesse Cardoza in CSI: Miami, Jimmy Doherty on Third Watch and Russell Varon in Invasion.-Early life and career:...
, with whom she had a well-publicized extramarital affair prior to the split from Sheremet. Cibrian, the father of two children, left his wife for Rimes and filed for divorce in August 2009, after eight years of marriage. In June 2010, Rimes spoke for the first time about the end of her first marriage, stating that, while she was sorry that people were hurt, she had no regrets about the outcome of the affair. On December 27, 2010, it was announced via Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
that Rimes and Cibrian were engaged. The couple wed on April 22, 2011 at a private home in California.
Philanthropy
In 2008, she opened up about her lifelong struggle with the autoimmune disease psoriasisPsoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It occurs when the immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis is not contagious. However, psoriasis has been linked to an increased risk of...
. She participated in a PSA
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
to raise awareness about the disease.
Rimes lent her voice to the 2008 song "Just Stand Up." The proceeds benefited Stand Up to Cancer. As a result of SU2C fundraising endeavors, the SU2C scientific advisory committee, overseen by the American Association for Cancer Research
American Association for Cancer Research
The American Association for Cancer Research is the world's oldest and largest professional association to advancing cancer research. Based in Philadelphia, AACR focuses on all aspects of cancer research including basic, clinical and translational research into the etiology, prevention, diagnosis,...
, was able to award $73.6 million towards cancer research.
On December 19, 2010, she performed "The Rose," joined by The Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles in remembrance of the many gay teenagers who committed suicide in 2010. On her weblog she wrote on June 18, 2011: "I believe in equality for everyone. I believe everyone should have the right to love and commit to whomever they want. [...] All I know is that in God's eyes we are all the same. I just wish we could see through the eyes of God more often."
Wealth
According to "Celebrity Net Worth", Rimes has a current estimated net worth of just under $38 million as of 2011, and is one of the richest female country singers in America.Discography
- 1996: BlueBlue (LeAnn Rimes album)Blue is the debut album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on July 9, 1996 by Curb Records. It reached #3 on Billboard 200, and #1 on Top Country Albums....
- 1997: Unchained Melody: The Early YearsUnchained Melody: The Early YearsJose F. Promis of Allmusic gave the album two and a half out of five stars stating that it's "a tad bizarre" due to the album consisting of recordings released prior to Blue, that were recorded when Rimes was eleven years old, as a flow up to her debut album....
- 1997: You Light up My Life: Inspirational SongsYou Light up My Life: Inspirational SongsYou Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs is the third album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States by Curb Records on September 9, 1997, when Rimes was 15 years old. The album was hugely successful but many critics thought that much of the material did not do Rimes'...
- 1998: Sittin' on Top of the WorldSittin' on Top of the World (album)-Remixes:*Digital download#"Sittin' on Top of the World" 5:34#"Sittin' on Top of the World" 4:36-Charts:...
- 1999: LeAnn RimesLeAnn Rimes (album)-Charts:LeAnn Rimes debuted at #8 on Billboard 200 with 115,000 copies sold in its first week.-Peak positions:-Year end-chart:-Sales:-References:...
- 2001: God Bless America
- 2002: I Need You
- 2002: Twisted AngelTwisted AngelTwisted Angel is the seventh album by American country pop singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on October 1, 2002 by Curb Records. The album was critically panned....
- 2003: Greatest HitsGreatest Hits (LeAnn Rimes album)Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by American country singer LeAnn Rimes, released in the United States on November 8, 2003 by Curb Records....
- 2004: What a Wonderful WorldWhat a Wonderful World (LeAnn Rimes album)What a Wonderful World is a Holiday/Christmas album by LeAnn Rimes. This is a jazz inspired holiday album. Rimes released four singles from this album: "O Holy Night", "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and "A Different Kind Of Christmas." LeAnn also...
- 2005: This Woman
- 2006: Whatever We WannaWhatever We Wanna-Personnel:Credits for Whatever We Wanna were adapted from liner notes.*Brian Pruitt — drums*Charlie Judge — keyboards, programming*Chris McHugh — drums*Corky James — guitar...
- 2007: Family
- 2011: Lady & GentlemenLady & GentlemenLady & Gentlemen is the thirteenth studio album by American country music recording artist LeAnn Rimes. The album is Rimes' second cover album The only new songs on the album are the two bonus tracks, "Crazy Woman" and "Give". It was released on September 27, 2011 by Curb Records...
