Rimes Files Suit Vs. Curb Records

DALLAS (AP) â€” LeAnn Rimes, whose powerful voice catapulted her to country music stardom as a child, says it's time she spoke for herself. <br><br>The Grammy Award-winning singer, now 18, filed a

Monday, November 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) â€” LeAnn Rimes, whose powerful voice catapulted her to country music stardom as a child, says it's time she spoke for herself.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, now 18, filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to void a contract with Curb Records Inc. of Nashville, Tenn. The deal had been struck by Rimes' parents on her behalf when she was 12.

``Her career has blossomed, something that couldn't be predicted when she was 12 years old,'' said her attorney, Tom Rhodus. ``LeAnn simply wants to be her own person. She wants to speak for herself, and she wants to make her own deals.''

Rimes also filed suit earlier this year asking for $7 million in earnings allegedly siphoned by her father and a former manager. Both men have denied the allegations.

The new suit asks that Curb Records relinquish past work, publishing interests and recordings now being distributed. It would also free Rimes of the 1995 contract giving Curb exclusive rights to her recordings, songs and a cut of future profits.

She gained fame with ``Blue'' in 1996 and has since sold more than 20 million albums.

Her parents, Wilbur and Belinda, divorced in 1997.

Record company attorney John David said he doesn't think she will be able to free herself of the contract, affirmed in 1995 by state courts in Tennessee and Texas.

``She has a valid and binding agreement,'' David said. ``That is the law.''