LeAnn Rimes - Editorial - August 2012
by: Cheryl Harvey Hill, Sr. Staff Journalist
You can't turn on the radio or television, or pick up a newspaper or magazine that you don't read something about LeAnn Rimes Cibrian and, sadly, it isn't about her amazing voice or beautiful face. And now we are told she has entered "a 30 day in-patient treatment facility to cope with anxiety and stress." Her representative explained, "She is simply there to learn and develop coping mechanisms. While privacy isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated."
Privacy isn't likely since the tabloids are having a field day with this story. It seems that taking cheap shots at Rimes has become a favorite pastime of most media but I don't plan on jumping on that bandwagon. I happen to think that Rimes is one of the most talented entertainers... period. Not just in country, but in any genre of music.
I've had the wonderful privilege of attending many concerts over the past fifteen years and although I have seen some amazing artists, there are a few who really stood out from the rest and LeAnn Rimes is among them. I first saw her when she was only fifteen years old. "Blue" had already made her the youngest performer in country music history to debut at Number One on the charts and later that month, On Feb. 26, 1997 she added to her impressive list of accomplishments by becoming, not only the youngest entertainer, but the first country music entertainer in history, to win a Grammy for Best New Vocalist. She won a second Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue".
I was able to see her a few years ago and I was just as impressed then as I had been that very first time I saw her in concert. She has grown into a most beautiful young woman. So poised and gracious. Folks can say what they want but nothing will change the fact that she has won many awards, including two Grammys, three ACM's, a CMA,12 Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music award. She has also released ten studio albums and three compilation albums and two greatest hits albums, one released in the US and the other released internationally, through her record label of 13 years, Asylum-Curb, and placed over 40 singles on American and international charts since 1996. She has sold over 37 million records worldwide, with 20.3 million album sales in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard ranked her 17th artist of the 1990-00 decade. Rimes has also written four books, two novels and two children's books.
As I wrote after the first time I heard her in concert, "LeAnn Rimes is talent personified" and in the years since, she has certainly lived up to that observation. I have the utmost respect for the beautiful Mrs. Cibrian and I will be keeping her in my prayers and remain hopeful that she will realize she doesn't need to defend herself against comments made by spiteful ne'er-do-wells. The entire staff of NAC wishes her only continued success and happiness.
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A blast from the past:
Concert Review by: Cheryl Harvey Hill
28 February 1997 - Wichita Falls, TX
Like a rainbow after rain, she is an awe-inspiring phenomenon. We have all experienced a moment in time after a spring shower when the clouds part to let the sun shine through. The earth seems unspoiled and clean and we can’t wait to throw open all the doors and windows to let in the fresh air. LeAnn Rimes is, most assuredly, a breath of fresh air. You may think that using a rainbow as an analogy for a person is strange, but after seeing the extraordinarily gifted Ms. Rimes in concert, I can say with confidence that the range of her voice and talent is equal to the expanse of a rainbow and equally gratifying to the senses. You find yourself taking extra deep breaths as she sings. Like fresh air, you want to absorb as much as you can.
Offstage, it is easier to get close to an elusive rainbow than it is to get close to Rimes. The stories we have all read and heard about how protective everyone around her is, are not exaggerated. But when she is on stage, no matter how far away you may be sitting, she reaches out with her voice, her smile and her attitude and firmly grasps your heart and your being.
After her concert, even those who were fortunate to have backstage passes, were allotted only enough time to shake her hand and obtain her signature on a publicity photo. She signs only her first name. Why not, who doesn’t know who LeAnn is? I get the distinct impression that she knows exactly who she is. She has never wanted to be just another entertainer, her goal has always been to "be a star". With grace, beauty, purpose and talent, she has clearly established her presence as one of the greatest contenders for star status that the music industry has ever seen. She is composed and professional. She has a maturity and self-confidence that we most often attribute to age. This is not your average child. This is a young person, wise beyond her years, who is on a mission. She has taken a solid foothold on the ladder of success and there is no doubt that she will remain at the top for as long as she desires to be there. Her smash hit, "Blue", made her the youngest performer in country music history to debut at Number One on the sales charts and those skeptics who predicted that she was a "one-hit wonder" had to quickly eat their words when "One Way Ticket (Because I Can) burst onto the charts quickly followed by Unchained Melody.
On February 26, 1997 she added to her impressive list of accomplishments by becoming, not only the youngest entertainer, but the first country music entertainer in history, to win a Grammy for Best New Vocalist. She won a second Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue".
LeAnn Rimes is talent personified. Peerless. A true breath of fresh air. Breathe deep - it doesn’t get much better than this. A star and a rainbow on the same horizon!
