LEANN TEAMING UP WITH OTHER FEMALE STARS FOR CANCER CHARITY TUNE

BILLBOARD.COM
8.19.08

Female Stars Team For Cancer Charity Tune
What would it sound like if 15 of the hottest female singers joined voices? The answer will be revealed Sept. 2.

That's when "Just Stand Up" hits airwaves and iTunes. The song features Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Rihanna, Fergie, Sheryl Crow, Miley Cyrus, Melissa Etheridge, Ashanti, Natasha Bedingfield, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Leona Lewis, LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood. All sales of the star-studded single will benefit cancer research.

The charity tune was conceived by Antonio "L.A." Reid, who produced it with longtime creative colleague Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

All 15 singers will share the stage to perform the song live on Sept. 5 during the "Stand Up to Cancer" television special, set to air simultaneously on ABC, NBC and CBS. Other stars expected to turn out for the hour-long fund- and awareness-raising program includeJennifer Aniston, Lance Armstrong, Katie Couric, Sally Field, Salma Hayek, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker and Reese Witherspoon.

Founded in 2007, Stand Up to Cancer is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation that calls on entertainment-industry people and platforms to help fight cancer

BID ON LEANN'S SHIRT FOR CHARITY!

www.KeithUrbanAuction.com is hosting the "You Look Good in My Old T-Shirt Auction," an online auction benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  The auction features a Stella McCartney shirt worn and donated by LeAnn Rimes!  

The auction will offer fans the chance to not only win a completely unique and personal commemorative item from a favorite artist, but also contribute to a worthy cause. Fans can bid at the auction, which was named after Keith's hit single  "You Look Good in My Shirt," by logging onto www.KeithUrbanAuction.com. All proceeds will go to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

BID NOW!

"WHAT I CANNOT CHANGE" REVIEWS!

From Music Row:
Choosing the top platter of the week was a lot more difficult. In varying ways, Josh Gracin, Jeffrey Steele, Josh Turner, Darryl Worley and Jake Owen are all offering exceptional sounds. But LeAnn Rimes stands out by virtue of a refreshingly different songwriting approach, a courageous vocal and a distinctive production. She takes on the boys and wins an upset Disc of the Day prize:
LEANN RIMES/What I Cannot Change
Writer: LeAnn Rimes/Darrell Brown; Producer: Dann Huff; Publisher: Curb Songs/Lucky in Love/Grey Ink/Fran Am, ASCAP; Curb (track)
—The track is seductively moody, featuring beautifully arranged strings and delicate piano work. The ballad takes unexpected melodic turns as it twirls in the wind. Her vocal leaps into high-soprano notes that tickle the ears, and the lyric has truth. Very creative and highly recommended.

by JIM MALECSHARE

When LeAnn Rimes enters a recording studio, she carries with her the most impressive instrument in the room. Indeed, Rimes’ voice is extraordinary, a stunning combination of natural talent and technical precision, bathed in character and a timbre that is instantly identifiable.

But Rimes’ has a tendency to favor tempo, to chase radio trends, and to embrace the bombastic. And so her albums are typically ripe with predictably crescendoing power ballads and overproduced, pointlessly busy tracks that leave her magnificent voice buried in the mix.

“What I Cannot Change” is one of the rare instances, as was 2005’s “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way,” when Rimes’ immense talent shines through the Nashville slickness that clutters her catalog. Here, producer Dann Huff smartly keeps the song’s piano and strings-driven arrangement sparse, allowing the track to serve as a backdrop for the real show—a tremendously sensitive vocal performance that is easily one of the most nuanced of Rimes’ career......

LEANN FEATURED IN LIFE & STYLE

LeAnn is featured in the August 18 issue of Life & Style. Read more to see the feature!

ORANGE BEACH, AL M&G; REGISTRATION OPEN

We've just added the 8/17 Orange Beach, AL date to the tour page. M&G registration will be open through Tuesday. Apologies for the late notice!

IMPORTANT CONCERT NEWS

Unfortunately, LeAnn Rimes is postponing her performance in Chicago for US99 and canceling her performance at Detroit Lakes, MN's WE Fest . The Grammy award winner has a severe case of tonsillitis which has inflamed her vocal chords. She thanks her fans for their unwavering support and looks forward to entertaining them again in the near future.

LEANN TO BE FEATURED ON ELVIS CHRISTMAS ALBUM!

From People.com:

Some of Country's queens are getting the chance to sing with the King on an upcoming album of Christmas tracks.

