JDM_66's JO DEE MESSINA News Archive Page January 2001

1/18/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
JO DEE "BURNS" FOR COUNTRY WEEKLY
With her first-ever headlining tour in the final stages, Jo Dee Messina's been so crazed that she hasn't done very much work on her wedding. Instead, she spent yesterday with the boys at a Franklin, Tennessee firehouse for a Country Weekly cover shoot. The issue will hit newsstands on February 6 -- just two days before she launches her "Burn 2001 Tour" in South Bend, Indiana. Jo Dee is taking all the craziness in stride. "It's exciting to know that this tour is creating so much interest," she laughs. "We want to make sure to take care of all the people that are interested in it before the tour kicks off." She also said that she was thrilled to be a "cover girl" for Country Weekly." The people at Country Weekly have always been so supportive of me," says Jo Dee. "I always want to be there for them. I know this is another way to reach the fans out there and share with them a little bit, so I think and hope everybody will enjoy this piece." By the way, we told you that E! Entertainment's Suzanne Sena was planning to drop by Jo Dee's abode for a future episode of the network's "Celebrity Homes" show. ow, Jo Dee's reps have confirmed that we can look forward to seeing the piece on February 16. She's also looking forward to next month's GRAMMY awards, where she's nominated in the Best Country Female Performance for "That's The Way." Watch the GRAMMY Awards February 21 on CBS-TV. Jo Dee will also be featured on VH-1's "All Access" on March 16.

1/18/01 courtesy of JDMFan@aol.com from jdmfans@egroups.com
Jo Dee Messina Cover Girl
Double Platinum Diva Graces 2/22 Country Weekly Cover, Onstands 2/6
Upcoming Appearances on E! "Celebrity Homes" 2/16, VH-1 "All Access" 3/16

With her first ever headlining tour in the final stages before heading out for 75+ dates, Jo Dee Messina's been taking care of the media at a feverpitch. Today, the fiery redhead is at the Franklin Fire Department for a cover shoot for Country Weekly's Feb 22nd issue, which will be onstands on Feb. 6th -- two days before the Burn 2001 Tour opens in South Bend, Indiana.

"It's exciting to know that this tour is creating so much interest," Messina says with a happy laugh. "We want to make sure to take care of all the people that are interested in it before the tour kicks off."

With a double platinum award for I'm Alright, a nearly platinum Burn, the title track of her new album breaking into the Country Top 5 and her very first Grammy nomination for her 4 week Billboard #1 "That's The Way," things are definitely heating up for the Holliston, Massachusetts-born and -raised singer. For Messina, who's won the Country Music Association's prestigious Horizon Award, the Academy of Country Music's Top New Female, the Boston Music Awards' Artist of the Year (over Aerosmith, Paula Cole, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Rob Zombie) and been the first woman to have three consecutive multiple week #1s on Billboard's Country chart, the workload is all part of her commitment to her dream.

"The people at Country Weekly have always been so supportive of me," Messina explains. "I always want to be there for them. This shoot sounds like a lot of fun - and I know this is another way to reach the fans out there and share with them a little bit, so I think and hope everybody will enjoy this piece."

As Entertainment Weekly said "Messina's third album of life-affirming songs encourage women, especially, to rally their dreams. Still, with its rocking beat and joie de vivre, Burn will make you put the top down and sing out loud," while USA Today raved of the songstress' plucky musical attitude "Messina has learned that you reach your dreams by standing your ground, not by running away," Teen People declared her, "Bonnie Raitt with a twang" and The Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote, "this Boston tomboy proves she is the female vocalist destined to keep alive the working class spunk of Loretta Lynn."

Messina, Billboard's Most Played Country Female of 1999, is set for her best year ever. The Burn 2001 tour is presented by Jerzees with official media sponsor CMT: Country Music Television. With her special guest Rascal Flatts, it will allow Jo Dee to bring some real production into slightly more intimate venues and allow her to give fans a lot more for their entertainment dollar than ever before.

Beyond that, Messina is taking E!'s Suzanne Sena on a tour of her house for an upcoming "Celebrities' Homes," slated to air on Feb 16 -- and is sitting for a major interview with VH-1 for their "All Access" series, slated to premiere on March 16. Having just finished taping a week's worth of "Hollywood Squares," which will be broadcast the week of Feb. 12, and done an all-day photo shoot for People, the hard-working singer will be everywhere including your hometown.