LeAnn Rimes Greatest Hits
LeAnn Rimes - This Woman
LeAnn Rimes World - official website
You can't turn on the radio or television, or pick up a newspaper or magazine that you don't read something about LeAnn Rimes Cibrian and, sadly, it isn't about her amazing voice or beautiful face. And now we are told she has entered "a 30 day in-patient treatment facility to cope with anxiety and stress." Her representative explained, "She is simply there to learn and develop coping mechanisms. While privacy isn't expected, it's certainly appreciated."
Privacy isn't likely since the tabloids are having a field day with this story. It seems that taking cheap shots at Rimes has become a favorite pastime of most media but I don't plan on jumping on that bandwagon. I happen to think that Rimes is one of the most talented entertainers... period. Not just in country, but in any genre of music.
I've had the wonderful privilege of attending many concerts over the past fifteen years and although I have seen some amazing artists, there are a few who really stood out from the rest and LeAnn Rimes is among them. I first saw her when she was only fifteen years old. "Blue" had already made her the youngest performer in country music history to debut at Number One on the charts and later that month, On Feb. 26, 1997 she added to her impressive list of accomplishments by becoming, not only the youngest entertainer, but the first country music entertainer in history, to win a Grammy for Best New Vocalist. She won a second Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue".
I was able to see her a few years ago and I was just as impressed then as I had been that very first time I saw her in concert. She has grown into a most beautiful young woman. So poised and gracious. Folks can say what they want but nothing will change the fact that she has won many awards, including two Grammys, three ACM's, a CMA,12 Billboard Music Awards, and one American Music award. She has also released ten studio albums and three compilation albums and two greatest hits albums, one released in the US and the other released internationally, through her record label of 13 years, Asylum-Curb, and placed over 40 singles on American and international charts since 1996. She has sold over 37 million records worldwide, with 20.3 million album sales in the United States according to Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard ranked her 17th artist of the 1990-00 decade. Rimes has also written four books, two novels and two children's books.
As I wrote after the first time I heard her in concert, "LeAnn Rimes is talent personified" and in the years since, she has certainly lived up to that observation. I have the utmost respect for the beautiful Mrs. Cibrian and I will be keeping her in my prayers and remain hopeful that she will realize she doesn't need to defend herself against comments made by spiteful ne'er-do-wells. The entire staff of NAC wishes her only continued success and happiness.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A blast from the past:
Concert Review by: Cheryl Harvey Hill
28 February 1997 - Wichita Falls, TX
Like a rainbow after rain, she is an awe-inspiring phenomenon. We have all experienced a moment in time after a spring shower when the clouds part to let the sun shine through. The earth seems unspoiled and clean and we can’t wait to throw open all the doors and windows to let in the fresh air. LeAnn Rimes is, most assuredly, a breath of fresh air. You may think that using a rainbow as an analogy for a person is strange, but after seeing the extraordinarily gifted Ms. Rimes in concert, I can say with confidence that the range of her voice and talent is equal to the expanse of a rainbow and equally gratifying to the senses. You find yourself taking extra deep breaths as she sings. Like fresh air, you want to absorb as much as you can.
Offstage, it is easier to get close to an elusive rainbow than it is to get close to Rimes. The stories we have all read and heard about how protective everyone around her is, are not exaggerated. But when she is on stage, no matter how far away you may be sitting, she reaches out with her voice, her smile and her attitude and firmly grasps your heart and your being.
After her concert, even those who were fortunate to have backstage passes, were allotted only enough time to shake her hand and obtain her signature on a publicity photo. She signs only her first name. Why not, who doesn’t know who LeAnn is? I get the distinct impression that she knows exactly who she is. She has never wanted to be just another entertainer, her goal has always been to "be a star". With grace, beauty, purpose and talent, she has clearly established her presence as one of the greatest contenders for star status that the music industry has ever seen. She is composed and professional. She has a maturity and self-confidence that we most often attribute to age. This is not your average child. This is a young person, wise beyond her years, who is on a mission. She has taken a solid foothold on the ladder of success and there is no doubt that she will remain at the top for as long as she desires to be there. Her smash hit, "Blue", made her the youngest performer in country music history to debut at Number One on the sales charts and those skeptics who predicted that she was a "one-hit wonder" had to quickly eat their words when "One Way Ticket (Because I Can) burst onto the charts quickly followed by Unchained Melody.
On February 26, 1997 she added to her impressive list of accomplishments by becoming, not only the youngest entertainer, but the first country music entertainer in history, to win a Grammy for Best New Vocalist. She won a second Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for "Blue".
LeAnn Rimes is talent personified. Peerless. A true breath of fresh air. Breathe deep - it doesn’t get much better than this. A star and a rainbow on the same horizon!
LeAnn Rimes Greatest Hits
LeAnn Rimes - This Woman
LeAnn Rimes World - official website