LeAnn Rimes

== Early life ==
Rimes was born 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.<ref name="allmusicbio">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p182450|pure_url=yes}}|title=LeAnn Rimes - Biography|last=Thomas Erlewine|first=Stephen|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 14, 2009}}</ref> 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 theatre|Broadway]] production of ''[[Annie (musical)|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 national [[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. Wilbur Rimes began recording his daughter under the independent label Nor Va Jak when she turned 11. Her debut studio album was released on the label in 1991 entitled ''Everybody's Sweetheart''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Roura|first=Phil|title=Music heavyweights pack Atlantic City's fall schedule|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/2007/09/09/2007-09-09_music_heavyweights_pack_atlantic_citys_f.html|access-date=September 28, 2011|newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|date=September 9, 2007}}</ref> Rimes was then discovered by Dallas [[disc jockey]] and record promoter [[Bill Mack (singer)|Bill Mack]]. Mack was impressed by Rimes's vocal ability, and over the following three years, he made various attempts to take Rimes to a mainstream level. The center of Mack's plan to bring her success was his composition, "Blue".  In July 1994, Rimes recorded the song on her second studio album, ''[[All That (album)|All That]]''.<ref name="book-pg63">{{cite book |title = Dreams Come True: The LeAnn Rimes Story |last = Sgammato |first = Jo |year = 1997 |publisher = [[Random House]] |isbn = 0-345-41650-3 |pages = 63–64 }}</ref> Mack then arranged a recording contract for Rimes with [[Curb Records]]. She signed with the Nashville label in 1996.<ref name="allmusicbio"/>