Jo Dee Marie Messina (born August 25, 1970, in Framingham, Massachusetts), known professionally as Jo Dee Messina, is an American country music artist. She has charted nine Number One singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for a Grammy Award. She was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week Number One songs from the same album.[1] To date, she has two Platinum and three Gold-certified albums by the RIAA.
Messina debuted in 1996 with the single Heads Carolina, Tails California. Her album was certifified Gold by the RIAA. Her second album, I'm Alright produced five Top 10 Country hits between 1998 in 1999 and sold over a million copies in America. Since her debut, six of her singles have peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country singles chart and five of her albums have received a certification by the RIAA or the CRIA.Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Music career 2.1 1996–97: country success 2.2 1998−2006: breakthrough success 2.3 2007–present: Unmistakable 3 Personal life 4 Discography 5 Awards & honors 6 Footnotes 7 References 8 External links
[edit] Early life
Messina was born Jo Dee Marie Messina on August 25, 1970, in Framingham, Massachusetts to Vincent and Mary Messina. She was raised in Holliston, Massachusetts, with two sisters, Terese and Marianne, and a brother, Vincent.[2] Messina had a variety of country music influences, including Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, and The Judds. She soon started performing live, and by age 16 she was playing local clubs, singing while her brother and one sister provided backup on drums and guitar.[3] The group continued performing until she graduated from high school.
Realizing that living in the Northeast would limit her chances of achieving country music stardom, Messina moved to Nashville, Tennessee at age 19.[4] She worked various temp jobs, including computer programming and accounting, while entering talent contests around Nashville.
One win led to a regular gig on the radio show Live at Libby's, which caught the interest of producer Byron Gallimore, who helped her assemble a demonstration tape. Gallimore was also working with the young Tim McGraw around the same time, and Messina befriended him. Backstage at one of his concerts, Messina met an executive from his label, Curb, and jokingly suggested that they needed a redhead.[3] With the help of fellow Curb producer James Stroud, Messina was soon signed to the record label. Gallimore and McGraw would later become co-producers of Messina's studio albums under Curb. [edit] Music career [edit] 1996–97: country success
Messina released her self-titled debut album in 1996. It spawned two Top 10 hits, starting with the lead single, Heads Carolina, Tails California, which peaked at #2 on the Country charts and its follow-up, You're Not in Kansas Anymore gained similar success.[3] However, the two additional singles released from the album, Do You Wanna Make Something of It and He'd Never Seen Julie Cry peaked outside the Country Top 40 and were minor hits between 1996 and 1997. Following her major success, Messina performed 215 shows in 1996 and became one of the most successful new female vocalists of the 1990s. Her debut album sold over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold by RIAA.
Messina's finances suffered due to a series of poor business decisions and a change of management that led her to nearly declaring bankruptcy; she nearly lost her home and her car.[2] She spent nearly a year trying to write new songs and material for a new album that could help bring herself out of bankruptcy.[5] She credited the radio success of Bye, Bye and I'm Alright with giving her a "second chance."[6] [edit] 1998−2006: breakthrough success
Messina released her second album in 1998, I'm Alright. The album spawned three #1 hit singles on the Billboard Country Chart that year: Bye, Bye;[7] I'm Alright; and Stand Beside Me, all three of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as well. The fourth single, "Lesson in Leavin", was a cover of the #1 Country hit by Dottie West in 1980. The song peaked at #2 for 7 weeks. In 1999 she had another Top 10 hit from the album, Because You Love Me, which peaked at #8 on the Billboard Country Chart.
In 2000 Messina received the Country Music Association's "Horizon award," which is awarded to new Country music artists.[7] She also won Billboard magazine's "Most Played Female at Country Radio", and won three major awards from the Boston Music Awards, located in her home state of Massachusetts.[4]
Messina's album also became her biggest-selling album to date, selling over two million copies in the US, receiving an RIAA certification of 2XPlatinum. Around the same time, Messina had guest roles on the television shows, Crash and Burn, Nash Bridges and Touched by an Angel. She guest-starred on the series a couple of years earlier and stayed in touch with the show's producer/creator. In the episode titled "Bring On the Rain" (named after Messina's hit song), she appeared as Annie, the single mother of a teenage girl.[4]
She released her third studio album, Burn in 2000, which aimed towards Country pop-styled music.[3] The album's lead single, That's the Way peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and also became her highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #25. Following that success, she had two additional Top 10 hits with Burn and Downtime.[7]
Messina had another #1 hit from the album in 2001 with Bring On the Rain, a duet with Tim McGraw that also became a Top 10 hit on the Adult Contemporary Chart, peaking at #6.
