Artist Of The Day: LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes

• Margaret LeAnn Rimes started singing when she was only 2. By age 11 she recorded her first album, “All That,” which was released on a small, independent label. Her major-label debut, 1996’s “Blue,” made her a star at age 13 and earned her two Grammys, one of which was Best New Artist – marking the first time a Country artist ever captured that honor. She also picked up the CMA Horizon Award in 1997.
  
• Since then, LeAnn has sold more than 37 million albums and scored numerous hit singles including “One Way Ticket,” “I Need You,” “Nothin’ ‘bout Love Makes Sense,” “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way” and “How Do I Live,” which spent a record-setting 69 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
  
• Rimes’ career tanked with the pop-oriented “Twisted Angel” album in 2002, her first disc not produced by her dad. But she returned to her country roots and bounced back with her seventh studio album, “This Woman,” in 2005. It reached No. 3 on the all-genre Billboard 200.
  
• LeAnn’s 2007 album “Family” includes the single “Nothin’ Better to Do” as well as a duet with Jon Bon Jovi on “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore.” The album – her first featuring all original material she wrote or co-wrote – reached No. 2. The single “What I Cannot Change” scaled Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play chart and spawned Rimes’ first book of the same name – an inspirational work based on the concepts of peace and acceptance.
  
• Rimes married backup dancer Dean Sheremet in 2000. She made headlines by announcing plans to divorce Sheremet and going public with her relationship with actor Eddie Cibrian, her romantic interest from the TV movie “Northern Lights.” Her divorce was finalized in June 2010. She and Cibrian were married in April 2011.
  
• Rimes released a new single, “Give,” in June 2011. It is the third single from her new covers album, “Lady and Gentlemen,” released last September. The other two are “Crazy Women” and her updated rendition of John Anderson’s “Swingin’.” She is also working on another album featuring original material.
  
• LeAnn is featured in the “Re:Generation Music Project" documentary, set to be released in theaters on February 16th. The doc explores music’s past, present and future and offers five revolutionary collaborations, including Rimes singing “Wayfaring Stranger” with Ralph Stanley.
  
• Official Web site: www.leannrimesworld.com