Music Metrics Vault

Jo Dee Messina

Data updated on 2024-12-01 18:43:24 UTC
Part of country music's late-'90s crop of female crossover stars, Jo Dee Messina's appeal nonetheless remained more with country fans than pop audiences. Messina was born August 25, 1970, in Framingham, Massachusetts, and grew up in nearby Holliston. She sang in musical plays starting at age eight but discovered country music at age 12 and got hooked on the likes of the Judds, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton. She soon started performing live, and by 16 she was playing local clubs with a rhythm section made up of her brother and sister. At age 19, she moved to Nashville in search of greater exposure and sang regularly for prize money in local talent competitions. One win led to a regular gig on the radio show Live at Libby's, which in turn caught the interest of producer Byron Gallimore, who helped her assemble a demo tape. Gallimore was also working with the young Tim McGraw around the same time, and Messina befriended him. Backstage at one of his concerts, Messina met an executive from his label, Curb, and jokingly suggested that they needed a redhead. Producer James Stroud, who had just heard Messina's demo, stepped up to vouch for her, and she soon wound up on Curb, with Gallimore and McGraw serving as her producers.

Messina's self-titled debut album was released in 1996 and gave her two Top Ten hits in "Heads Carolina, Tails California" (number two) and "You're Not in Kansas Anymore." The album sold well, setting the stage for Messina's star-making sophomore effort, I'm Alright. Released in 1998, it made Messina the first female country artist to score three multiple-week number one hits from the same album: "Bye Bye," "I'm Alright," and "Stand Beside Her." She nearly had a fourth, but "Lesson in Leavin'" stalled at number two. Honored by both the CMA and ACM in 1999, Messina staked out even pop-friendlier territory on her third album, 2000's Burn. It became her first number one album, and the lead single, "That's the Way," her fourth number one single. Two more Top Tens followed in "Burn" and "Downtime," and a fourth single, the Tim McGraw duet "Bring on the Rain," also topped the charts, helping Burn sell over a million copies. Messina followed it with the holiday album A Joyful Noise in late 2002, and just months later, with only three albums to her credit, Curb released a Greatest Hits compilation. Finally, in 2005, she released her official follow-up to Burn, Delicious Surprise. Messina had already begun work on her next project, an album to be called Unmistakable, when Delicious Surprise was released, and although a couple of singles hit the radio, Unmistakable itself did not appear until 2010. Messina's long-running contract with Curb Records ended in 2012, and her next album, Me, which appeared early in 2014 on her own Dreambound Records imprint, was funded through a Kickstarter campaign. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Total plays

