LeAnn Rimes Announces New Music, New Label: The Ram Report
After 20 incredibly fruitful — yet oftentimes tumultuous — years on Nashville’s Curb Records, LeAnn Rimes has inked a new label deal. The singer-songwriter is now a part of the RCA-UK family, also home to the likes of Christina Aguilera, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Alicia Keys, Meghan Trainor, Beyoncé, Pitbull and Britney Spears, just to name a few of the big pop, R&B and hip-hop names on the powerhouse record company’s roster.
Rimes will release her first single for RCA-UK, “The Story” on June 24th. Serving as the first taste of her upcoming 16th studio album, the Phil Hanseroth-penned ballad was originally recorded by Brandi Carlile and is a uniquely introspective look at a love. “I fully embrace the journey I am on and have a deeper understanding of how every piece of my story serves a purpose in my evolution as a woman and an artist,” says Rimes. “This song is not only a love song but a song of self-acceptance and appreciation for life.”
It’s not yet clear whether Rimes’ next album, due later this year, will be country, pop or a little bit of both. Her last LP of original material, 2013’s criminally overlooked Spitfire, was very much country-leaning, with its autobiographical and cinematic lyrics accompanied by minimal production and a whole lot of pedal steel. Spitfire‘s producer, Darrell Brown is working with Rimes on her new album, as well.
Rimes signed a deal with Curb at age 12 and sold 44 million albums with the label, also scoring Grammy, CMA and ACM awards wins, among other accolades. She sued the label in 2000 to get out of her deal but eventually re-signed with Curb. Her contract ended just after Spitfire‘s release.