1/17/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
RASCAL FLATTS IS GREAT, SAYS MESSINA
Jo Dee says she's very excited to have Rascal Flatts be her opening act throughout the Spring leg of her tour. "I'm so excited to be working with them. They're great guys and they're funny, they have great music and they're so funny I'm expecting to have definitely a tour filled with laughter." Speaking of Jo Dee, watch for her home, and the home of Trace Adkins, to be profiled on "E-Celebrity Homes." Host Suzanne Sena will be in Nashville this week to tape in their homes for upcoming segments of her show. (Nashville Update)

1/17/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
JO DEE MESSINA DAYS AWAY FROM TOUR REHEARSALS
Jo Dee Messina's eyes flashed with excitement as she told us about her upcoming "Burn" tour. "Everything for The Burn tour is brand new. We're carrying full production, dancers, maybe some surprises here and there. We start rehearsals January 22nd and we have a week of just band rehearsals and a week of dance rehearsals and we run the whole show a few times and we rehearse right up to February 5th when we head to South Bend, Indiana where the first show is. And then we do a run-through the day before with me and Rascal Flatts, then the first show is on the 7th." (Nashville Update)

1/16/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
REBA REMAINS ONE OF JO DEE'S HEROES
Even country stars are music fans. For instance, Jo Dee Messina looks up to another redhead, Reba McEntire. Jo Dee explains, "The thing about Reba is she is a truly hard worker. She's always above board. She always handles herself great, and I think it would be such an accomplishment if I could just be half the person that she is as an entertainer." Aside from her skills as an entertainer, Jo Dee has a special appreciation for Reba's incredible vocal talent. She says, "I remember I used to try and sing the song, 'You Lie,' and it was like the biggest challenge to do it -- and she nails it every night. Every aspect of Reba as an entertainer and a human being is something to be admired." (T-100)

1/12/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
JO DEE WORKS HARD TO CHOOSE GREAT SONGS
Considering her string of hits, it's clear that Jo Dee Messina has a knack for picking great songs. Jo Dee admits, "It's just a long and grueling process to find songs that are musically where you want them, that would fit in with the rest of record. You're looking for something you'd say, so I always take a long time in picking out songs." Part of the process involves filling an album entirely with songs that are good enough to be released as singles. Jo Dee says, "I mean, it's not like I'd put something on the record and go, 'Oh, please don't pull that one as a single.'" Jo Dee will have plenty of great songs -- and hit singles -- to perform when her "Burn Tour 2001" kicks off February 8. Jo Dee will be in Los Angeles on February 21 for the 43rd annual Grammy Awards, where her single "That's the Way" is nominated for Best Female Country Vocal Performance. Watch the GRAMMY Awards February 21 on CBS! (T-100)

1/9/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
JO DEE TO BE FEATURED IN PEOPLE
Next Tuesday will find Jo Dee Messina doing a feature shoot for People magazine. Jo Dee says, "Everybody reads People. It's an honor to be part of that magazine, for them to think you should be a story. It's one of those things I never even dreamed of because only really big stars are in People - and that's not how I view myself." Jo Dee kicks off her first headline tour, Burn 2001, in South Bend, Indiana on Thursday, February 8. Jo Dee is ready to go. "I've waited a long time to get out there and have my own show. Now that it's my turn, I can't wait to get out there and do the things I've dreamed of." Before the People shoot, Jo Dee will be taping "Hollywood Squares" this Saturday and it will air the week of February 12, according to her website. (T-100)

1/4/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
JO DEE'S REACTION
Jo Dee Messina was blown away when she heard about her first GRAMMY nod for "That's the Way" in Best Female Country Vocal Performance. "I just can't believe it! I am so thrilled that the people who make the music listen to my records and have recognized me with this nomination. I am just blown away!" (T-100)

1/3/01 courtesy of "Abbey" abluvmus@earthlink.net from countryqueens@egroups.com
JO DEE HEADS TO AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS SHOW
Jo Dee Messina will be joining Sean "Puffy" Combs, Snoop Dog, 'N Sync and Creed as presenters at the 28th annual American Music Awards which takes place next week in Los Angeles. Of course, Jo Dee won't be the only country act on the show, which features performances by Martina McBride, SHeDAISY and Billy Gilman. Jo Dee is looking forward to meeting some of the non-country acts, noting, "I'm honored to be part of the American Music Awards. Bringing all the different kinds of music together is always so much fun and amazing to see. I can't wait." Joining Jo Dee as award presenters
will be Lonestar, LeAnn Rimes, Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney. The 28th annual "American Music Awards airs Monday on ABC-TV. (T-100)