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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZRIMES, LeAnn(b 28 Aug. '82, Jackson MS) Big- voiced child star country singer who performed in public from age five, made major breakthrough with retro-country million- selling 'Blue' when she was 13. Her family had moved to Texas when she was six to further her career; she won the national Star Search talent contest at eight; was a regular on Johnnie High's Country Music Revue '90--96 in Fort Worth and made a self-marketed album in Texas '93 with heavy regional sales, leading to interest from Nashville labels. Signed to MCG/Curb '95: debut single 'Blue' was a 'long lost' song from '60s reputedly written for Patsy Cline (it had in fact been recorded several times '63--90); though country radio didn't embrace the record it made no. 10 on country charts and became the biggest selling country single in years. Debut album (also called Blue) topped pop and country charts and sold over two million as she picked up CMA and Grammy awards. Second album, amazingly titled The Early Years, was the first independent album with extra tracks; this yielded another hit with 'Unchained Melody' '97. She reportedly got a $1m deal for her first novel, Holiday In Your Heart, co-written with Tom Carter, but sales were modest. |