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• Ms. Rimes' official site
• Bio on Ms. Rimes
• Parade article on Ms. Rimes
• Children's Miracle Network

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Tavis: Leann Rimes is a two-time Grammy winner who released her first CD when she was just 13. Don't you hate folk like that? 3 years later, still a teenager, her single "How Do I Live?" became the longest-running song ever on the Billboard 100 singles chart. And they're still playing it. I just heard it on my way in the studio on local radio here in L.A. And now at age 22--the ripe old age 22-- she's just released her first country CD--bam--in 4 years called "This Woman." From the new CD, here's some of the video "Love."

Leann Rimes singing: Nothin' 'bout love is less than confusing,

You can win when you're losing,

Stand when you're falling,

I can't figure it out,

Nothin' 'bout love can make an equation

Nothing short of amazing,

Wish I could explain it,

But I don't know how

Tavis: Leann, nice to see you.

Leann Rimes: Thank you. Good to see you, too.

Tavis: You look great.

Rimes: Thanks.

Tavis: I know you must get tired of being asked, or having people making reference to the fact that you are all grown up now.

Rimes: No, it's--

Tavis: How much do you get sick of hearing that?

Rimes: I get it often, obviously. Yeah, I get sick of, actually, people still thinking I'm 13. That's what I get sick of. It's nice when people say, "Oh, you're grown up now," because it's--they're starting to catch up with the fact that I'm a woman now.

Tavis: What's the down side, though? Nobody ever thinks in these terms, but is there a down side to having started so young and folk not allowing you to grow up?

Rimes: Yeah. I mean, I definitely think, you know, I didn't have my childhood, really. My childhood was basically being onstage all the time with a microphone in my hand.

Tavis: And on tour bus, I guess.

Rimes: Exactly. I was always on the road. I did, like, 500 shows in 3 1/2 years from the time I was 13, so I took some time off, needless to say, around 16, 17 years old. But I don't know. There's definitely, I think, a down side to growing up so fast, but for me, I liked that. I was always a very driven kid. I was always, you know, way ahead of-- my brain was always way ahead of my age, you know? And I--I don't know, I just...I think now...I don't regret anything, obviously. I think I'm a little bit of a freak of nature when it comes to actually still having a career after the child star thing goes away. I mean, I've been blessed with that. So, you know, for me, there's definitely, I think--I think there was, you know, a little bit of psychological down side to things 'cause you just kind of--you don't know quite where you fit in for a while. You're still a kid, but you're really a woman and, you know, you're having to grow up fast. So it-- it's different, definitely.

Tavis: At 13, there was no doubt about your awesome and immense talent, but how much of your drive to become the success that you now are, back at 13, was about you versus your parents? I ask that because I was in Atlanta the other day, and remember Webster? The little kid Emmanuel Lewis? I was in Atlanta, he walked up to me the other day, and I hadn't seen him in years, and we had this conversation the other day. But how much, in your case, was about you really wanting to do this, or your parents, with all due respect, pushing you into this because you were talented?

Rimes: Right. Um, for me it was more me than anything. I was so--I knew this is what I wanted to do from the time I was really, really young.

Tavis: You were singing, like, at what?

Rimes: At 2. I mean, I was, like, 18 months old the first time I really--as soon as I could talk, I was singing. But for me, I really did--I wanted to do this. I really loved it, and, you know. But there was definitely--you know, I wouldn't have been able to, you know, go out and get a record deal without my parent's help. So they were always there, you know, to help me along and to nurture my career. But it was in a positive way for a really long time. It wasn't ever where they were, like, forcing me to sing. I mean, I did enjoy it.

Tavis: I want to raise this. I want to, as James Brown would say, hit it and quit it. I want to do this right quick. But I'd be remiss, I think, to not ask this because I hope, I assume that there are some lessons that you learned out of this. The public all knows about the situation you encountered with your father. It started out as a wonderful arrangement, and then there was a lawsuit. You all, I'm told, got beyond that. I don't want to rehash that. I only raise it to ask what you learned out of that, now that you are a woman, and you've experienced that. Which is all part of the business of being in entertainment. What did you learn from that experience?

Rimes: Well, I mean, my dad and I have an amazing relationship now. Better than ever. My dad's my dad, and that's--I think that's what I learned out of it was family and friends and business don't mix. It's just too complicated.

Tavis: Yeah. Ask Michael Jackson and a bunch of other folks.

Yeah.

Rimes: It's true, though. I mean--but you know, no one can ever tell you that. You have to learn it. It's like all those little life lessons you have to learn. That was something...but also, I think my parents were there to protect me for the longest of times, you know, as a kid, and then somewhere along the way, money gets involved. And I think that's what really screws a family up at times. It can really mess things up. So we're all family again, and I think that is what I always wanted, and what was really important. So, um, that's a big lesson to learn.

