Leann Rimes

At the start of Rimes' singing career, the media often remarked that her rich vocals sounded like a "young Patsy Cline", and she was often nicknamed "The Next Patsy Cline" with the popularity of her hit single "Blue", a song originally intended for Cline to re-record when the original recording of the song by Bill Mack did not become a hit. ("Blue" was written in 1956 by Bill Mack, who also sung and released it in 1958 as his own single backed with "Faded Rose"; his recording received limited airplay but it did not become a hit. Contrary to claims, Cline was not the inspiration for the song. According to Mack in a 2011 interview for DFW.com, he wrote "Blue" in 1956 while strumming his guitar and the words and lyrics just came to him; his wife thought it sounded great so he recorded it as his 1958 single. Mack wanted "Blue" to be re-recorded by Cline in an effort to make the song a hit, but she had died in a plane crash in 1963. However, Rimes was not the first singer to record "Blue"; aside from Mack, "Blue" was previously recorded by at least four more artists prior to Rimes: Kenny Roberts, Kathryn Pitt, Polly Stevens and Roy Drusky). Rimes later covered several of Cline's hits on her self-titled album "LeAnn Rimes".

Was a one time winner on "Star Search" (1983) in 1990, in the junior vocalist competition.

Taylor Swift credited LeAnn Rimes as her main influence into a country music career. Swift stated on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) that she wanted to be a country singer after attending Rimes' concert.

won the 1997 Grammy awards for best new artist & best female country vocalist.

When then 14-year-old Rimes was voted Best New Artist of 1997 at the Grammy Awards, she became the youngest person to win the award.

Turned down the role of "Grace" in The Horse Whisperer (1998), a move which she later admitted regretting.

Diagnosed as suffering from Epstein-Barr virus. [September 2000]

In May 2000, filed a lawsuit against her father, Wilbur, and his partner and LeAnn's co-manager alleging that they stole more than $7 million of her earnings.

December 14, 2001 - Announced engagement to actor Dean Sheremet at Elton John's "The Concert" for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Ranked as #50 in FHM's "100 Sexiest Women in the World 2005" special supplement. (2005)

Currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee [2005]

Engaged to Eddie Cibrian [December 27, 2010].