In addition to headlining concerts, she also toured with Vince Gill, George Strait, and The Judds' reunion tour.[8]
Messina released her first holiday album in 2002 with A Joyful Noise. The title track was released as a single and peaked at #16 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 2003. The album consisted of remakes of holiday songs previously made famous by other singers.
Messina planned to release a new album in 2003, but a Greatest Hits album was released instead due to delays.[8] The album covered most of Messina's hits between 1996 and 2003, and also included four new songs, including two that were released as singles. The first single, Was That My Life, peaked in the Top 25 and the second single, I Wish, became a Top 15 hit. The album was also certified Gold by RIAA.
In 2005 Messina released her first Country music studio album since 2000, Delicious Surprise.[3] It peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and #9 on the Billboard 200.[9] It sold over 500,000 copies and became her fourth album to receive an RIAA Gold certification.[10] The lead single, My Give a Damn's Busted, peaked at #1 on the Billboard Country Chart and became Messina's first #1 single since 2001. The three follow-up singles (Delicious Surprise, Not Going Down, and It's Too Late To Worry) were Top 40 hits on the Billboard Country chart between 2005 and 2006, but did not enter the Top 20. [edit] 2007–present: Unmistakable
Performing in Naples, Italy in January 2007
Messina released a new single in July 2007, Biker Chick, from her upcoming fifth studio album, Unmistakable. It was written by Kelly Archer and Max T. Barnes and was recorded in the fall of 2006 in Nashville.[11] Although the album was set for release on November 6, 2007, the album was shelved and therefore, the single was dropped from Country radio after spending 9 weeks on the charts, rising to a peak of #48.
On March 22, 2008, Messina released her second single from Unmistakable, titled I'm Done. The single peaked at #34 on the Billboard Country Chart. Messina, who co-wrote the song, explained that the release of the album was "truly dictated by the success of the single."[12] On June 10, 2008, Messina and Phil Vassar opened the 2008 CMA Music Festival, where she performed her two #1 hits, Bye, Bye and I'm Alright, both co-written by Vassar.[13] She also performed her latest single, I'm Done, which received a positive reaction from the audience that day.[14] In early 2009 she released Shine, but that song failed to chart, and the album was pushed again.
In January 2010 Messina released the single, That's God from the proposed album, but since the song failed to enter the Billboard chart, the album's release was cancelled. She later announced that the album would be released in a trilogy of extended plays, beginning with Unmistakable Trilogy: Love, released on April 27, 2010. It will be followed by two additional extended plays, Drive and Inspiration, both expected for release later in the year. The four singles released from the supposed album will be included on the upcoming second and third parts of the trilogy. [edit] Personal life
In 2004, Messina was engaged to road manager Don Muzquiz, but then broke off the engagement. However, the two remained in a business relationship.[15]
Messina became involved with the Special Olympics after stumbling across an event while jogging. She has become an ambassador and performs at Special Olympics events in order to increase attendance.[16]
In April 2004 Messina entered a rehabilitation facility in Utah for treatment of alcoholism.[17] Messina says her manager, Stuart Dill, confronted her in Houston following a rough performance after the 2004 Super Bowl. She says she wasn't "stumbling drunk," but she acknowledges that she doesn't recall much about the performance either. "I forgot the words to Stand Beside Me. That's what I can remember," Messina said. After Dill's confrontation, Messina was on a plane to Utah the next day. She entered a detox center for a few days before checking into rehab. Messina doesn't blame Muzquiz or Curb Records for her drinking problem; she points to her workaholic tendencies. She said rehab gave her the time to focus on herself and her issues, and she was able to turn to songwriting again for the first time in a long time.[18] After finishing rehabilitation, Messina rented a cabin at Sundance Ski Resort in Utah. She resumed touring on May 30, 2004, in Marksville, Louisiana. On June 22, 2007, Messina announced her engagement to businessman Chris Deffenbaugh from Albuquerque, New Mexico.[19] They were married in Nashville in late 2007.[20] A child, Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born on January 19, 2009.[21] [edit] Discography Main article: Jo Dee Messina discography Main albums 1996: Jo Dee Messina 1998: I'm Alright 2000: Burn 2002: A Joyful Noise 2005: Delicious Surprise EPs & Other albums 2003: Greatest Hits 2010: Unmistakable Trilogy: Love [edit] Awards & honorsYear Award Program[4][22] Award 1998 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Female Vocalist 1999 Billboard Magazine Most Played Country Female Artist of the Year Boston Music Awards Outstanding Country Act Outstanding Female Vocalist Act of the Year Country Music Association Awards Horizon award
