LeAnn Rimes on the cover of her album, “Family.”

LeAnn Rimes

Some people still picture LeAnn Rimes as the pretty, 11-year old with the incredible voice who first burst on the national scene with the hit “Blue.” In reality, LeAnn Rimes is so much more. As an artist, she’s matured into a songwriter of considerable depth and as a vocalist, she’s grown into her gift in an even more impressive way. She has also transformed into a gifted actor, writer, and a passionate activist.

LeAnn’s most recent album, “Family,” marks the first time she has written or co-written every song on one of her albums. “I’m just completely baring my insides,” LeAnn confesses. “A lot of people believe what they read and what they see on the surface, but there’s so much underneath for me as a human being, not as an artist, and that’s where this is coming from. It’s coming from real life.”

LeAnn’s new songs run the gamut from the autobiographical title track which appears in the film “Good Intentions,” to the light-hearted, up tempo “Nothin’ Better to Do,” the album’s first single, which also appears in “Good Intentions.” LeAnn explores a lot of territory on “Family.” She readily admits it’s not easy to lay her soul bare for the whole world, yet there’s also a freedom in becoming that transparent. “It’s hard to be that vulnerable, but it’s exhilarating all at the same time,” she says. “I’m definitely accepting myself for who I am. I’m letting it speak for itself, loving my real emotions and letting who I am come across in my music.

Though the songs on “Family” are intensely personal, LeAnn has also managed to create music that is universal in its appeal. The challenges and triumphs she chronicles represent experiences everyone can relate to. “I wanted to write so that people would be able to find themselves in the songs and hear their stories,” she says. For example, “What I Cannot Change,” is a song about forgiveness, acceptance and personal growth that finds LeAnn delivering a performance that is achingly vulnerable yet carries an underlying current of rock solid strength.

Over her career, LeAnn has won two Grammy Awards, including the first Best New Artist accolade ever won by a country artist. She has sold more than 37 million records, won an American Music Award, three Academy of Country Music honors and 12 Billboard Awards. She’s scored numerous hit singles, among them “One Way Ticket,” “I Need You,” “Nothin’ ‘Bout Love Makes Sense,” “Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way,” “Can’t Fight The Moonlight” which was a #1 song in 11 countries, and “How Do I Live,” which was the longest running single ever on the Billboard Hot 100, spending a record-setting 69 weeks on the chart.

LeAnn has become a musical icon both in the U.S. and in Europe and in 2006, released “Whatever We Wanna” in Europe, a successful pop album for which she co-wrote ten of the 15 tracks. LeAnn has written children’s books as well as a companion book for her single, “What I Cannot Change.” She has acted in film and on television with her lead performance in Lifetime’s 2009 telepic “Northern Lights,” which garnered 4.5 million viewers. “Good Intentions” is her feature film acting debut.

LeAnn Rimes is no longer that teen with the big voice. She’s an intelligent, mature young woman with much to say. “The confidence I felt in my singing is now how confident I feel in my writing, says LeAnn. I feel like I’m really moving forward and growing as a human being and as an artist. It’s a good thing.”

Visit her online: http://www.leannrimesworld.com/