Big News

Jo Dee Messina -- who chats on America Online (AOL) this evening -- is getting ready to make a big announcement about a key alliance in the coming weeks. It's something that has the fiery redhead pretty excited…and it's also the kind of thing that will have a far-reaching impact on her 2001. Look for the news to break soon.

Burn Baby Burn

Be sure to pick up the August 22nd issue of Country Weekly magazine, because inside you'll find an all-new article about Jo Dee and her new album BURN, among other things.

Jo Dee Messina's A Perennial Female Vocalist

Country Music Association Nomination Crowns Release Day for BURN

Nashville - 08/01/00: Being a Female Vocalist of the Year nominee is getting to be a habit with Holliston, Massachusetts's solid-platinum redhead Jo Dee Messina. So on the heels of a wildly successful CMT "All Access" live concert special and the largest radio special ever emanating out of Nashville with 750 stations around the world participating in the world premiere of BURN last night, Jo Dee Messina received her second consecutive Female Vocalist of the Year nomination -- putting her in the company of Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood.

"I have been blessed in so many ways," said Messina of the nomination. "I am thrilled to be included in a category with so many talented voices."

Jo Dee Highlighted

You'll find Jo Dee in the July 25, 2000 issue of Country Weekly as they reflect on Fan Fair 2000 and look forward to upcoming events such as Jo Dee's All Access program on CMT.

Fashion Leader

In Style, fashion and trend Bible of the truly fabulous and glamorous, was the first to notice Jo Dee Messina has a way of being in front of the style curve. When the always cutting-edge editors picked Gwyneth Paltrow's black Calvin Klein cocktail dress as their dress of the month in their October 1999 issue, they made the point of acknowledging that country sensation Jo Dee Messina had worn the same dress first -- to walk the red carpet and to pick up her Horizon Award in a teary speech at last year's CMA Awards.

And now it's happened again! This time it was the outfit the double-platinum songstress wore when she debuted "That's The Way" on the Academy of Country Music Awards in May that has found its way onto the back of yet another beautiful person. The beautiful Michelle Pfeiffer appears on the cover of this month's Redbook decked out in the very same perforated white leather pants.

More Fashion Notes

Messina, whose been cited by TV Guide and People as one of the best dressed women at several of last year's awards shows, has been getting busy, notching up the stakes with regard to her look for the next several months.

Two weeks ago, the redheaded fireball flew to New York to meet with trend-setting designer Marc Bower, known for the super-sexy clothes he creates for superstars like Toni Braxton, Halle Berry, Whitney Houston and Shania Twain.

The two are working somewhat collaboratively to come up with clothes that suit Messina's ultra-active, high energy lifestyle. Given how physical Messina is onstage, Bower will be focusing on movement and freedom and that zing that has been the double platinum vocalist's trademark since bursting on the scene with "Heads Carolina" nearly five years ago.

Because You Love Her

Jo Dee Give-A-Ways! Even online!

Jo Dee's new album Burn is in stores now and many retail outlets are giving away trading cards to posters! If you buy from a www.JoDeeMessina.com please forward your CDNOW email receipt to us at CDNow@JoDeeMessina.com  we will send you special access to a download wallpaper that is electronically signed by Jo Dee. This offer is only good this week! So if you haven't bought your copy yet, Now is a great time to BURN!

Click here to buy Jo Dee's new album

Jo Dee Smokes on CMT

- Holly Gleason (Joe's Garage)
Jo Dee Messina kicked off the drive towards BURN, the follow-up to her double-platinum I'M ALRIGHT, last night with a -- sorry! -- burning set at Franklin's Factory that was broadcast live as CMT's acclaimed "All Access" concert series.

See clips from the interview and performance of Jo Dee from CBS' The Early Show!

Click here to view

Messina hits again, just because

By  The Tennessean
published: April 9, 2000

John Scott Sherrill and Kostas write country songs, such as Jo Dee Messina's current hit Because You Love Me, but when it comes to their backgrounds, the term "country" takes on a more literal meaning.

Sherrill was raised in Uganda and Bolivia, as well as Mt. Kisco, N.Y., and Kostas grew up in Greece and Montana.

When they got together for a co-writing session, however, it was a typical Nashville story.

"I played the melody and we started writing the lyrics," Kostas recalled. "From my perspective, I wrote it with the idea of my little girl in mind. It was just something I was feeling that day. I suspect it's something I feel every day."

Jo Dee burns down the fairgrounds at Fan Fair 2000

slideshow

Fan Fair 2000 announced that this year would be the last one held at the Tennessee State  Fairgrounds and we can't say we blame them after following Jo Dee around during that week. When that fiery redhead hit Fan Fair, there were nothing but ashes left from all the excitement she generated from the fans.

Check out the slideshow and video we've put together from that week.

