Born in Jackson, Mississippi, but
raised in Garland, Texas, Leann Rimes started singing
as a child, performing at local talent contests.
At age 11, she met Bill Mack, a Dallas DJ and record
promoter, who was impressed by her rich and powerful
vocals.
Throughout 1995, Rimes performed more than 100 concerts
and appeared on television shows across Texas. After
Bill Mack arranged a record deal for Rimes with
Curb Records, ‘Blue’ which he had written
in the '60s, was released.
Rimes’ debut single ‘Blue’
became major hits in the summer 1996 and reached
number three on the pop charts. The album was sold
over 123,000 copies within its first week of release.
She was only 13 years old at the time. Rimes then
was nominated for the Country Music Association
Horizon award and the CMA Best Country Singer, becoming
the youngest singer in the history of the CMA awards
to receive a nomination. However, she didn’t
win any award.
After the release of Unchained Melody: The Early
Years (1997) and You
Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs (1997),
Rimes released her second album, Sittin' on Top
of the World (1998),
followed by her third album LeAnn Rimes (1999)
and her fourth album I Need You (2001).
Rimes next appeared with a sexy style for the pop-oriented
Twisted Angel (2002)
and returned to contemporary country with This Woman
(2005).
