Radio, Records and Retail All Win!

Jo Dee Messina and band headlined CITR’s closing concert and knocked this writer’s socks off when she played selections for her upcoming May album release. Messina’s multi-platinum career has gathered honors such as the CMA Horizon Award and ACM New Female Vocalist accolade. She was Billboard’s most played country female of 1999 with hits such as “Bye Bye,” “I’m Alright,” “Lesson In Leavin’” and “Stand Beside Me.” Now, a distant three years since her last album, and for the first time, Messina’s new project, Delicious Surprise, will feature a healthy dose of self-penned material that showcases a broad emotional evolution, the kind of effort that can lift an artist to another level.

“We live in this mass market where we can only comprehend one idea at a time on a national level,” says Messina manager Stuart Dill. “It takes multiple records for an audience to get a true sense of an artist. That’s what I’m most excited about for Jo Dee. People think they know who she is, and in a way they do, but yet they are going to discover more this time and get closer. It’s coming through in her writing for sure.”

“It’s always a big song search thing,” notes Messina. “For this album, I had to live through some of these emotions, put them on paper and get it to make sense. It takes time.”

For example, Messina co-wrote “Love Is Not Enough” with Mike Reid. “I went to him and said, ‘Here are the basic words and melody, but I need chords that hurt as bad as I do. Something heart wrenching that tugs at you.’” She introduced the song from the stage last week by quietly telling the audience that loving someone, no matter how much, is not always enough to make a relationship work. Her honesty hit the crowd hard and they listened intently.

Radio, records and retail all win when an artist’s music touches a nerve. Messina’s vocal prowess and dedication have been evident from the start of her career. Her earthy stage presence and ability to communicate with her audience is no secret. If the rest of this new album proves as heartfelt and emotionally riveting as the handful of cuts she previewed last week in concert, it will be a big win for industry and fans, but most of all it will be a grand triumph for this sassy redhead whose hard work is paying off.

Music Row Magazine

Jo Dee Designated Reporter

Jo Dee was given the job as designated reporter (for the Nashville Tennessean) for this year's star-studded, ski-filled BMI Country in the Rockies fund-raiser for the T.J. Martell Foundation. Click Here to read the first report from Colorado!
Click Here to read the final report from Colorado from the eyes of Jo Dee!

Jo Dee Looks InStyle

You can find Jo Dee in the Jan issue of InStyle as part of the Look section!
Pick up your copy today!

Jo Dee Messina To Perform On The  Wayne Brady Show

Jo Dee recently taped an upcoming episode of the Wayne Brady Show. Messina will perform the holiday classic, "Sleigh Ride," from her current holiday album, A Joyful Noise. The episode, also featuring Regis Philbin and actor Paul McCrane (Dr. Robert Romano on "ER"), is scheduled to air December 9th. "The Wayne Brady Show" airs at various times, check your local listings.

Vote For Jo Dee For GAC's Top 50 Videos Of 2002

Great American Country is giving viewers the opportunity to vote for their favorite videos of the year. Now through December 15th, viewers can vote for the Top 50 via GAC's website at www.countrystars.com. The Viewers Choice Top 50 Country Countdown of 2002 will debut on the network on December 31 at 9:00 p.m. EST and will repeat the countdown throughout the week.

All of the videos eligible for the vote premiered October 2001 through November 2002 on GAC's new release show, Fast Forward. Viewers who vote for the Top 50 are automatically entered to win a complete library of CD's featuring all of the Top 50 songs, plus a video compilation of the Top 50 videos.

Following the Top 50 Country Countdown, Fast Forward host, Chris Conn, will debut the first new videos of 2003.

Vote for Jo Dee in the following places:

Winter
13. Jo Dee Messina - Bring on the Rain

Summer
17. Jo Dee Messina - Dare to Dream

Jo Dee Messina Co-Produces Debut Holiday Album A Joyful Noise Ships October 29th

When it came time to put together her debut holiday album, multi-platinum artist Jo Dee Messina knew exactly who she wanted sitting beside her at the control board:  famed producer Brent Maher.  Messina has long considered the man responsible for holiday albums by Kenny Rogers, The Judds and Kathy Mattea (for which he won a Grammy) to be the "Father Christmas" of record producers..  The end result is the co-produced A Joyful Noise which will be released October 29th.

