LeAnn Rimes

LeAnn Rimes Bio

Margaret LeAnn Rimes Cibrian, known professionally as LeAnn Rimes, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and author. Born on August 28, 1982, in Jackson, Mississippi, Rimes rose to fame as a country music prodigy before crossing into pop, adult contemporary, and contemporary Christian music. She broke through commercially at age 13 with the album Blue (1996) and won two Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, becoming the youngest person ever to receive those honors at the time.

Over a career that began in the early 1990s, Rimes has placed more than 40 singles on international charts and sold more than 48 million records worldwide, according to industry tallies. Her crossover hits include “How Do I Live” (1997) and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” (2000), both of which became global smashes. In addition to recording, she has acted in several television films and remains an active performer.

Early Life and Background

Margaret LeAnn Rimes was born on August 28, 1982, in Jackson, Mississippi, the only child of Wilbur Rimes and Belinda Butler. When she was six years old, the family relocated to Garland, Texas, where she was enrolled in vocal and dance classes. By the age of five, Rimes was already performing at local talent shows, and she soon began working in musical theater, appearing in a Dallas production of A Christmas Carol and nearly landing the lead in a Broadway production of Annie.

Her early exposure to country music came through performances on Johnnie High’s Country Music Revue in Arlington, Texas, which drew the attention of local talent scouts. By age nine, Rimes was an experienced singer, touring nationally with her father and regularly performing a cappella renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Dallas Cowboys football games. Rimes has cited Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, and especially Patsy Cline as formative influences on her vocal style and career direction.

Path to Music

Rimes’s professional music career began in 1991 with the release of her debut album, Everybody’s Sweetheart, on the independent Nor Va Jak label, recorded while she was still a preteen. Her second independent release, All That (1994), included her first version of the song “Blue,” a 1958 composition written by Bill Mack. The recording caught Mack’s attention, and over several years he worked to sign Rimes to a major country label, eventually arranging a contract with Curb Records in Nashville.

Following a one-week winning appearance on the television competition show Star Search, Rimes committed to country music as her primary path. After signing with Curb in 1996, she re-recorded “Blue” as her major-label debut single, and the track quickly climbed the country charts, setting the stage for the release of her breakthrough album later that year.

LeAnn Rimes Career

Early Career (1991–1995)

Before signing with a major label, Rimes built a foundation on the independent circuit in Texas. Her debut album, Everybody’s Sweetheart, generated attention in the Dallas music community and showcased the vocal maturity that would later define her career. Her second independent release, All That, featured her first recorded version of “Blue” and included the original song “Share My Love,” co-written by Rimes herself.

During these formative years, Rimes performed at local talent shows, musical theater productions, and country music revues, while also appearing on national television through Star Search. The regional success of her independent work convinced talent scouts and promoters of her potential, ultimately paving the way for her signing with Curb Records in 1996.

Breakthrough (1996–1999)

Rimes’s major-label breakthrough came in 1996 with the release of the single “Blue” and the album of the same name. The album debuted at number one on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and at number three on the Billboard 200, eventually earning a six-times-Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. At the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997, Rimes won Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance, becoming the youngest recipient of those awards. That same year, the Country Music Association presented her with the Horizon Award, and the Academy of Country Music honored her with Top New Female Vocalist, Song of the Year, and Single Record of the Year.

Building on that success, Rimes crossed into pop in 1997 with “How Do I Live,” which spent 69 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and was ranked the most successful song of the 1990s by Billboard. The track appeared on her follow-up album, You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs, which was certified quadruple Platinum. Subsequent releases, including Sittin’ on Top of the World (1998) and LeAnn Rimes (1999), continued her commercial momentum, with the latter debuting at number one on the Top Country Albums chart and earning Platinum certification. In 1997, Rimes also made her acting debut in the ABC television film Holiday in Your Heart.

Notable Works and Milestones

Rimes’s signature recordings include Blue (1996), You Light Up My Life: Inspirational Songs (1997), and the singles “How Do I Live” and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” Her crossover success with “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” taken from the Coyote Ugly soundtrack, made her the best-selling single artist in Australia for 2001 and earned her a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Song from a Movie. Billboard ranked Rimes at number 17 in sales success for the 1990–1999 decade.

LeAnn Rimes Award Nominations

Throughout her career, LeAnn Rimes has earned multiple industry award nominations across country, pop, and television categories. Her early nominations included recognition from the Academy of Country Music for Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year in both 1996 and 1997, as well as additional Grammy nominations for later work such as her cover of John Anderson’s “Swingin’” from the 2011 album Lady & Gentlemen. Rimes’s consistent chart presence and soundtrack contributions have continued to draw industry attention well beyond her teenage breakthrough.

LeAnn Rimes Awards Won

LeAnn Rimes has won two Grammy Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, a Country Music Association Horizon Award, and a Blockbuster Entertainment Award, among other honors. In 2009, the Academy of Country Music also presented her with a special humanitarian award in recognition of her philanthropic efforts, including her work with Stand Up to Cancer and advocacy for LGBTQ equality. In 2020, she won the fourth season of the Fox reality singing competition The Masked Singer as the contestant “Sun.”

LeAnn Rimes Family

LeAnn Rimes is the only child of Wilbur Rimes and Belinda Butler. Her father, Wilbur Rimes, served as her manager and producer from the start of her career through the early 2000s, while her mother supported her early performances and training. In May 2000, Rimes and her mother filed a lawsuit against Wilbur, alleging that he had taken more than seven million dollars of her income over five years; the matter was settled on undisclosed terms in 2002. By the time Rimes married Dean Sheremet in 2002, she had reconciled with her father, who walked her down the aisle.

Personal Life

From 1998 to 2001, Rimes dated actor Andrew Keegan. She married dancer Dean Sheremet in 2002 in Dallas, Texas; the couple separated in 2009 and finalized their divorce on June 19, 2010. During the filming of the 2009 Lifetime movie Northern Lights, Rimes began a relationship with co-star Eddie Cibrian, and the couple married on April 22, 2011, at a private home in California. Rimes and Cibrian have made their home in Hidden Hills, California. Rimes has also been open about her lifelong struggle with the autoimmune disease psoriasis and has spoken publicly about experiencing anxiety and depression.