Shania Twain and her husband, Frédéric Thiébaud, on their January 1, 2011 wedding day. Photo credit: Robert Evans, RobertEvans.com.

Several country stars tied the knot in 2011. Two of them even kicked off the year with New Year’s Day nuptials in tropical places! Shania Twain married husband Frédéric Thiébaud in Puerto Rico on New Year’s Day in front of 40 close friends and family. Shania announced their engagement on her website on December 21, 2010.

Kellie Pickler and husband Kyle Jacobs also tied the knot on New Year’s Day. The pair scraped their plans for a big Nashville wedding and eloped to Antigua where they were married at sunset. “We didn’t have anything but us and God and our minister,” Kellie told People, “and I can’t think of a word that can quite describe how perfect it was.”

LeAnn Rimes married actor Eddie Cibrian on April 22 at a private home in California. The 40 guests invited believed they were attending an engagement party but were surprised with a wedding ceremony. The couple exchanged personalized vows and Eddie’s sons Mason and Jake, from his previous marriage, were in attendance. “I’m looking forward to settling down,” LeAnn told People before her wedding. “Settling into our life.”

Chely Wright, who made headlines in 2010 when she came out, married her partner, Lauren Blitzer, during a ceremony at Lauren’s aunt’s home in Connecticut on August 20. Since Lauren is Jewish and Chely is Christian, both a rabbi and a reverend presided over the wedding. “The freedom of being out and open about who I am allowed me to find and fall in love with Lauren – the most amazing woman I’ve ever known,” Chely told People. Continue Reading

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Miranda Lambert photo by Randee St. Nicholas, courtesy of Sony Music Nashville.

What do Miranda Lambert, LeAnn Rimes and Kellie Pickler have in common this Thanksgiving? They are all thankful for their husbands! All three ladies were married within the last year and are celebrating their first Thanksgivings as husband and wife.

“This year at Thanksgiving, I’m thankful for my husband, because it’s the first Thanksgiving I’ve ever had a husband,” Miranda told GAC. So how are Miranda and Blake Shelton celebrating the holiday? “We call Thanksgiving week ‘our week’ because we’re always home,” Miranda said. “His dad comes and they hunt all week, and I cook for him all week. My parents come and we sort of ‘hole up’ in Oklahoma and spend really good quality time together and with our families. I wear overalls and no makeup – and that’s my favorite part!”

LeAnn told GAC she’s thankful for not just her husband, actor Eddie Cibrian, but two other special boys in her life, Eddie’s sons. “I am most thankful for – especially this year – my wonderful marriage and my great family,” she said. “The marriage has brought all of our families closer together. I have two new wonderful bonus boys that I love to death. So I could not be happier and I’m thankful for all my family and friends.” Continue Reading

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Photo courtesy of Twitter.com/leannrimes.

PEOPLE magazine reports that LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian were married Friday, April 22 in front of about 40 guests at a private home in California.

“LeAnn and Eddie were happily married today surrounded by their closest family and friends,” the bride’s spokesman, Rhett Usry, confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE. “They thank everyone for their well wishes.”

The couple got engaged last December when Eddie proposed to LeAnn with a 5-carat diamond ring.

LeAnn, 28, wore a Reem Acra gown as she and her husband, 37, exchanged personalized vows. Eddie’s sons Mason, 7, and Jake, 4, from his previous marriage, attended the ceremony.

Guests arriving at the house thought they were attending an engagement party, but then Eddie and LeAnn surprised everyone by tying the knot.

“I’m looking forward to settling down,” LeAnn recently told PEOPLE. “Settling into our life.”

For more on LeAnn’s life and love, don’t miss our new special, Backstory: LeAnn Rimes, premiering Sunday, April 24 at 8/7c. Watch a sneak peek Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Records.

LeAnn Rimes scored her first hit at the young age of 13 and hasn’t left the spotlight since, keeping our attention with a steady stream of hits and headlines.

The singer, songwriter, actress and author opens up about the tumultuous early years, the truth behind the tabloid headlines and how she’s found peace in our 90-minute biodoc, Backstory: LeAnn Rimes,  airing Sunday, April 24 at 8/7c on GAC.

For this week’s GAC Trivia Time*, take a walk down memory lane for the highs and lows of a celebrated career.

Aug 28, 1982 – LeAnn Rimes born in Jackson, Mississippi

Jul 5, 1995 – A Davidson County judge signs an order setting aside 12-year-old LeAnn Rimes’ minority status, allowing her to sign with Curb Records

Jun 4, 1996 – LeAnn Rimes’ debut single, “Blue,” appears in record stores, selling 100,000 copies its first day

Aug 13, 1996 – LeAnn Rimes, at 13, becomes the youngest nominee in CMA history

Feb 26, 1997 – LeAnn Rimes wins two trophies–Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance, for “Blue”–during the 39th annual Grammy Awards at New York’s Madison Square Garden

Aug 6, 1997 – LeAnn Rimes visits a seven-year-old girl who has been in a Reno, Nevada, hospital with a coma since she was injured in a car accident. Rimes sings “Blue” to the girl, who shows eye movement during the visit and soon returns to health Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Records.

