Known As: LeAnn Rimes
Birth Name: Margaret LeAnn Rimes
Birthdate: August 28, 1982
Birthplace: Jackson, Mississippi
Factoids: 1991: At the age of 8, LeAnn was a two-week Star Search champion
Education: Tutored, skipped two grades
Occupation: Musician

"Superstar" and "sensation" are a couple of the terms used to describe 18-year-old LeAnn Rimes early in her career, and she continues to carry these faithfully as one of the leading singers of the 1990s. Rimes' talent has earned her numerous awards and experience in dynamic projects that will carry her into the new millennium. One of the highlights of Rimes' career was performing "Written in the Stars," a duet with Elton John from his album Aida on The People's Choice Awards, The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Letterman and The Today Show.

Rimes' debut record, "Blue," took the airwaves by storm. "Blue" entered Billboard's country chart at No. 49 and went to Top 10, making Rimes the youngest country singer ever to debut that high.

Rimes' album, also titled Blue, immediately shot to the top of the charts the week it debuted, placing itself as the No. 1 album on the Billboard country charts and No. 3 on the pop Billboard 200. You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs, multi-platinum follow-up album, debuted at No. 1 on the country, pop and contemporary Christian charts -- a first-time accomplishment for a country artist. The Early Years: Unchained Melody, a compilation album of Rimes' early work, was released in early 1997 and sold multi-platinum. To top off 1997, Rimes had a No. 1 pop single with "How Do I Live," which held the Billboard chart record of 60 consecutive weeks at No. 1, and received their Special Hot 100 award.

Rimes' incredible talents also garnered her Best New Country Artist at the American Music Awards, the CMA "Horizon Award", (and earlier CMA nominations that make LeAnn the youngest CMA nominee in the history of the Country Music Association), and Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance.

Born August 28, 1982, in Jackson, Miss Rimes, an only child, began singing before she was two.

"My dad has tapes of me doing 'You Are My Sunshine,' 'Getting to Know You,' and 'Have Mercy' by the Judds," Rimes says.

At age 5, Rimes entered and won her first song and dance competition (with a version of "Getting to Know You") and told her parents, Wilbur and Belinda, she wanted a life in show business. The family moved to Texas when Rimes was 6 to pursue that dream, and she subsequently auditioned (and nearly snagged) the lead in Annie II on Broadway. At 7 she made her stage debut in a Dallas musical production of A Christmas Carol, playing the lead role of Tiny Tim. Rimes was a two-week champion on the television show, Star Search, when she was 8, and she has been a regular on Johnnie High's Country Music Review in Forth Worth, Texas.

Rimes built a dedicated following in Texas through her powerful a cappella performances of the "Star Spangled Banner" at Dallas Cowboy games, the Walt Garrison Rodeo and the National Cutting Horse Championship in Fort Worth. In addition, Rimes opened for Randy Travis at Starplex in Dallas, and in 1995 she made over 100 concert appearances.

At age 11, she recorded her first album, All That, produced by Wilbur, and released on the independent label Nor Va Jak. The LP featured a version of "Blue," which had been sent to the Rimes by its songwriter, Bill Mack. Mack had originally written the song more than 30 years before and given it to Patsy Cline, who died before she could record it. The song lay dormant until Mack heard Rimes sing at one of her appearances, and subsequently sent her a tape.

"My dad said the song was too old for me," Rimes recalls. "I loved it, though, and I kept bugging him about it. Then I got the idea to put the yodel thing to it."

Wilbur and LeAnn headed to Norman Petty's old studio in Clovis, N.M. (where Buddy Holly recorded his first album) to cut her LP. Lyle Walker, who runs the studio, became Rimes' co-manager along with Wilbur.

The first album, sold locally in the Dallas area, also created a stir in Nashville and sparked a bidding war among several labels for LeAnn's talents. Ultimately, Rimes signed with Curb Records.

"Someone sent me her CD; I put it in and everyone just turned their heads and said 'Who is that?'" Mike Curb says.

Rimes' first Curb CD includes one of her personal highlights, a duet with the legendary Eddy Arnold on his classic hit, "Cattle Call." "It was Mike Curb's idea to do the song," she says. "Eddy Arnold was great. He kind of adopted me as his granddaughter and then as his daughter."

One of Blue's other highlights is "Talk to Me," an up-tempo cut that Rimes co-wrote (with Ron Grimes and Jon Rutherford).

"I've been writing songs for a while, and this is the first one I've recorded," LeAnn commented. "I'm really excited about 'Talk to Me,' and I'm looking forward to continuing my songwriting."

Rimes counts Barbra Streisand, Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, Wynonna and her parents among her musical influences. Off the road and out of the studio, she enjoys riding cutting horses, tennis, swimming and watching other performer's concerts.

Rimes' latest release on Curb Records, LeAnn Rimes, features her unique interpretation of 11 country standards, plus one bonus track titled "Big Deal." Expanding upon other talents, LeAnn made a guest appearance on the hit TV series, Moesha, starring Brandy. She served as Good Morning America's celebrity host for the American Music Awards in January '99, and also appeared on ABC-TV's HOT 21 special, a television version of the Teen People's article on the same subject. She appeared on Rosie O'Donnell in October debuted her first CMT special. Rimes also appeared on Today, Later Today and The Tonight Show.