Filmography
| Year | Name | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Holiday in Your Heart Holiday in Your Heart Holiday in Your Heart is a 1997 drama, based on a story written by LeAnn Rimes and Tom Carter. This made-for-television movie co-stars Bernadette Peters as a country singer. The movie aired on ABC television on December 14, 1997.-Plot:... |
Herself | Main Role |
| Moesha Moesha Moesha is an American sitcom series that aired on the UPN network from January 23, 1996 to May 14, 2001. The series stars R&B singer Brandy Norwood as Moesha Mitchell, a high school student living with her family in the Leimert Park neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles.-Overview:The show... |
Herself | ||
| 1998 | Days of Our Lives Days of our Lives Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around... |
Madison | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Coyote Ugly Coyote Ugly (film) Coyote Ugly is a 2000 romantic comedy/drama based on the actual Coyote Ugly Saloon, set in New York City. The film stars Piper Perabo and Adam Garcia... |
Herself | cameo/singing voice: Piper Perabo |
| 2003 | American Dreams American Dreams American Dreams is an American television comedy-drama program broadcast on the NBC television network, produced by Once A Frog and Dick Clark Productions in association with Universal Network Television and NBC Studios... |
Connie Francis Connie Francis Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw... |
Season 3 episode; "Where the Boys Are" |
| 2004 | Extreme Makeover Home Edition | Herself | Cox Family; guest star |
| 2006 | Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes Holly Hobbie and Friends: Christmas Wishes is the second direct-to-DVD movie to feature the Holly Hobbie character. It premiered on November 11, 2006 on Nick Jr., and was released on DVD by Sony Wonder on November 14... |
Kelly Deegan | TV film |
| 2008 | Good Intentions | Pam | Released on DVD March 9, 2010 |
| 2009 | Northern Lights Northern Lights (2009 film) Northern Lights, also known as Nora Roberts' Northern Lights, is a 2009 made-for-tv movie directed by Mike Robe, which stars Eddie Cibrian, LeAnn Rimes, and Rosanna Arquette. The film is based on the Nora Roberts novel of the same name and is part of the Nora Roberts 2009 movie collection, which... |
Meg Galligan | TV film Released on DVD October 6, 2009 |
| I Get That a Lot I Get That a Lot I Get That A Lot is a reality television special that airs on CBS, which sets up celebrities in everyday working class jobs. Hidden cameras are used to capture the reactions of unsuspecting customers and bypassers... |
Waitress | Television special Television special A television special is a television program which interrupts or temporarily replaces programming normally scheduled for a given time slot. Sometimes, however, the term is given to a telecast of a theatrical film, such as The Wizard of Oz or The Ten Commandments, which is not part of a regular... (1 episode) |
|
| 2010 | Extreme Makeover Home Edition | Herself | Lighthouse School; guest star |
| 2011 | Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva Drop Dead Diva is an American legal comedy-drama/fantasy television series that debuted on Lifetime on July 12, 2009. The hour-long series, which was created by Josh Berman, is produced by Sony Pictures Television... |
Lana Kline | Season 3 episode; "Hit and Run" |
| Reel Love Reel Love (2011 film) Reel Love, is a 2011 made-for-tv movie directed by Brian K. Roberts, which stars LeAnn Rimes and Burt Reynolds.The movie premiered on November 13, 2011 on CMT-Plot:... |
Holly Whitman | TV film |
Country Music Association awards
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Horizon Award |
Academy of Country Music awards
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Top New Female Vocalist | |
| Single of the Year for "Blue Blue (LeAnn Rimes song) "Blue" is the title of the debut single released by American country music singer, LeAnn Rimes, released in 1996 from her debut album of the same name . The song propelled Rimes to fame at thirteen years old.... " |
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| Song of the Year for "Blue" | Award given to "Blue"'s songwriter, Bill Mack Bill Mack Bill Mack is one of the most recognizable voices in country music radio. For many years, Mack was best known as the host of The Country Roads Show, the overnight country music show on WBAP, a clear channel station in Fort Worth... . |
|
| 2009 | Humanitarian Award |
Grammy awards
| Year | Award | For |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Best New Artist (Won) | Herself |
| Best Female Country Vocal Performance (Won) | "Blue" | |
| 1998 | Best Female Country Vocal Performance | "How Do I Live" |
| 2007 | "Something´s Gotta Give" | |
| 2008 | "Nothin' Better To Do" | |
| 2009 | "What I Cannot Change" | |
| 2011 | "Swingin'" |
American music awards
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Favorite New Artist | Only American music award |
CMT music awards
| Year | Award | Video |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Collaborative Video of the Year | "'Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore" (w/ Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald... ) |