452.6 million
Updated on 2024-12-01

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

1,869,718

Followers

806,105

Top Cities

  1. United States
    32,130 listeners
  2. United States
    28,830 listeners
  3. United States
    31,722 listeners
  4. United States
    24,902 listeners
  5. United States
    24,006 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Heads Carolina, Tails California
Heads Carolina, Tails California
147,922,031 3:30 1996-04-02
I'm Alright
I'm Alright
80,350,411 3:19 1998-03-17
Bye-Bye
Bye-Bye
73,695,729 3:21 1998-03-17
Lesson In Leavin'
Lesson In Leavin'
50,435,161 3:40 1998-03-17
Bring On The Rain
Bring On The Rain
22,016,990 4:00 2000-08-01
My Give A Damn's Busted
My Give A Damn's Busted
15,930,607 3:19 2005-04-26
She Had Me At Heads Carolina - Remix
She Had Me At Heads Carolina - Remix
11,553,899 3:44 2022-04-08
Stand Beside Me
Stand Beside Me
8,272,156 3:45 1998-03-17
Heaven Was Needing A Hero
Heaven Was Needing A Hero
7,995,436 4:25 2010-11-09
Because You Love Me
Because You Love Me
5,155,625 3:51 1998-03-17
That's The Way
That's The Way
4,008,519 3:22 2000-08-01
Burn
Burn
2,665,982 4:41 2000-08-01
You're Not In Kansas Anymore
You're Not In Kansas Anymore
1,852,419 2:56 1996-04-02
Do You Wanna Make Something Of It
Do You Wanna Make Something Of It
1,610,176 2:45 1996-04-02
I'm Done
I'm Done
1,086,811 2:53 2008-02-26
He Got a Hold of Me
He Got a Hold of Me
946,001 3:40 2023-09-15
Downtime
Downtime
758,083 3:44 2000-08-01
That’s God
That’s God
716,354 4:42 2010-11-09
Silver Thunderbird
Silver Thunderbird
702,905 4:09 1998-03-17
Peace Sign
Peace Sign
598,823 3:23 2013-08-26
No Time For Tears
No Time For Tears
582,232 3:26 1998-03-17
Reckless Love
Reckless Love
575,909 5:36 2018-10-12
Even God Must Get The Blues
Even God Must Get The Blues
560,721 3:55 1998-03-17
Life Is Good
Life Is Good
539,611 3:12 2005-04-26
Just To Be Loved
Just To Be Loved
525,411 3:12 2023-07-07
Biker Chick
Biker Chick
520,671 3:11 2010-11-09
Delicious Surprise (I Believe It)
Delicious Surprise (I Believe It)
497,509 3:49 2005-04-26
I Wish
I Wish
443,879 3:34 2003-05-20
Not Going Down
Not Going Down
435,956 3:16 2005-04-26
Was That My Life
Was That My Life
373,168 3:50 2003-03-18
I Know A Heartache
I Know A Heartache
368,169 3:29 1998-03-17
He's Messed Up
He's Messed Up
364,349 2:55 2014-03-18
A Woman's Rant
A Woman's Rant
350,521 3:33 2014-03-18
If Not You
If Not You
349,621 4:11 2000-08-01
Who's Crying Now
Who's Crying Now
349,045 3:29 2005-04-26
Bigger Than This
Bigger Than This
343,797 4:03 2018-05-04
It's Too Late To Worry
It's Too Late To Worry
317,948 3:55 2005-04-26
Dare To Dream
Dare To Dream
281,273 3:19 2000-08-01
Not Dead Yet
Not Dead Yet
274,870 3:00 2014-03-18
Walk To The Light
Walk To The Light
244,931 3:56 1996-04-02
Cover Me
Cover Me
241,591 3:25 1998-03-17
It Gets Better
It Gets Better
234,572 4:33 2005-04-26
Wishing Well
Wishing Well
234,086 3:11 2003-05-20
You Belong In The Sun
You Belong In The Sun
233,559 3:37 2003-05-20
On A Wing And A Prayer
On A Wing And A Prayer
217,567 3:07 1996-04-02
Saturday Night
Saturday Night
211,612 3:42 2000-08-01
These Are The Days
These Are The Days
196,254 3:49 2000-08-01
Just Drive
Just Drive
180,313 3:13 2010-11-09
He'd Never Seen Julie Cry
He'd Never Seen Julie Cry
177,265 4:11 1996-04-02
I Didn't Have To Leave You
I Didn't Have To Leave You
143,936 3:48 1996-04-02
Someone Else's Life
Someone Else's Life
140,299 3:28 2005-04-26
Angelene
Angelene
129,758 3:57 2000-08-01
Night Crawl (Country Heat)
Night Crawl (Country Heat)
124,293 2:50 2016-07-25
You Were Just Here
