LeAnn Rimes: Singer talks equality, gay ‘dads’ and ex-hubby rumors

January 18, 2012 | by Chris Azzopardi

LeAnn Rimes was a free-spirited 13-year-old when, on one of her biggest songs, she threw caution to the wind and bought a one-way ticket on a westbound train. You know, “to see how far I can go.” Pretty far, it turned out. That ticket took her everywhere: to the Grammys, to No. 1 and to the gay clubs.

Drama threw her career off track, however, and lately she’s made tabloid headlines for everything but music: she’s too fat, she’s too skinny; she’s a home-wrecker; she’s an unfit stepmother. But now Rimes, 29, is heading in a new direction, pumping estrogen into songs by the kings of country on her 13th album,  Lady & Gentlemen.

Rimes spoke candidly about one of her “second dads” co-producing her latest work, how a gay uncle inspired her to speak out on LGBT issues, the lack of a successful out country star and what to make of those rumors of her ex-hubby being homosexual.

 

You do some gender bending on this album, LeAnn.

Gender bending – I like the way you put that.

 

Is this the closest you’ve come to doing drag?

I would guess so! I’ve always watched others do my songs, but I’ve never taken it in the opposite direction. I didn’t dress up in the studio! (Laughs)

 

But it was fun doing this record because there’s a certain softness and a different vibe that a woman brings to these songs in a lot of ways, especially songs like “Good Hearted Woman.” When you’re singing it from the first person, from someone who’s actually experienced it as a woman, they take on a whole different connotation

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