On Feb. 26, '97 the Grammy Award for Best New Artist went to what 14 year-old country singer born in Mississippi, raised in Texas, whose album -- Blue -- sold more than seven million copies?

At the 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997, a powerful voice from the country music world made history. LeAnn Rimes, at just 14 years old, became the youngest person ever to win the award for Best New Artist, a record she still holds. Her win was a testament to the phenomenal success of her major-label debut album, *Blue*, which would go on to achieve multi-platinum status. That same night, she also took home the Grammy for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for the album's title track, solidifying her status as a musical prodigy.

Rimes's mature, soulful voice drew frequent comparisons to the legendary Patsy Cline, and for good reason. The hit song "Blue" was written in the 1950s by disc jockey Bill Mack, who had originally intended for Cline to record it. He held onto the song for decades, waiting for the perfect vocalist to do it justice. When he heard the young singer from Texas, he knew he had finally found his voice. This connection to classic country gave her music a timeless quality that appealed to audiences far beyond the typical country music fanbase, helping her beat out mainstream acts like No Doubt and Jewel for the coveted award.