About LeAnn Rimes
Margaret LeAnn Rimes Cibrian is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She originally rose to success as a country music artist at age 13 and has since crossed over into pop, contemporary Christian, and other musical genres. Rimes has placed over 40 singles on international charts since 1996. She has sold over 48 million records worldwide, with 20.8 million album sales in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard ranked her at number 17 in terms of sales success in the 1990–1999 decade.
Born in Mississippi and raised in Texas, Rimes demonstrated a unique singing ability from a young age. Through her parents' efforts, Rimes began performing in various musical theater and local music contests. Working with her father as producer and manager, Rimes recorded two studio albums as a preteen. She developed a local following which helped bring her to the attention of Nashville label Curb Records. In 1996, she signed a contract with Curb at age 13 and released the single "Blue", which became a top ten hit on the Billboard country songs chart. Her 1996 album of the same name was certified six times Platinum and established her as a major country artist. In 1997, Rimes crossed over into pop music with "How Do I Live", which became one of the best-selling singles of the 1990s. The track was included on her next album You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs , which was certified quadruple Platinum. It was followed up with the Platinum certified albums Sittin' on Top of the World and LeAnn Rimes . In the following years, Rimes released several pop singles for soundtrack albums, which include "I Need You" and "Can't Fight the Moonlight", the latter of which became a major hit worldwide. Several of these soundtrack singles were compiled on the Platinum certified album I Need You .
Breaking away from her father's management in the 2000s, Rimes released the Gold certified pop album Twisted Angel and the Christmas record What a Wonderful World . She returned to her country origins with This Woman , which produced three country hits and was certified Gold. Later album releases were Whatever We Wanna , Family , Lady & Gentlemen , and Spitfire . After ending her long-time professional relationship with Curb Records, Rimes released the Christmas album Today Is Christmas and pop studio album Remnants , the latter of which featured two number one Billboard dance club hits. In the years that followed, she released the albums Chant: The Human & the Holy and God's Work .
Rimes has also had several notable television film roles. She began her acting career with the film Holiday in Your Heart . After appearing in the television film Northern Lights , Rimes began an affair with co-star Eddie Cibrian which received notable media attention. She has since appeared in Good Intentions , Reel Love , and It's Christmas, Eve . In 2024, she became a coach on The Voice Australia and The Voice UK.
Margaret LeAnn Rimes was born on August 28, 1982, in Jackson, Mississippi. She is the only child of Wilbur Rimes and Belinda Butler. The family moved to Garland, Texas, when she was six. She was enrolled in vocal and dance classes, and was performing at local talent shows at the age of five. Rimes began her career in musical theatre, performing in a Dallas, Texas, production of A Christmas Carol, and almost landing the lead part in the Broadway production of Annie. After appearing on the network television competition show Star Search, where she clearly charmed host Ed McMahon in addition to being a one-week champion, Rimes decided to go into country music. Rimes appeared a number of times on Johnnie High's Country Music Revue in Arlington, Texas, which gained the attention of local talent scouts.
By age nine, Rimes was an experienced singer. She toured nationally with her father and also regularly performed a cappella renditions of "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the opening of the Dallas Cowboys football games. In 1991, she released her debut album Everybody's Sweetheart on an independent label called Nor Va Jak. Due to the independent album's success throughout the Dallas music community, Rimes was discovered by local disc jockey and record promoter Bill Mack. Mack was impressed by Rimes's vocal ability, and over the next three years, he made various attempts to sign Rimes to a major country music label. The center of Mack's plan to bring her success was his 1958 single, "Blue". In July 1994, Rimes included her first version of "Blue" on her second and final Nor Va Jak release, All That. Mack then arranged a recording contract for Rimes with Curb Records. She signed with the Nashville label in 1996.
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