FROM THE ARCHIVES: RIMES WITH CLASSIC:

LeAnn Rimes' What a Wonderful World Gives Old Christmas Standards New Spin (Mary Morningstar, 17 December 2004, VOA News)

LeAnn Rimes is known around the world as one of America's biggest Country stars. But, the 22-year-old Texan moved in a different musical direction for her first holiday album. Rimes retained the traditional sound of the standards she included on What A Wonderful World.

The Louis Armstrong classic "What A Wonderful World" is one of eight classics on LeAnn Rimes' new album of the same name. Also included are such holiday favorites as "White Christmas," "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." Many of the songs feature a big band sound provided by members of the Brian Setzer Orchestra. One example is LeAnn's jazzy version of the Brenda Lee holiday standard, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

LeAnn's been making hit records since she was 13-years-old. So, why did she wait so long to record a holiday collection? "I'd been waiting for me to be a little bit older because my voice was changing so much," she says. "I'm glad I waited because I wanted it to be something I could be proud of for the rest of my life."

[originally posted: 2004-12-17]