CLOTHESLINE: airing Music City's laundry--LeAnn Rimes signs inspirational book at Davis Kidd

Authors Darrell Brown and LeAnn Rimes

This past Thursday night two time Grammy winner, LeAnn Rimes and songwriter Darrell Brown made an appearance at Davis Kidd Booksellers at The Green Hills Mall in Nashville as part of an ongoing promotional tour for the inspirational book, What I Cannot Change, co-authored by the duo.

The first 25 or so pages of the book serve as a bio of the country singer and her songwriter friend. We're all familiar with LeAnn's rise to stardom after being signed by Mike Curb to a recording contract at age 13, but the brief look into LeAnn's life also reveals some personal issues she dealt with as a child. Her parents' marriage was rocky at best. She was diagnosed as having psoriasis as a young girl. The skin disease caused her to develop lesions and silver-colored scales. The books also touches on her legal battles with both her label and her father, as well as subsequent reconciliation with both. She speaks loving of her friend and husband Dean Sheremet. Coincidentally, Dean was on-hand at the signing spotted making a Starbucks run for LeAnn.

A bio on Darrell comes next in the book. A New York Times online writer of the column Measure for Measure, Darrell has had great success on Music Row having penned tunes for Keith Urban as well as having worked with such powerhouses has Dolly and Willie. He and LeAnn met through a mutual friend while dining at a Mexican restaurant in Nashville and struck an immediate friendship. "Darrell has helped me find transparency in my life and become a better song writer and person," LeAnn reveals both in the book and the accompanying cd. The cd contains a previously unreleased version of the single and serves as an audio version of the introductory segment of the book.

The remainder of the book features a passage from LeAnn on the theme of the song that inspired the project, followed by messages fans posted on the What I Cannot Change page of LeAnn's website. Of the song, LeAnn says, "I never knew the power of one song. Over the years I've recorded hundreds of songs. I've put my heart into each of them in a different way." "From the beginning, I knew there was something special about this song."

For me this song became a hit because I saw thru postings on my website how the song inspired people to change their lives, reveal deep secrets and help understand the things they can and cannot change," recalls LeAnn on the cd.

The singer granted CMT an interview just moments before the signing began, but she didn't host the usual question and answer session with the audience. We had to assume this was because of the recent publicity stunt-turned-rumor-mill incident involving her Lifetime movie co-star. Instead, LeAnn and Darrell sat at the signing table as fans lined up to greet the star and her co-aurthor, get their books signed and even though a Davis Kidd employee had advised no photos with the two would be permitted, several fans took the opportunity to ask for a photo. LeAnn and Darrell kindly obliged.

While waiting our turn to speak to LeAnn, a fan who had brought along his guitar in hopes of LeAnn signing it asked me if I thought there was any way she would. Having seen LeAnn at several social events and music industry related functions over the years, and knowing how appreciative she is of her fans, I assured him she would more than likely sign it. He then told me he had driven several hours to attend the signing and had been involved in a fender-bender on his way. I told him to just tell LeAnn that and she would surely sign his guitar, and of course she did!

LeAnn, was her usual sweet and kind self, listening intently to each and every person as they approached their turn to greet the star and her co-writer. She and Darrell even offered advice to a few aspiring artists in attendance, including my friend up and coming country singer Chad LaBoy.

Up next for the beautiful songstress, she will be the first ever national recording artist to perform The Star Spangled Banner at the 135th Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby on May 2. In a recent press conference, Churchill Downs Senior VP Kevin Flanery says of her upcoming history making performance, "This will begin a 21st Century Derby Tradition."