SALAMANCA, N.Y. — The legendary LeAnn Rimes is coming to the Seneca Allegany Event Center Oct. 28 when she will take the stage at 7 p.m. as part of her The Story … So Far Tour that will take fans on a nostalgic journey through her expansive career.
As an international multi-platinum selling acclaimed singer and ASCAP award-winning songwriter, Rimes has sold more than 37 million records worldwide, won two Grammy Awards, 12 Billboard Music Awards, two World Music Awards, three Academy of Country Music Awards, two Country Music Association Awards and one Dove Award. At age 14, she won “Best New Artist” making her the youngest recipient to take home a Grammy Award.
Following that record-breaking year with her biggest hit to date, “How Do I Live,” in 1997, Rimes released more hits including “One Way Ticket (Because I Can),” “The Light in Your Eyes” and many more.
She has released a total of 19 albums in her career and, along the way, she has broken into the acting world with roles in Coyote Ugly, in 2000, a few TV movies and Fox’s “The Masked Singer.”
Rimes humbly said she doesn’t spend much time looking back on all her achievements, but she is proud that certain achievements happened.
“I enjoy being in this beautiful moment right now and being incredibly thankful for any future days coming,” she told the Press in a recent interview.
Rimes said she is incredibly proud of her most recent studio album, “God’s Work,” that was released in 2022.
“It is a reclamation for me. Some of my most favorite songs I have written are on this record — ‘Spaceship,’ ‘Awakening,’ ‘Throw My Arms Around the World’ and so on,” she said. “I really hope people will give it a few listens.”
Born in Mississippi in 1982 and raised in Tyler, Texas, Rimes said she came from a family who loved music, but they were not really a musical family at all.
“My mom sometimes told people when I was born, I came out singing,” she said.
Rimes said she started singing at age 3 and won her first talent contest at age 5. She recorded her first album at 7, and the second at age 11.
“Those first two records, of course, were indie records (self-produced). I signed with Curb Records at age 11, right before I turned 12,” she said.
In 1996, at age 13, the country singer rose to stardom with the title song, “Blue,”which brought her to national attention. Rimes celebrated her 25th year of being a recording artist and the release of her debut album, “Blue,” in 2021. She said “it feels like yesterday and forever ago all at the same time.”
In 1997, she unexpectedly crossed over into pop music with “How Do I Live” which was her first crossover song from country music.
“Diane Warren is an amazing songwriter. I knew immediately when I heard the song that I wanted to sing it,” she said. “I still enjoy singing ‘How Do I Live’ all these years later.”
Her evocative vocals were compared to Patsy Cline in the mid-1990s, and she can pay homage to the country music legend like no other. Rimes has gone on to set her own benchmarks for pop crossover success. She is on course to become one of the most successful recording artists in country music history.
“She (Patsy Cline) is truly incomparable,” she said. “When I first heard her voice and felt the emotions she evoked through her singing, I knew I just wanted to make people feel the way she made me feel. She is a legend.”
Just as Rimes was influenced by Cline, IMDb.com said Taylor Swift has credited Rimes as her main influence into a country music career.
“Taylor is showing everyone on this planet what dreams, determination, hard work, talent and vision can accomplish,” she said. “She is inspiring so many of her fans to follow their dreams. She has only just begun, too!”
Among her other accomplishments are four books she has penned: “Holiday in Your Heart” with Tom Carter, “Jag,” “Jag’s New Friend” and “What I Cannot Change” with Darrell Brown. Rimes said each book had its own unique message at the moment it was written, but the first “Jag” and “What I Cannot Change” are probably her favorites.
Rimes is passionate about using her voice to help heal the world. Her dedication to make the world a better place has been recognized and she’s been honored with the Ally of Equality Award by the Human Rights Campaign for over 20 years of equal rights support, the 2019 HOPE Award for Depression Advocacy and 2009 ACM Humanitarian Award, among other recognitions.
“I am always trying to create a safe place for others to feel when I sing, whether it’s with my albums or my chant album, my iHeartRadio podcast ‘Wholly Human’ or in concert,” she said. “I want us all to connect with each other. I believe our world needs that to happen more and more.”
For more information, visit leannrimes.com and senecaalleganycasino.com. Tickets can be purchased at ticketmaster.com.