Tavis: At one point you moved to Los Angeles and put out some music that let's just say your Country-Western fans didn't appreciate as much as other people did. We won't rehash that, either. But you are now back in Nashville...

Rimes: Yes.

Tavis: First country CD in 4 years. How mad were the folk in Tennessee and other parts of this country when you deserted that sound?

Rimes: Well, you know, for me, I grew up in front of the public eye, and people tend to forget that even, you know, with growing up comes experimentation and having fun, and with my music, that's what I was doing. I was trying to see where I fit in. I never knew any boundaries with music. In my house, my mom and dad played every type of music you could possibly imagine. So I really didn't know the business side of things where there were boundaries set. So for me, I loved making the records that I made. Every album has been a stepping-stone to my own sound now in this woman. This is the first time, I think, people are seeing me as an artist and as a writer, and not just a kid with a voice. So every stepping stone, every album I've made--even the ones that people, you know, the country fans might not have thought was for them--it's really--it's allowed me to bring out this new music now. And this music is my kind of country music 'cause it's, you know--it's not always the traditional sound. I mean, I've got a little bit of rock influence and blues influence, and it's soulful. It's just my voice. It's me as an artist now. This is my sound.

Tavis: Were you ever--and I don't mean to cast aspersion on your country fans, but were you at all ever personally offended? Did you think that they just didn't get it? I mean, I wonder how one feels when one does, in fact, legitimately have talent and want to experience different things, and your fans won't let you do that in peace.

Rimes: I don't think it was so much my fans as it was...you know, it could have been radio and things like that. I mean, people thinking it might not have fit their format for country radio, which some things didn't. I mean, that's OK. This now does. I mean, I've, just today I had my first top-5 hit in country in 4 years, so, I mean, I feel blessed. I feel that country music and I, there's a dance going on, and right now we're really good at it. Because, you know, I feel like I've brought them a new audience. There's tons of people that come up to me saying, "We didn't listen to country music until you," which I think is a huge compliment. But also, country music is where I got my start. So, you know, we're a good marriage. But I do think because I've had success, with how do I live being the longest running single ever. I mean, I'm not going to apologize or the success that I've had. I mean, why? I've had a worldwide audience because of it. People overseas are now learning more about country music that they wouldn't have heard because of me. So I think it's a good thing. I mean, I think it's good for country music. I think country's good for me. So it's where my base is, you know. It always will be. And I'll still dabble. I'll still have some fun. Maybe like "Coyote Ugly" and certain movie soundtracks or whatever it may be. But my base is always country, and I do love it.

Tavis: Is there, you think, a point you get to where you push the limits too far in trying to put your own flavor on country? You mentioned you got some rock influence on this. I mean, is there a place you think where you push the limits too far?

Rimes: Right now, I think I wanna--with "Twisted Angel," I think with that record, there were things on it that really weren't for, you know, country. It was more of what everyone called a pop album. But for me, it was just trying to find my sound. It really was. I don't think on this record I ever pushed the limits too far. I think this is a record where people, you know--right now in country music, there's a big, kind of, southern rock movement. Honestly. And for me, on this record there's a lot of that southern rock sound, there's a little bit of blues. You know, there's the traditional country mixed with, like, a more contemporary flavor. So for me, I don't think I pushed too far. I think this is finally terms where people really understand it.

Tavis: You're not 13 years old anymore, obviously, singing other people's music. How much does the writing of the stuff have to do with you being able to do what you want to do?

Rimes: Oh, the writing has had a tremendous affect on my music. My own writing. Because I'm really confident in my own writing now. I've lived life to write, you know, finally. And I have a lot of fans come up and say, "I wish you would write more, 'cause that's what we really relate to." So now that I'm so confident, I think it's something that will definitely, you'll see more of on future records. I love it.

Tavis: You are--you write children's books, too, with your husband.

Rimes: Yes, I do.

Tavis: Leann's not just grown up, but she's married, too.

Rimes: I am. I've been married for 3 years coming next month. Yeah.

Tavis: And you guys are writing children's books together.

Rimes: We are we have written a series of children's books. The first one was "Jag," the second one is "Jag's New Friend." And we're working on a third one. And they're about Jackie the Jaguar and her adventures, and it's fun.

Tavis: Jackie the Jaguar and her adventures. That's too cute.

Rimes: I love kids. I mean, I have so many little fans that I know, you know, just look at me. They don't really know what I'm singing about, so this is a great way for me to connect with 'em.

Tavis: The new CD by Leann Rimes, her first country CD in 4 years, this woman. And you're not surprised to know that she's back on top of the charts now with a bullet, and it'll keep climbing, obviously. Her website--I like this. RIMESTIMES.COM. RIMESTIMES.COM is the website to learn more about Leann. Nice to see you. Congratulations.

Rimes: Thank you. Thanks for having me.

Tavis: Glad to have you. That's our show for tonight. I'll see you back here next time on PBS. Until then, thanks for watching. Good night from Los Angeles, and, as always, keep the faith.