Custom Fit Songs

Jo Dee Messina knows how to pick'em…songs, that is. With I'm Alright now past double platinum for sales of over two million, there's been an interesting development in the song selection process. Just like always the Holliston, Massachusetts-born vocalist has sought out songs that she feels she's lived and can totally relate to. But for BURN, due August 1, Messina actually learned that a few of the writers sat down and wrote songs with her in mind.

"I was surprised to think that anyone would write a song specifically for me," says Messina with her signature laugh. "But Holly Lamar and Annie Roboff (who wrote Messina's current single 'That's The Way') and Holly and Stephanie Bentley (who wrote "These Are The Days") I was told wrote their songs after talking about my life. Holly and Stephanie from reading something I'd said in an interview about how hectic things are these days, but that it's all good. Holly and Annie got 'That's The Way' from talking about the stuff I've been through along the way.

"What's amazing is that they hit the nail on the head so well - and they'd never even met me!"

Dancing & Freezing - Speaking Of Jo Dee's Video Shoots...

Get an inside look at Jo Dee's two most recent videos off her Burn album in the December 26, 2000 issue of Country Weekly and the December/January 2001 issue of Country Music magazine. Country Music magazine walks you through the steps of the making of the "That's The Way" video. And Country Weekly "braves the elements" with Jo Dee to show behind the scenes of her latest eye-catching video, "Burn."

In The Reviews

Chosen as People magazine's album of the week, you'll find a review of Jo Dee's latest offering, BURN. You'll find the write-up in the August 14th issue of People Weekly.

Messina's Very Accessible "All Access"

Neil Haislop's Nashville IQ

Jo Dee Messina looked toned, tanned and terrific last night as she hosted her own All Access special on CMT. The one-hour performance special was perhaps the most extravagant All Access to date, including several special effects, high energy dancers and a combination of her previous hits and songs off of her forthcoming album, BURN, which is due in stores on August 1st.

MORE: Phil Vassar was MESSINA's special guest, singing along on "Bye Bye," which he wrote, and his current single, "Just Another Day in Paradise." Some of the highlights included some high energy dancers, which added a definite energy to the night, a special rain fall effect during one of her new songs called "Bring on the Rain," and some fire effects during the title track of her new album, BURN. According to a representative from Jo Dee's camp, some of the elements that were part of the All Access special are indicative of what we can expect when Jo Dee goes on tour this fall.

By the way, you can keep up with all of Jo Dee's upcoming activities on her website, jodeemessina.com, which received 1.6 million hits in the month of June.

Jo Dee Is Speechless at Burn Listening Party

Nashville (06/29/00): For Jo Dee Messina, the reigning Country Music Association Horizon Award winner and multiple Female Vocalist of the Year nominee, the listening party for her August 1st release Burn was an occasion to preview the music from the follow-up to her two million selling Academy of Country Music Album of the Year nominee I'm Alright for a select group of family, friends and industry insiders.

Video Breakthrough

Jo Dee Messina has always been known for her high energy live show, her exuberant personality and an unending sense of how to get the most out of the moment. So it should come as no surprise that she and director Thom Oliphant have found a completely new way to bring one of Messina's hard-charging songs to the small screen -- and it's involved two different cities, a mechanism that defies description and a song that's soaring!

Originally slated to be shot in Canada, the mechanism that makes a room tilt, whirl and spin was too large for the available space. Messina wanted to try something completely different for "That's The Way," so rather than abandon the concept, she and Oliphant are adapting the treatment so they can shoot the first video from her third Curb album Burn at Nashville's Sunset Studios on Thursday, May 25.

With a room that moves and rolls, Messina will be able to find whole other dimensions - and have fun doing it. Dance rehearsals were today (Wednesday) to get ready for the clip. Hopefully it will be shot, edited and submitted before the song hits the Top 10! [It's already sitting at #28 with a bullet on Billboard in only its second official week.]

You Gotta Have Friends

Everybody knows how Jo Dee Messina and Tim McGraw have been friends since way before either had a record deal -- and it's Tim's belief in Jo Dee that led to his co-producing her records. With BURN, Jo Dee's upcoming album, McGraw shares something else with his dear friend -- his voice.

On the poignant "Bring On The Rain," McGraw adds vocal support to a song about surviving a trying day and having the will to face another. It's a song Messina felt said something about both of their lives.

"But Tim loved 'Bring On The Rain' so much, he wanted to sing on it. I think we both gravitated toward that song because we both truly understand what it's saying. I mean, he's been there; I've been there - and it's one of the common bonds we both have.

"After all, we've always had the same dreams. We had the same struggle in a lot of ways with relationships and our careers. I've always wanted to sing with him, but obviously for us, love songs weren't going to work, but this song seemed to be the perfect song.