NEWAudio versions of Fox News articles are now available!
LeAnn Rimes discusses moving past her “America’s Sweetheart” persona and embracing her sensuality following her role as herself in “Coyote Ugly.”
The vocalist and performer, who gained recognition at 13 in 1996 with her popular track “Blue,” was merely 17 during her brief appearance in “Coyote Ugly.”
During the climax of the 2000 musical drama, Rimes, sporting a revealing, backless crop top and snakeskin leather trousers, sang a duet of the movie’s main tune, “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” alongside lead star Piper Perabo, while performing atop the counter of the famous bar from the film.
On a recent Wednesday broadcast of “Good Morning America,” the artist, who holds two Grammy Awards, shared that her memorable walk-on role signified a pivotal moment in her professional journey.
“It felt like my first real exposure to allure and the commercial appeal of sensuality,” stated Rimes, currently 43 years old.
LeAnn Rimes discussed how her bar-top dance in “Coyote Ugly” transformed her “America’s Sweetheart” persona. (Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty Images;Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty Images )
“Honestly, I was seen as ‘America’s Sweetheart’ until I got up on that bar, and then everything changed,” she added. “At that point, I just wondered, ‘What’s next for me?’”
“These days I know exactly how to move on a bar, but back then, it was definitely excellent editing,” Rimes quipped, reiterating, “Truly excellent editing.”
The film centers on Violet Sanford, a timid aspiring songwriter who relocates to New York City to chase her ambitions, ultimately landing a job at a lively establishment named “Coyote Ugly.”
Within this bar, the women bartenders, referred to as “Coyotes,” serve beverages while performing atop the counter, igniting the patrons into an enthusiastic uproar.
Rimes gained prominence as a teenager at 13 and secured two Grammy Awards the subsequent year. (Jon Levy)
CARRIE UNDERWOOD NEARLY DECLINED ONE OF HER MAJOR HITS DUE TO IMAGE WORRIES
“Coyote Ugly” proved to be a commercial success, grossing $113 million globally, and subsequently attained the reputation of a cult favorite.
The track “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” penned by Diane Warren and performed by Rimes, climbed to the 11th position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“Honestly, I held the title of ‘America’s Sweetheart’ until my appearance on that bar, and from then on, everything changed.”
Rimes recently restaged the iconic concluding sequence from “Coyote Ugly” at the Coyote Ugly Saloon Nashville, posting a video of it on Instagram on February 20.
Rimes sang “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” as a duet with Piper Perabo, dancing on a bar counter in “Coyote Ugly.” (Buena Vista Pictures)
Within the video, Rimes mimed to “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” as she danced atop the counter, joined by her “9-1-1 Nashville” co-stars Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Jessica Capshaw, Mackenzie Porter, Hailey Kilgore, and Juani Feliz.
“Nashville, is water even served in this establishment…,” Rimes captioned the post, echoing a well-known quote from the film.
“Someone dial 113 because your ladies had some enjoyment while taking a break from filming #coyoteugly #cantfightthemoonlight #911nashville @911nashville,” she further stated. “Much gratitude to @coyoteuglysaloonnash for hosting us and to the awesome women who taught us some dance steps!”
Rimes, along with her “9-1-1: Nashville” fellow actors, recently restaged the memorable sequence. (Jason Kempin)
During her appearance on “Good Morning America,” Rimes recounted the events that led to her widely shared online post.
“The legacy of ‘Coyote Ugly’ endures. It’s been 26 years since filming, and I was just 17 then, and like my co-stars, we all sort of matured with this film,” she remarked, referencing her colleagues in the television series.
“They all experienced this movie during their formative years, and I suggested we visit the Nashville bar,” Rimes explained. “I sent a group message, and everyone responded enthusiastically, saying, ‘Let’s do it! I’ve always wanted to go to that bar.’ They were absolutely thrilled.”
Rimes had previously disclosed the most surprising detail she recalled from shooting her brief role.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER HERE
Rimes had earlier disclosed her use of chicken cutlets inside her top during the filming of “Coyote Ugly.” (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
“The breast enhancers they made me wear in my top—that’s it,” Rimes recounted to Entertainment Tonight in 2018.
“I was 17. My mother was quite relieved that was the sole bar I was dancing on, at least to her knowledge. Thanks, Mom,” Rimes quipped. “And then they basically told me, ‘You’ll be dancing on a bar,’ and they handed me my costume and these ‘chicken cutlets.’… I mean, genuinely, I wondered, ‘What am I supposed to do with these? How do these go in?’ I was completely clueless. That’s what stands out in my memory.”
ENJOYING THIS READ? DISCOVER ADDITIONAL ENTERTAINMENT NEWS HERE
Rimes further commented on “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” following the inclusion of a fresh version of the track on her EP “Re-Imagined,” which came out in June 2018.
“My goodness. The astonishing thing about that song is how it achieved global triumph. It topped the charts in 11 nations, if I recall correctly,” she mentioned.
DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP HERE
“It made no impact domestically,” Rimes elaborated. “Yet, it resurfaced nearly two years later and subsequently became a top 20 single in the United States.”
“It’s curious, isn’t it, how fate operates,” she concluded. “Strange how certain events circle back. I never anticipated it. One simply cannot predict what will resonate. Its immense success was genuinely remarkable.”
Corresponding Piece
