This is a speech that I wrote about LeAnn and her life.
Please read it and let me know what you think.
LeAnn Rimes Biography
by Leslie Peterson
We've all had dreams of becoming a superstar as a teenager. One talented thirteen year old made her dream come true. She was born a miracle baby and has grown to be one of the most well known country music singers of our time. Her name is Margaret LeAnn Rimes. Most of us know her better as LeAnn Rimes. So who is this country music superstar? And what made her a singing sensation?
When LeAnn's parents, Wilbur and Belinda Rimes, got married their biggest dream was to have kids. But soon after they were married they were told they couldn't have kids. The news was heartbreaking. In 1981 Belinda turned to prayer. And, according to LeAnn Rimes Teen Country Queen by Grace Catalano, Belinda said, " Within six weeks I was pregnant with LeAnn. Wilbur and I agreed that we would devote our lives to her." And on August 28, 1982 Margaret LeAnn Rimes was born.
LeAnn's preschool years were filled with tap dance lessons, baseball, gymnastics, and T-Ball. LeAnn started singing at age two. Her parents said she could sing better than she could talk. At age five LeAnn entered her first song and dance competition and won taking home a trophy almost as big as her. That was just the beginning of her road to stardom.
At age 11, while singing the "Star Spangled Banner" at a Texas Ranger's game, Bill Mack, a songwriter and DJ, discovered LeAnn. Bill Mack was astounded by how well this 11 year old girl could sing. He had written a song called "Blue" for the legendary Patsy Cline shortly before she was killed in 1963 and she never had a chance to record it. Bill Mack gave the song to Wilbur, LeAnn's dad and manager, and asked him to give it to LeAnn to record. When Wilbur listened to it he didn't think it was right for LeAnn but LeAnn disagreed. The minute she heard it she knew it was the song for her. She begged her dad to let her record it. Wilbur agreed and told Bill Mack that he wanted to record it and that they wanted to make a few changes. They recorded the song for LeAnn's first album "All That" which was released in 1994 and is now only available through her fan club.
LeAnn's second album "Blue" was released in July of 1996. It debuted at number 1 on Billboard and sold over 124,000 copies in the first week of being released. The song "Blue" debuted at number 49 on Billboard's country charts. When Entertainment Weekly reviewed the song "Blue", it said about LeAnn, "This kid--she's only thirteen--has got a voice that'll just knock you out. She sounds just like Patsy Cline. She's gonna go right to the top." Five weeks later it jumped to number 12. It spent two weeks at number ten. The third track on "Blue", "One Way Ticket (Because I Can)", was LeAnn's first number one smash hit on all the Billboard charts. LeAnn struck gold with this song. On August 28, 1996, LeAnn's fourteenth birthday, she received the best birthday present of her life. Her album "Blue" had sold an incredible 815,000 copies and was certified gold. "Blue" became the biggest selling album of the year.
LeAnn's sophomore album "Unchained Melody/The Early Years" was released in February of 1997. In 1997 LeAnn released her fourth album "You Light Up My Life". Both albums have been really good sellers. Her next move was a big one. She teamed up with Bryan White for their 1998 tour the "Something to Talk About Tour". It is a nation wide tour that lasts all year long and on June 23rd they will be performing in North Platte at the annual Nebraskaland Days. The tour has been a big hit all over for all different ages. When LeAnn was asked her opinion on achieving goals she said, "If you truly want to achieve something, go for it." When LeAnn's career took off her parents hired a tutor and since then she has been able to skip two grades and is currently a Sophomore doing her school work on the road with her tutor.
LeAnn is living proof that dreams can and do come true. She made her dream come true. And you can too. As LeAnn said, "If you truly want to achieve something, go for it." And don't let anything stand in your way.
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