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LeAnn Rimes

On the television front, LeAnn guested on the hit TV series, Moesha, starring Brandy. She served as Good Morning America's celebrity host for the American Music Awards in January, and also appeared on an ABC special, a television version of the Teen People's article on the same subject. Her television appearances continued on Late Show With David Letterman and Rosie O'Donnell in October, and the debut of her first CMT special airing from October through December. Also in December, LeAnn was seen on Today, Later Today and The Tonight Show.

LeAnn Rimes has established herself as one of the leading singers of the 1990's. "Superstar" and "sensation" are just a couple of terms that were used to describe LeAnn early in her career, and she certainly has fulfilled that promise. Blue, her 1996 debut Curb album, is closing in on the ten-million sales mark, and her subsequent album, You Light Up My Life--Inspirational Songs, also multi-platinum, debuted at #1 on three Billboard charts: pop, country and contemporary Christian. It marked the first time ever that feat was achieved by a country artist. The Early Years--Unchained Melody, a compilation album of LeAnn's early work, was released in early 1997, and sold multi-platinum. To top off 1997, LeAnn had a #1 pop single with How Do I Live, which set a Billboard chart record and earned her their Special Hot 100 award.

LeAnn's career has been marked by more than stratospheric record sales. In 1997, she captured an American Music Award, followed by two Grammys (including "Best New Artist," which marked the first time a country artist had ever captured that honor), three Academy of Country Music awards, a Music City News award, and the CMA "Horizon Award." LeAnn closed 1997 with four Billboard Music Awards, including "Artist of the Year." Overseas, she has also been awarded the BBC's prestigious "Rising Star" award. 1997 also marked LeAnn's acting debut, when she starred in an ABC movie, which aired to public and critical acclaim. The show was based on a book of which LeAnn co-wrote with Tom Carter.

In 1998, LeAnn again staked out new musical territory with the release of the album Sittin' On Top Of The World. The CD featured the hit single Commitment, as well as the ballad Looking Through Your Eyes, and a moving version of the Prince anthem, Purple Rain. LeAnn's love of music began early. Born August 28, 1982 in Jackson, Mississippi, she began singing before she was two. At age five, LeAnn, an only child, entered and won her first song and dance competition with a version of Getting To Know You, and told her parents, Wilbur and Belinda, that she wanted a life in show business.

The family moved to Texas when LeAnn was six to pursue that dream, and she subsequently auditioned (and nearly snagged) the lead in Annie II on Broadway. At seven, she made her stage debut in a Dallas musical production of A Christmas Carol, playing the lead role of Tiny Tim. LeAnn was a two-week champion on the television show, Star Search when she was eight, and was a regular on Johnnie High's Country Music Review in Fort Worth. LeAnn built a dedicated following in Texas via her powerful "a cappella" performances of The Star Spangled Banner at Dallas Cowboy games and various events, and even opened for Randy Travis at the Starplex in Dallas, among other concert appearances. A short time later, LeAnn record her first album, produced by Wilbur Rimes and released on an independent label. The album featured a version of Blue. Through the buzz created by that album, which sold locally in Dallas, LeAnn garnered the attention of Curb Records and soon recorded and released the Blue album. The rest, as they say, is history. With all that she has achieved, LeAnn has a realistic view. "I don't let it all go to my head," she comments. "It could all disappear overnight. So I keep reminding myself of that and how hard I've worked to get here."

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