Listen To Jo Dee Make "A Joyful Noise"!

Click on the music section and hear clips of Jo Dee's Christmas album "A Joyful Noise", in stores Oct 29th. You can also order your copy now to arrive the day of release! Click Here!

Jo Dee "A Fan Favorite"

Jo Dee has been named as one of the finalists in the Country Weekly Fan Favorite Awards! JoDee is nominated for Favorite Collaborative Song, for "Bring On The Rain," sung with Tim McGraw. Look for the ballot in the October 15 and the September 29 issue. You can also vote online here October 1 through November 10, 2002. Get your votes in today, and show everyone that Jo Dee is your all-time favorite!

Jo Dee Brings on The Show

Jo Dee took to the stage on August 31st in Tampa FL to a full-house that was ready to Jam with Jo Dee.  Jo Dee brought fans to their feet most of the night with her heartfelt songs and mega hits. Jo Dee winds down this leg of the tour to jump in to the leg with George Strait check her tour page for dates. Click Here to see some of the action!

Jo Dee Picks Up CMA Nomination

Congratulations, Jo Dee, on your CMA nomination for Vocal Event of the Year for "Bring On The Rain" with Tim McGraw! Tune in to the 36th CMA Awards Wednesday, November 6th at 8 PM ET on CBS!

The Story Behind "Dare To Dream"
by Jane Bach, songwriter

As songwriters, Adrienne (Follese) and I know very well how important "the dream" is. It takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but first, you have to dare to have the dream at all.

One morning, we were at Warner Chappell, (where I was signed at the time) and Adrienne was talking about how she and her husband, Keith, had moved to Nashville from California with nothing more than each other, their baby, and their dreams of writing songs and succeeding in the music business. She had started a song called "DARE TO DREAM", and asked if I wanted to write it with her. I had moved to Nashville, as a single mother, with nothing but my dreams and three small children, so I could certainly relate.

After she played me what she had started, I said YES. I really loved what she had come up with, and so we wrote the song. It was inspired by her story, but all of us know what it's like to believe that we can do anything we want to if we stay strong and never give up on our dreams".

Actually, it was originally written in the third person, as a story song about a fictitious young couple named Ryan and Molly. We demoed the song, with Stephanie Bentley doing the vocal. I pitched it over at Byron Gallimore's office the very next morning, and they put it on hold for JoDee that afternoon...

Jo Dee "Fits" In Country Music Today

Find out all about the "fit and fabulous" Jo Dee in the latest Country Music Today magazine! Pick up your copy today!

Jo Dee "Raced" To NBC July 14!

Jo Dee was on hand at the NASCAR Tropicana 400 LIVE from Chicagoland Speedway July 14th to perform the National Anthem! Check back for a video clip of the performance!

"Dare To Dream" on CMT's Most Wanted Live

Now that you've seen "Dare To Dream" on CMT's Most Wanted Live, be sure to cast your vote to get Jo Dee on Most Wanted Live's Great Eight!

Best of America Features Jo Dee

Jo Dee joins fellow Curb Records artists Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Greenwood and more in an all star 'Salute to America' on a new album titled: "BEST OF AMERICA." The album will hit stores on June 11th nationally on the Curb label and will be available at a special low price of $5.99. The release is set in time for the 4th of July "Independence" Holiday.

Jo Dee's "Even God Must Get The Blues" is featured on this special album. Be sure to pick up your copy on June 11th!

JoDeeMessina.com Gets The Inside Track!

Jo Dee's "Dare To Dream" will be included on the upcoming Warner Brothers/Nashville compilation album for NASCAR, Inside Traxx, in stores June 11th! Click the banner to order your copy today!   

Jo Dee Messina Holiday Tour Launches This Week Shows To Benefit Toys for Tots in Each Market

Jo Dee Messina and band are hard at work in a Nashville rehearsal hall as they put the finishing touches on Messina's first holiday tour, Jo Dee Messina's Christmas Gift Concert.