"Elvis Presley Christmas Duets" pairs the voice of Presley with the likes of Carrie Underwod and LeAnn Rimes – both of whom were born after the musical legend had died. Martina McBride, Sara Evans, and Wynonna Judd also lend their voices to the tunes. Underwood 'duets' with Presley on "I'll be Home for Christmas," while Rimes takes on "Here Comes Santa Claus" and McBride croons with the King on the Presley favorite "Blue Christmas."

Additional tracks include: "Silent Night" with Evans; "Santa Claus is Back In Town" with Judd; "Merry Christmas Baby" with Gretchen Wilson; "Silver Bells" with Anne Murray; "White Christmas" with Amy Grant; and "O Little Town" with Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town.

The songs are being recorded in Nashville's RCA Studio B–the same studio where Elvis recorded his original 1971 Christmas sessions. "We are so pleased that these accomplished artists are collaborating with Elvis in this unique way to make exciting new versions of his Christmas songs," Priscilla Presley said in a press release. "I am sure Elvis would be proud to have worked with them."

Tracks from the album will be previewed Aug. 14 during the 2008 Elvis Week in Memphis.

LEANN ARTIST CONFIDENTIAL ON XM RADIO

The Artist Confidential that Leann taped will be aired on the following dates and channels:

Monday, July 28 - ALL DAY CONTINUOUS on XM channel 2

Monday, July 28 - 8PM (as a special) on Highway 16

Be sure to tune in!

LEANN TO PLAY FREE SHOW AT GILLEY'S DALLAS!

LeAnn will be playing a free show at Gilley's Dallas as a part of the Samsung AT&T Summer Krush on August 13! For more information and to register for tickets, visit the Summer Krush website!

LEANN TO BE FEATURED ON GAC NIGHTS' 'SUMMERFEST' SPECIAL

GAC Nights will be airing a television special featuring LeAnn at Summerfest in Milwaukee!

Here are the airtimes:
July 21, 2008 - 10pm and 2am eastern
July 22, 2008 - 11am eastern

The show will also feature Cross Canadian Ragweed and Little Big Town.

NASHVILLE SHOW REVIEW ON CMT.COM!

LeAnn performed Saturday night (7/5) in Nashville during Kenny Chesney's Poets & Pirates Tour.

Courtesy of CMT.com's Edward Morris...

Rimes was the picture of elegance in her short black dress and cascading blonde locks. One of country music's true chanteuses, she teased, coaxed and wrung the emotions out of a long string of hits and show favorites, notably "Nothin' Better to Do," "Can't Fight the Moonlight," "Something's Gotta Give," "Big Deal," "Commitment," "Family" and her recent "A Good Friend and a Glass of Wine."

She also paid tribute to Janis Joplin with an ultra-bluesy rendering of George Gershwin's "Summertime." Then she bowed out with a cover of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me."

Visit CMT.com to read the entire review!

LEANN DESIGNING A SPECIAL EDITION 'MY LITTLE PONY!

LeAnn will be designing her very own "My Little Pony" for charity! Check out details HERE!

LEANN ADDED TO SUMMERFEST LINEUP!

LeAnn has just been added to the Summerfest lineup in Milwauke, WI on June 26! Meet & Greet registration for fan club members is now open and will remain open until Monday - register HERE!

LEANN FEATURED ON COVER OF 'FIRST' MAGAZINE

LeAnn graces the cover of First Magazine, on newsstands now! Click "full story" to see the article, and pick up a copy today!

LEANN CATCHES THE EYES AND EARS OF THE MEDIA

Take a look at some of the press LeAnn's been getting while out on tour with Kenny Chesney! (click 'full story')

New! MSN - Photos from ACMs

LEANN SET TO PERFORM AT THE ACM AWARDS!

LeAnn, who is nominated for two ACM Awards, will be performing during the live awards telecast on Sunday, May 18th from Las Vegas.  LeAnn is up for Female Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year for her duet with Bon Jovi, "Til We Ain't Strangers Anymore!"

For more information about the show, visit People.com or ACMCountry.com!

LEANN IN BILLBOARD MAGAZINE

From this week’s BILLBOARD “Charts” column…
 
“Once dubbed “Flameworthy” but more lately nicknamed “Buckles,” the CMT Music Awards affect sales no matter what you call them.….Leader of the CMT pack is LeAnn Rimes, who re-enters the Billboard 200 at No. 178 on a 22% sales gain, the largest uptick among the show’s players, including a 55% in album downloads.”

Again, thanks for all of YOUR support!  

TAKE A TOUR OF LEANN'S NEW BUS!

LEANN WINS 2008 DOVE AWARD

LEANN'S CMT MUSIC AWARDS PERFORMANCE!

Click "full story" to watch LeAnn's CMT Music Awards Performance now!