Margaret LeAnn Rimes (born August 28, 1982) is an
American Country singer-songwriter,
actress, and
author. She is best known for her rich vocals similar to country music singer
Patsy Cline,
and her rise to fame at the age of 13, 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 Number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart and was certified "multi-platinum" in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album's lead single of the same name (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 similarities to Cline's vocal style. When Rimes released her sophomore studio effort in 1997, , 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.
Early life
Born Margaret LeAnn Rimes (in
Pearl, Mississippi); the only child of Belinda Butler Rimes and Wilbur Rimes. The family relocated to
Garland, Texas when she was six years old, where Rimes was raised. 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,
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.
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.
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".
Rimes' version of the
title track became a major country hit in early 1997 and helped increase sales for the album.
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.
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.
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 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.
Despite very little praise from critics, the album was sold well, certifying "Gold" in sales by the RIAA.
was originally recorded for the TV movie Jesus.
2002–2004: I Need You, Twisted Angel, Greatest Hits
In February 2002 Rimes re-released 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.
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 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.
Featured on the album was the single,
We Can, which was originally released on the soundtrack of
Legally Blonde 2 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.
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."
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.
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 Jovi, "
Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore".
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.
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.
2010-present: Lady And Gentlemen
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, entitled
Lady and Gentlemen.
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. It will not come out October 5, 2010. On November 8, 2010, LeAnn released her second single, "
Crazy Women" to radio. Crazy Women along with a re-recorded version of Blue and Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down were announced in the same post as the 3 extra tracks that LeAnn went back in the studio to add to the album. Before the CMA Awards 2010, LeAnn stated that the album is currently going to come out in March 2011.
Books
On October 13, 1997 LeAnn Rimes and Tom Carter released her first book "Holiday in Your Heart" and it was made into a TV Movie. In 2003 and 2004 LeAnn along with
Richard Bernal released two Children's Books. "Jag" and "Jag's New Friend".
LeAnn and
Darrel Brown released "What I Cannot Change" on April 14, 2009.
Musicianship
Vocal ability and musical stylings
Since her debut in 1996, Rimes' voice and vocal style have often been compared to and identified with
Patsy Cline. 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.
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.
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."
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.
Personal life
and
Laura Bush listen to LeAnn Rimes perform in the
East Room of the
White House in a performance honoring the
Dance Theatre of Harlem on February 6, 2006]]
Lawsuits
On May 21, 2000, Rimes filed a
lawsuit 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's 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's 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 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's 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 omit all of her recordings that were currently being distributed 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. The divorce was finalized on June 19, 2010, exactly six months after Sheremet filed divorce documents for dissolution of marriage.
Rimes is currently involved in a relationship with her Northern Lights co-star Eddie Cibrian, with whom she had a well-publicized extra-marital affair prior to the split from her own husband. Cibrian, the father of two children, left his wife for Rimes and filed for divorce in August 2009, after ten years of marriage. In June 2010 Rimes spoke for the first time about the end of her
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.
Philanthropy
In 2008, she opened up about her lifelong struggle with the autoimmune disease
psoriasis. 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.
In 2011, Rimes will be the star in a congressional Republican freshman fundraiser, where lobbyists, political action committee managers and others paying the $2,500 ticket price will be treated to a private performance (a $50,000 package includes a block of eight tickets and a “VIP suite” at the W).
Wealth
According to "Celebrity Net Worth", Rimes has a current estimated net worth of $38 million as of 2010, is one of the richest female country singers in America.
Discography
;Studio albums
1994: All That
1996: Blue
1997:
1997:
1998: Sittin' on Top of the World
1999: LeAnn Rimes
2001: I Need You
2002: Twisted Angel
2004: What a Wonderful World
2005: This Woman
2006: Whatever We Wanna
2007: Family
2011: Lady and Gentlemen
;Compilation albums
2001: God Bless America
2003: Greatest Hits
2004: The Best of LeAnn Rimes
Filmography
{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;"
|- bgcolor="#B0C4DE" align="center"
! Year
! Name
! Role
! Other notes
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1997
|
Holiday in Your Heart
| Herself
| Main Role
|-
| "
Moesha"
| Herself
|
|-
| 1998
|
Days of Our Lives
| Madison
| Episode 1
|-
| 2000
|
Coyote Ugly
| Herself
| cameo appearance/singing voice:Piper Perabo
|-
| 2003
|
American Dreams
|
Connie Francis
| Season 3 episode; "Where the Boys Are"
|-
| 2004
|
Extreme Makeover Home Edition
|
Herself
| Cox Family; guest star
|-
| 2006
|
| Kelly Deegan
| TV film
|-
| 2008
|
Good Intentions
| Pam
|Released on DVD March 9, 2010
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2009
|
Northern Lights
| Meg Galligan
| TV film Released on DVD October 6, 2009
|-
|
I Get That a Lot
|Waitress
|
Television special (1 episode)
|}
Awards
Country Music Association awards
Academy of Country Music awards
Grammy awards
American music awards
CMT music awards
References
External links
Official International Website
Official UK Website
Official Myspace: LeAnn Rimes
Official Facebook: LeAnn Rimes
Official Twitter: LeAnn Rimes
Official Northern Lights movie site starring LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian at myLifetime.com
Category:1982 births
Category:1990s singers
Category:2000s singers
Category:2010s singers
Category:American country singers
Category:American female singers
Category:American child singers
Category:American dance musicians
Category:American pop singers
Category:Curb Records artists
Category:Grammy Award winners
Category:Musicians from Texas
Category:Actors from Texas
Category:People from Garland, Texas
Category:People from Rankin County, Mississippi
Category:Musicians from Mississippi
Category:Actors from Mississippi
Category:Living people
![Chris Isaak Blue Hotel 1987 [Official Video]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110430043130im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/zanYf6c-DpA/0.jpg "Chris Isaak Blue Hotel 1987 [Official Video]")