Never one to rest on her musical laurels, Messina has put a lot of time and effort into creating what she hopes will be a complete holiday experience. She is calling the end result a "living set" -- one that is three dimensional and enhanced by the special use of videos and still photos. While the platinum recording artist would like to keep some of the surprise elements of her show in tact, one special story she'll share is the fact that last week she visited the students at Nashville's Oak Hill School where she made holiday ornaments with the K-6 grade students. Not only will concert goers be treated to video footage of the fun, they will get to enjoy the handmade ornaments firsthand as they grace a holiday tree that is part of Messina's set.

And in keeping with the true meaning of the holidays, the Curb Records artist has partnered herself with the Toys for Tots organization (a project of the US Marines). Fans in each market are being asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to each date where they will be distributed to needy children in that market.

Jo Dee Messina's Christmas Gift Concert is the singer's first holiday tour and is in support of her recently released holiday LP, A Joyful Noise. The tour begins this Friday, November 29, in Lowell, Mass, (the singer's hometown is Boston) and continues through December 21. The tour dates are as follows:

11/29 Lowell, MA
11/30 Torrington, CT
12/05 La Crosse, WI
12/06 Merrillville, IN
12/08 Cincinnati, OH
12/11 Detroit, MI
12/17 Norfolk, VA
12/20 Wilkes-Barre, PA
12/21 Ocean City, MD

BMI Celebrates Jo Dee's Music at 50th Annual Awards Ceremony

Due to the success of Jo Dee's music Helen Darling and Billy Montana (Bring On The Rain) were honored at the BMI Awards on November 5, 2002 in Nashville.

Jo Dee's Music Honored At ASCAP Awards

Burn was among the songs honored at the ASCAP Awards in Nashville on November 4, 2002. Pamela Reswick and Stephen Werfel, the writers of Burn, were honored for having their song as one of ASCAP's most-performed songs.

Jo Dee "Dared To Dream"...

slideshow

...And it came true!
Jo Dee stopped off in Nashville along with her buddy, George Strait, on September 13th to perform for the Rowdy Nashville crowd at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. Check the slideshow for some of the action!

Jo Dee A "Denim Darlin"

Look for Jo Dee in the August issue of Rosie magazine! You'll find her in the "Denim Darlin'" section, sporting the latest denim fashions for fall.  Pick up your copy on newsstands July 16th!

Delilah 'Brings The Rain'

Fans all across the country have reported that Delilah has been playing "Bring On The Rain"! If you get the Delilah radio show in your city, you can request "Bring On The Rain" at 1-888-633-5452 or on her website, www.radiodelilah.com.

Jo Dee Gets Stopped by LA Police

During Jo Dee's trip to Los Angeles for the ACM awards Jo Dee was stopped by the police with a warning. But not in way you might think.  "Sorry to disappoint" Laughs Jo Dee on the full blown rumor of her being arrested after being pulled over by the police. "I don't even drive when I am in LA!"

Jo Dee was doing her daily jog in LA when a police officer stopped to warn her of crossing, as the "Don't Walk" sign changed to solid red. "There was a sign but it was blocked by a truck and he simply pointed it out to me" Laughs Jo Dee, " I don't even know how anybody knew it happened, I wouldn't even given it another thought if this crazy rumor hadn't of come of it."  Seems Jo Dee's life is way more interesting in print than in real life.

Have The Summer Of Your Life With Jo Dee and Slim Fast!

West Palm Beach, Fla, 05/07/02 – Slim-Fast Foods Company announced today that Slim-Fast will be the presenting sponsor of multi-platinum recording artist Jo Dee Messina’s It’s Your Life summer concert tour.

The tour, which is a collaborative effort between Jo Dee Messina and Slim-Fast Foods Company, is specifically designed to be a motivating experience for Jo Dee’s fans. The Jo Dee Messina It’s Your Life Tour embodies a message of empowerment and is orchestrated to enable Slim-Fast to connect with consumers through music and educational kiosks.

“Our goal was to team-up with an artist who shares the same commitment to a healthy lifestyle as we do,” said Marc Covent, President/CEO of Slim-Fast Foods Company. “Recently, Jo Dee made a resolution to change her life by getting in shape, eating right and exercising – a lifestyle that we at Slim-Fast believe in and encourage. We look forward to reaching as many consumers as possible during the tour and motivating them to celebrate life and adopt healthy practices like Jo Dee does everyday.”