LEANN RIMES GROWS UP

Rimes is now a 19-year-old married pop superstar whose albums have sold 15 million in the U.S., earning her a pair of Grammys (including Best New Artist). She’s also a savvy businesswoman who took her record label and her own father to court to gain control of her career.

That turmoil, as well as creative growth, is reflected in Rimes’ new Curb Records album, Twisted Angel, which hits retail Oct. 1, preceded by the first single, “Life Goes On,” one of four tracks she co-wrote. That single was #1 Most Added out of the box last month at both Top 40 and Mainstream Adult, continuing the pop move of last year’s hit “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” one of four songs Rimes contributed to the multi-platinum soundtrack for the movie Coyote Ugly, in which she also appeared. It’s a big move for Nashville-based Curb, which seeks to retain the superstar’s huge Country and Christian fan base while attracting a younger Pop following.

Curb Exec. VP/GM Dennis Hannon hitched up his horse and told us: “The record shouldn’t come as a shock. LeAnn has been broadening her horizons for the last several years. She has matured into a world-class artist with a voice that transcends genres, and now she's tackling new material.”

Emulating country stars like Shania Twain and Faith Hill who’ve crossed over to Pop, Rimes’ new album reflects the teenager’s love of arena-rock anthems such as the first single. There’s also R&B/funk, swamp-blues and even dance-floor techno, as well as some of her trademarked soaring ballads.

Label VP Pop Promotion Bob Catania changed his hairstyle, then pointed to the Top 40 success of “How Do I Live” and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” as proof Rimes can do it again: “What LeAnn has shown is, given a chance, her songs will ultimately research and become big hits. We’re in this for the long haul.”

The songs’ themes are filled with hope, yet she’s not afraid to confront her demons. She executive-produced the album, working with leading songwriter/producers Desmond Child, Gregg Pagani and Peter Amato. Rimes co-wrote the first single, “Life Goes On,” with Child and Andreas Carlsson.

“This album is about a young woman empowering herself into adulthood,” says her new manager, industry veteran Tom Ross. “She’s had to make some heavy decisions for someone her age, and they’ve taken their toll. I think young people will be able to identify with some of that pain and satisfaction. She definitely has a handle on her life—musically, creatively and personally.”

The label’s marketing and promotion plan includes:

* Performances on Leno (10/4), Mad TV (10/5), Live With Regis & Kelly (10/7) and Caroline Rhea (10/8).

* News stories on Access Hollywood, Extra, CNN, ET, TV Guide channel.

* Cover of November’s Blender, stories in USA Today and Rolling Stone.

* Matthew Rolston-directed video for “Life Goes On” now in rotation at VH1, with a planned appearance on the show Driven.

* Label is shipping between 400-500k and says anything “north of 100k” would be acceptable in this “economic climate.”