By Lisa Millegan - Modesto Bee

How many famous singers do you know that give their cell phone numbers out to fans?

Count one as country star Jo Dee Messina, known for such hits as "I'm Alright," "That's the Way" and "Bring on the Rain" (with Tim McGraw). No it's not the same phone she uses for family and friends, but it is a phone she brings on stage.

"At the end of the show, I tell them 'call this number,' " the bubbly redhead said in a phone interview. " 'The first four people that call this number, we can say hi.' "

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She also publishes it on her Web site and social networking sites like Twitter. Some who call doubt it's really her.

"One guy called and said 'I think your hot,' " Messina said. "I said, 'Dude, is that really what you want to say?"

Messina frequently invites a few lucky fans back to her dressing room where they do an interview with her that is broadcast live on the Web.

"This is my chance to give the audience a voice," she said.
Born in Massachusetts, Messina, 39, has sold more than 5 million albums and had nine No. 1 hits. She has been nominated for two Grammys — best female country vocal performance for "That's The Way" in 2001 and best country collaboration for "Bring on the Rain" in 2002.
Messina is coming to Modesto as part of her Music Room Series, a stripped down affair with only four backup musicians.

"The stage is set up like the music room in my house," she said. "People share stories and I share stories and we joke around with each other and we play songs."
Originally she envisioned the tour as a chance to talk about her inspirations for writing the music. But the shows evolved more into a chance for fans to talk about what her songs mean to them.

Sometimes their stories are a surprise. Messina said she always thought of her hit "I'm Alright" as party music, but one woman told her she listened to it when she went through chemotherapy.

Some fans ask Messina personal questions like how becoming a mother has affected her songwriting. The singer and her husband have a 9-month-old son, Noah.
"He's such a joy," she said. "This is the happiest kid I've ever seen."

Messina said she's proud to play songs off her latest album "Unmistakable," which is her first release in five years.
"This album slaps you in the face right from the get-go," she said. "It's hard-hitting rock-solid material. I cut 21 songs total and we only chose 11 for the album."

The single is "That's God," which she wrote at a time when she was feeling down and wondering where God was. She went on a walk in Canada and found her connection to the divine again by looking at nature.

The last year hasn't been the easiest for her because of the bad financial times.

"I had to go out and sell off stuff that I own because the work was slowing down and the economy was hitting hard," she said. "I'm hitting the same thing as other people."

Nationwide, concert ticket sales are down, Messina said.
"It's everybody's shows — a lot of fairs and festivals," she said. "Across the board, it's down 30 percent. Nobody has the extra money anymore, that expendable income."

To give people an added incentive to come out, she's giving everybody who attends her show a free six-month fan club membership, which offers access to concert recordings, photos, backstage videos and more.
She also plans to hide a couple of pairs of tickets somewhere in Modesto and post clues on her Twitter account.

"These shows are so about the fans," she said. more!