LeAnn Rimes has been singing as long as she can remember, and especially around Christmas time, the iconic singer of “Blue” and “How Do I Live” is compelled to turn her talents to seasonal favorites. LeAnn stopped by “Today” on November 9 and also chatted with ABC News for a brief minute between dates of her sixth Christmas tour, currently underway. LeAnn Rimes wasn’t there to offer a song, but to talk about her recent entre into filmmaking on her new Hallmark Channel movie, “It's Christmas, Eve.”

All the typical and satisfying touches of a Hallmark Christmas favorite are there, but there are also some underlying serious themes to the story that resonate through real-life situations in small-town America today, and LeAnn Rimes also takes a stand for women artists returning to a reign of their own on the Country Music charts.

Not such old wisdom

LeAnn Rimes is a lovely and radiant presence at 36, so it's hard to conceive that more than 20 years ago when she won her first Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance in 1997, she was barely a teenager at 14. Hers was not just the voice of the moment-- it was the voice heard everywhere. The double-edged sword of immense success and recognition combined with an instant demand to perform and produce for the industry meant that LeAnn Rimes surrendered her youth and many of the typical adolescent girl milestones to become her own music industry. Time and decisions were often not her own.

Her unique life experience and professional perspective give LeAnn Rimes considerable credibility regarding the current state of female artists in country music.

There seems to be a myriad of multitalented ladies willing to share their gifts, but they often are not afforded the time or support to develop as grounded performers. Rimes insists that women artists want to support each other as “soul sisters” and that mutual support is crucial to a solid career. Carrie Underwood has recently spoken out with similar thoughts, recalling that she dreamed of a time like that of Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette, and Dolly Parton.

These were all women who created and performed their own songs, stamped with their own identities. LeAnn Rimes and Carrie Underwood agree that there is far more support for female artists from female artists than some contend.

When it comes to creative control, LeAnn Rimes was drawn to her role in “It's Christmas, Eve” because she was allowed to craft the story she wanted, and stretch her creative wings as an executive producer.

She wrote three original songs for the film, but the outing is not a musical. Rimes portrays an interim school administrator who returns to her hometown school in an effort to save it from financial ruin. Her character’s somewhat transient existence stems from losing her father at 16, and not wanting to face to the pain of her loss and memories of home. The songs enhance and exemplify the themes woven through the story without being overt.

The music teacher, played by Tyler Hynes, becomes her character's love interest, and, like many similar schools in similar financial straits, his program is on the chopping block to be cut.

With the current administration’s cuts to early childhood education and arts programs, the story is much more a reflection of real schools than a scene from a Hallmark movie set.

Home for Christmas

LeAnn Rimes won’t be wrapping up the dates of her Yuletide tour until just before Christmas day, but she still has fond memories of Christmas, especially celebrating with her godfather, who passed when she was 15, and she strives to make equally lasting memories as a doting stepmom.

“It was all about me, which was great,” gushes LeAnn in describing the special day as an only child. She remembers her godfather’s delight in filling a huge, 6-foot stocking with “everything you can imagine,” and digging through the goodies.

Her stepsons, ages 11 and 15, with husband, actor Eddie Cibrian, are not so tiny anymore, but the singer still adheres to favorite family traditions, like leaving a trail of candy canes from their bedrooms to the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

Sweet memories and simple joys are the best delights to savor for any family at Christmas.

Fans who want to hear LeAnn Rimes sing and save her school can tune into “It's Christmas, Eve” on Saturday. She also had a strictly singing part in the 2017 heist movie, “Lucky Logan.”
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