You Were Just Here
124,238 3:27 2005-04-26
Love on a Maybe
Love on a Maybe
120,541 3:42 2014-03-18
Get Up Again
Get Up Again
119,842 3:39 2010-11-09
Nothing I Can Do
Nothing I Can Do
119,753 4:04 2000-08-01
Noel
Noel
118,556 4:07 2015-10-23
Closer
Closer
118,204 4:05 2000-08-01
I Like Me
I Like Me
116,650 3:26 2010-11-09
Love Is Not Enough
Love Is Not Enough
114,477 3:55 2005-04-26
Where Were You
Where Were You
112,108 3:31 2005-04-26
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
111,541 2:15 2002-10-29
Let It Go
Let It Go
109,318 4:12 1996-04-02
Real Man
Real Man
108,542 3:18 2010-11-09
Another Shoulder At The Wheel
Another Shoulder At The Wheel
101,712 3:45 1996-04-02
Every Little Girl's Dream
Every Little Girl's Dream
100,517 3:60 1996-04-02
Me
Me
99,533 3:43 2014-03-18
Strong Shot of You
Strong Shot of You
96,791 3:04 2014-03-18
Sharp Dressed Man
Sharp Dressed Man
93,564 3:50 2007-06-19
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
92,065 2:46 2010-11-09
I Wear My Life
I Wear My Life
90,422 4:09 2005-04-26
Say Goodbye to Superman
Say Goodbye to Superman
85,385 4:28 2014-03-18
I’m Alright - Live Acoustic
I’m Alright - Live Acoustic
81,223 3:33 2010-11-09
How Do You Get High
How Do You Get High
79,202 3:51 2010-11-09
Bring On The Rain - Live Acoustic
Bring On The Rain - Live Acoustic
73,998 3:43 2010-11-09
Breakin' it Down
Breakin' it Down
73,749 3:47 2014-03-18
Lesson In Leavin’ - Live Acoustic
Lesson In Leavin’ - Live Acoustic
73,009 3:41 2010-11-09
Like a Kid Again
Like a Kid Again
72,656 3:51 2014-03-18
The Day That I Can’t Love You
The Day That I Can’t Love You
70,697 3:06 2010-11-09
A Joyful Noise
A Joyful Noise
67,444 3:51 2002-10-29
I'm Free
I'm Free
65,345 3:35 2014-03-18
Carry Me
Carry Me
64,553 4:17 2011-07-19
Keep The Faith
Keep The Faith
62,301 3:35 2002-10-29
Take It
Take It
53,876 3:27 2014-03-18
Even God Must Get The Blues - Live Acoustic
Even God Must Get The Blues - Live Acoustic
52,173 4:03 2010-11-09
One Day Closer
One Day Closer
49,678 3:40 2010-11-09
I’m Home
I’m Home
47,509 3:47 2010-04-27
Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Ride
45,412 2:32 2002-10-29
Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
41,789 3:01 2002-10-29
Welcome To The Rest Of My Life
Welcome To The Rest Of My Life
36,911 3:25 2010-04-27
O Holy Night
O Holy Night
31,451 4:36 2002-10-29
Silver Bells
Silver Bells
30,154 2:48 2002-10-29
Unmistakable
Unmistakable
29,519 3:57 2010-04-27
I'll Be Home For Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas
29,247 4:04 2002-10-29
What Child Is This?
What Child Is This?
28,972 2:46 2002-10-29
Silent Night
Silent Night
28,968 2:34 2002-10-29
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
27,572 2:57 2002-10-29
The Christmas Song
The Christmas Song
26,795 4:23 2002-10-29
Unbreakable (feat. Alyssa Bonagura)
Unbreakable (feat. Alyssa Bonagura)
22,891 3:14 2013-02-14
Always Have, Always Will
Always Have, Always Will
17,028 4:01 2010-04-27
One Love
One Love
16,640 3:53 2007-06-19
Think About Us
Think About Us
11,345 4:07 2010-04-27
Stand Beside Me - Live Acoustic
Stand Beside Me - Live Acoustic
8,899 3:47 2010-04-27
Because You Love Me - Live Acoustic
Because You Love Me - Live Acoustic
8,769 4:19 2010-04-27
Treat Me Like A Woman Today
Treat Me Like A Woman Today
8,139 2:36 2010-04-27
Hard Life
Hard Life
7,571 3:51 2010-04-27

New releases

He Got a Hold of Me
He Got a Hold of Me
2023-09-15
[Essential Records]
Just To Be Loved
Just To Be Loved
2023-07-07
[Dreambound Records]
Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best Of Jo Dee Messina
Heads Carolina, