50 facts about country music artist Jo Dee Messina

By age 16 she was playing local clubs, singing while her brother and sister provided backup on drums and guitar. Here are 50 facts about Jo Dee Messina.

1. Jo Dee Marie Messina is an American country music artist.

2. She has charted nine number one singles on the Billboard country music charts.

3. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music.

4. Has been nominated for two Grammy Awards.

5. She was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week Number One songs from the same album.

6. To date, she has two Platinum and three Gold-certified albums by the RIAA.

7. Messina debuted in 1996 with the single Heads Carolina, Tails California. Her album was certified Gold by the RIAA.

8. Her second album, I'm Alright, produced five Top 10 Country hits between 1998 and 1999, and sold over a million copies in America.

9. Since her debut, six of her singles have peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country singles chart.

10. Five of her albums have received a certification by the RIAA or the CRIA.

11. She has sold over 5 million records worldwide.

12. Her father was of Italian descent.

13. Her mother was of Irish descent.

14. Was raised her in Holliston, Massachusetts.

15. Has sisters Terese and Marianne, and a brother, Vincent.

16. She drew influence from a variety of country music artists, including Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, and The Judds.

17. By age 16 she was playing local clubs, singing while her brother and sister provided backup on drums and guitar. The group continued performing until Jo Dee graduated from high school.

18. Realizing that living in the Northeast would limit her chances of achieving country music stardom, Messina moved to Nashville, Tennessee at age 19.

19. She worked various temp jobs, including computer programming and accounting, while entering talent contests around Nashville.

20. One win led to a regular gig on the radio show Live at Libby's, which caught the interest of producer Byron Gallimore, who helped her assemble a demonstration tape. Gallimore was also working with the young Tim McGraw around the same time, and Messina befriended him.

21. Backstage at one of Tim McGraw's concerts, Messina met an executive from his label, Curb Records, and jokingly suggested that they needed a redhead. With the help of fellow Curb producer James Stroud, Messina was soon signed to the record label.

22. Gallimore and McGraw would later become co-producers of Messina's studio albums under Curb.

23. Messina released her self-titled debut album in 1996. It spawned two Top 10 hits, starting with the lead single, "Heads Carolina, Tails California," which peaked at No. 2 on the Country charts and its follow-up, "You're Not in Kansas Anymore" gained similar success.

24. Following her major success, Messina performed 215 shows in 1996 and became one of the most successful new female vocalists of the 1990s.

25. Her debut album sold over 500,000 copies and was certified Gold by RIAA.

26. Messina's finances suffered due to a series of poor business decisions and a change of management that led her to nearly declaring bankruptcy; she nearly lost her home and her car.

27. She spent nearly a year trying to write new songs and material for a new album that could help bring herself out of bankruptcy. She credited the radio success of "Bye, Bye" and "I'm Alright" with giving her a "second chance."

28. Messina released her second album in 1998, I'm Alright. The album spawned three No. 1 hit singles on the Billboard Country Chart that year: "Bye, Bye"; "I'm Alright"; and "Stand Beside Me," all three of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 as well. The fourth single, "Lesson in Leavin", was a cover of the No. 1 Country hit by Dottie West in 1980.

29. In 2000 Messina received the Country Music Association's "Horizon award," which is awarded to new Country music artists.

30. She also won Billboard magazine's "Most Played Female at Country Radio".

31. Won three major awards from the Boston Music Awards, located in her home state of Massachusetts.

32. Messina had guest roles on the television shows, Crash and Burn, Nash Bridges and Touched by an Angel. She guest-starred on the series a couple of years earlier and stayed in touch with the show's producer/creator.

33. In the episode titled "Bring On the Rain" (named after Messina's hit song), she appeared as Annie, the single mother of a teenage girl.

34. She released her third studio album, Burn in 2000, which aimed towards Country pop-styled music. The album's lead single, "That's the Way" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Chart and also became her highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 25.

35. In addition to headlining concerts, she also toured with Vince Gill, George Strait, and The Judds' reunion tour.

36. Messina released her first holiday album in 2002 with A Joyful Noise. The album consisted of remakes of holiday songs previously made famous by other singers.

37. Messina planned to release a new album in 2003, but a Greatest Hits album was released instead due to delays. The album covered most of Messina's hits between 1996 and 2003, and also included four new songs, including two that were released as singles.

38. In 2005 Messina released her first Country music studio album since 2000, Delicious Surprise. It sold over 500,000 copies and became her fourth album to receive an RIAA Gold certification.

39. On June 10, 2008, Messina and Phil Vassar opened the 2008 CMA Music Festival, where she performed her two No. 1 hits, Bye, Bye and I'm Alright, both co-written by Vassar.

40. In January 2010, Messina released the single, "That's God," although it failed to chart. Messina began debuting the single in late 2009 on her Music Room Series Tour. "My heart is exploding with excitement. This song is truly what I want to say. I believe in it and its message."

41. Having had her first child in January 2009, Messina was inspired to write the song "That's God," while spending time with her son on a trip to Jasper, Canada, where she saw mountains with glacier lakes.

42. In 2011, Jo Dee Messina signed up to promote the WD-40 line of cleaners with a campaign called "Unmistakably Clean". A collection of her songs is available for free download with the purchase of specially marked Spot Shot, Carpet Fresh, 2000 Flushes or X-14.

43. In 2012, Messina was featured on the fourth season of Bravo's hit reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta. On the show, Messina and cast member Kandi Burruss collaboratively wrote a song together; Burruss' first effort at creating country music.

44. In December 2012, Messina completed her seventeen year contract with Curb Records.

45. In May 2013, Messina started a Kickstarter campaign to fund her next album. The lead single, "Peace Sign", was released on August 23, 2013 via Dreambound Records.

46. Messina is currently working on the release of her new EP Masquerade at the beginning of 2016. Two new songs have been previewed on her "Me" tour including "Will You Love Me Then?" and "Masquerade".

47. In 2004, Messina was engaged to road manager Don Muzquiz, but then broke off the engagement. However, the two remained in a business relationship.

48. Messina became involved with the Special Olympics after stumbling across an event while jogging. She has become an ambassador and performs at Special Olympics events in order to increase attendance.

49. On June 22, 2007, Messina announced her engagement to businessman Chris Deffenbaugh from Albuquerque, New Mexico.

50. Messina and Deffenbaugh married in Nashville in late 2007. A son, Noah Roger Deffenbaugh was born on January 12, 2009. On January 11, 2012, they welcomed son Jonah Christopher Deffenbaugh.