LeAnn Rimes turns 25 with a new outlook on life, love and music.
By Rod O’Connor
Sky-high expectations can push any artist toward a flameout. But when that artist has sold more than 37 million records before her 25th birthday and was a 13-year-old Grammy Award winner, the world can be forgiven for anticipating an inevitable fall from grace. Luckily, the whole sex, drugs and rehab thing never happened to LeAnn Rimes—and those still waiting for it better find a new pastime. At 25, Rimes is a rare child phenomenon who not only survived the spotlight, but also used her early success as a launching pad for a new chapter in an amazing career.
“I’m in this incredible position where I have all this experience behind me and all this success, but I have the rest of my life ahead of me to do what I want to do,” Rimes says. “Not to discredit anything I’ve done, but I feel like I’m at a new turning point in my career and in my life, and I’m ready to start over again, which is exciting.”
Born in Jackson, Miss., Rimes began singing at the age of two. A few years later, her family moved to Garland, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. There, her reputation grew locally with regular appearances at Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue in Arlington and nationally as a two-time winner on “Star Search.”
She recorded her first album when she was just seven years old, but her career really started taking shape at 11, when she laid down her breakout track, “Blue”—a song originally written for Patsy Cline—at Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, N.M., where Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison once recorded.
Even at an early age, Rimes says she understood the significance as she walked in the footsteps of those legendary musicians. This can be attributed to a family who brought her up listening to everything from classic country to classic rock, Motown to classical—even show tunes.
“I really do have a huge appreciation for the history of all different kinds of music,” she says. “Most people my age have no clue about music history most of the time. I’m just so appreciative for my family raising me the way they did. I know it helps me in my artistry and my writing; I have so many places to pull from.”
“Blue” and the 1996 album of the same name (from Nashville’s Curb Records) were both smashes, scoring the then 13-year-old two Grammy Awards, including the first Best New Artist award ever won by a country artist. Other historic accolades followed: Her album, You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs, was released at No. 1 in the country, pop and contemporary Christian categories simultaneously. Then, in 1997, her song “How Do I Live” spent eight months at No. 1 and more than 200 weeks on the country singles chart.
Subsequent releases, including her contributions to the hugely successful soundtrack for the bar-dancing flick Coyote Ugly (2000) and her own 2005 album This Woman, saw Rimes push herself beyond traditional country into a harder-edged rock and roll sound. She also delved into acting, with a part in Coyote Ugly as well as starring in the 1997 ABC adaptation of Holiday in Your Heart, which she co-authored.
But with her brand-new album, Family, Rimes feels like she’s just now hitting her stride as a songwriter—and as a storyteller. With this, her 10th studio offering, she co-wrote all the songs for the first time.
“As I got older [I was listening to] a lot of great vocalists and a lot of great storytellers,” Rimes says. “I listened to Janis Joplin and I’d never heard anyone tell a story like her in my life…she made you feel everything right along with her.
“I’ve written songs since I was nine years old,” she continues. “But my personality is, if I couldn’t do things full force and do it great, I never really wanted to step out of my box. And I felt like I was so confident now as a writer and I had so much to say. [But first] I had to grow up, I had to live.”
Family was co-written by Rimes’ husband Dean Sheremet, and deals with adult themes like family relationships and the challenges of marriage. But with the rollicking first single “Nothin’ Better to Do,” Rimes got the chance to re-write history by imagining what life might have been like as a trouble maker who never left the small town of Pelahatchie, just outside Jackson, Miss.
“We formulated this whole story and it was so much fun to write, but it was a really hard song to write,” she says. “It’s a totally different sound, and there are so many parts of my personality in that song that don’t usually get to come out through my music. I have that kind of darker side, a little more mischievous side, which is always fun to play with.”
But, of course, the real-life Rimes did move out of Mississippi and stayed out of trouble while attending middle school in Garland, a place she is proud to admit was the inspiration for the town in the animated show “King of the Hill.” And while her schedule as an up-and-coming child star left little time to enjoy the art and culture of nearby Dallas, Rimes says she makes up for lost time on every single visit. “I love Texas; it’s this whole other country, it seems like,” Rimes says. “And I still love that you can have these amazing cultural experiences…and then drive an hour out of town and go ride horses. You have the best of both worlds.”
One place Rimes visited several times during her childhood was the legendary Texas Stadium in Irving, where she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Dallas Cowboys games. And in a state where football is a religion, she urges any visiting fans to pilgrimage to this sacred spot. “Football in Texas? There’s nothing like it in America,” she says.
Texas will always be in her blood, but four years ago Rimes and her husband relocated from L.A. to Nashville. And just as her career is evolving in exciting new directions, the longtime country music capital is also experiencing a rich growth spurt.
“It’s…so much more than country music now,” Rimes says. “Nashville is growing a ton; we’re becoming a city instead of a small town. The great thing is, you can still get the small-town experience, but we’re getting some real nice restaurants and cool hangs.”
This past summer, Rimes experienced another milestone when her smiling face was seen beaming from boxes of Kellogg’s cereal to raise money and awareness for the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes. The organization, which benefits disabled veterans and their families, became an important cause for Rimes last year, when she met returning soldiers at one of her concerts.
“It’s pretty cool to have my face on the cereal box,” Rimes says. “I still get excited about all of it. Now realizing as an adult the importance of enjoying the moment, I genuinely still get excited after all these years about every little accomplishment.”
LEANN RIMES’ CAN’T-MISS PICKS
DALLAS
“I love real organic and healthy food. There’s a place called Nikolini Organic City Cafe (214-954-0303), which is this mom-and-pop organic Greek restaurant.”
“I love Nobu (www.noburestaurants.com, 214-252-7000), amazing sushi at Hotel Crescent Court.”
“Hotel Zaza (www.hotelzaza.com, 800-597-8399) is where I stay when I’m in town. Very cool, thematic rooms and an amazing spa.”
“There’s a rainforest that’s part of the Dallas World Aquarium (www.dwazoo.com, 214-720-2224) that I absolutely love going to.”
NASHVILLE
“One of my favorite restaurants is Margot Café & Bar (www.margotcafe.com, 615-227-4668). Her menu changes every single night so it’s all very fresh.”
“Loveless Café (www.lovelesscafe.com, 615-646-9700) serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Soul food, great biscuits and gravy, and chicken-fried steak. But I find a way to eat healthy there, too.”
“For music, The Bluebird Cafe (www.bluebirdcafe.com, 615-383-1461) is a classic place to see incredible songwriters.”
“It’s always cool to see a show at Ryman Auditorium (www.ryman.com, 615-889-3060). It’s the original Opry house. In my opinion, the best place to see a show in Nashville.”
The Hermitage Hotel (www.thehermitagehotel.com; 888-888-9414) is absolutely stunning. It was renovated a few years ago, but the rooms still have a classic feel.”