LeAnn Rimes was a seasoned star at age 11 and scored her first chart-topping hit at 13.  She is the youngest recipient of a Grammy Award and has charted 42 Billboard country singles. And she’s had her fair share of headline-grabbing attention.  The singer, songwriter, actress and author opens up about the tumultuous early years, the truth behind the tabloid headlines and how she’s found peace in the 90-minute biodoc, Backstory: LeAnn Rimes, Sunday, April 24, 8/7c on Great American Country (GAC).

“LeAnn’s story is so compelling, we were moved to make this episode of Backstory 90 minutes in length instead of the typical 60 minutes,” said GAC’s GM, Sarah Trahern. “Since she was a child she’s had the ability to touch people with her music and although still a young woman in her 20s, she continues to do just that.” Interviews with her mother, friend and agent Rod Essig, friend and songwriter Darrell Brown, label head Mike Curb, childhood friend and artist Steve Holy and industry insiders along with archival video clips and photos complement Rimes’ no holds barred interview.

Watch a sneak peek:

LeAnn talks candidly about her father’s insistence that she stay on the road while she was hot.  “From the time I was 14 to 16 and a half I did 500 shows,” Rimes says.  “I was worn out, I was done.” Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes on the Black Carpet presented by Jack Daniel's at "The 44th Annual CMA Awards," broadcast live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010, on the ABC Television Network. Photo by Brian Kaplan Photography.

Santa brought something shiny to LeAnn Rimes — she’s now engaged to actor Eddie Cibrian. People magazine reports that the two were spotted today on a Malibu beach, where LeAnn was wearing an engagement ring.

“Yes, they were engaged over the holidays and are very happy,” her publicist told People exclusively.

The magazine says, ”a source adds that the couple, who spent Christmas at home in Los Angeles, “had family and close friends in town who helped them celebrate.” Continue Reading

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Nashville.

A large chunk of the country audience still remembers LeAnn Rimes as the innocent, 13-year-old prodigy who blew people’s socks off with her big-voiced rendition of “Blue” in 1996. And that’s part of the reason that the end of her relationship last year with husband Dean Sheremet was shocking and scandalous for so many fans.

LeAnn is not proud of the behavior, but she believes she ultimately ended up where she needs to be in her personal life.

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Nashville.

Ryan Bingham earned a lot of attention for country music when he picked up an Oscar award for the theme from Crazy Heart this weekend, but he’s hardly alone among country recording artists participating in current film projects.

LeAnn Rimes, Dwight Yoakam and Miley Cyrus all have roles in titles that are on the way. Tim McGraw just finished working on another film, and Taylor Swift has racked up more sales for her work on a recent soundtrack.

Here’s a rundown on country’s current ties to Hollywood:

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LeAnn Rimes photo courtesy of Curb Records.

LeAnn Rimes’ role in an upcoming Lifetime Channel movie got lots of attention this week — wanted or not — when she was linked romantically to her costar, Eddie Cibrian, by Us Weekly.

The story gained traction when LeAnn posted what appeared to be a response on her website.

“This is a difficult time for me and my loved ones, but I appreciate all your continued support,” she said in Wednesday’s message to fans. “I would like to assure all of you that this is a place for you to hear things directly from me and as you all know, not everything in our lives is always black and white.”

Us Weekly claims to have spotted LeAnn and Eddie together on two occasions in the last two weeks. In one of the instances, video from a security camera documents the two holding hands and kissing.

LeAnn and husband Dean Sheremet, a co-writer on her hit “Nothin’ Better To Do,” observed their seventh wedding anniversary last month. The couple renewed its vows in California’s Napa Valley last August.

LeAnn’s Lifetime movie, “Nora Roberts’ Northern Lights,” debuts Saturday. The Us Weekly piece suggests her interest in Eddie blossomed during production.

“I [played] a pilot,” LeAnn said of the role last month. “I was a bush pilot in Alaska and got to handle some guns, which I haven’t done in a very long time. I grew up in Mississippi and Texas, so I definitely know my way around a gun. But that was my second day on set. They took me out to a shooting range and I had to learn how to handle rifles and handguns, so it was fun. It was an interesting role. I was in Canada for a month. It was freezing, but it was fun.”

She also noted she was “really, really happy” with the end results and singled out Eddie and Rosanna Arquette among her fellow cast members.

“I had a lot of fun,” she said, “working with the people that I worked with.”

Late Wednesday afternoon, People magazine reported that Eddie released the following statement:

“It is a fabricated story that is using random snapshots as connective tissue to create a scandalous relationship,” he said in a statement first obtained by Access Hollywood.

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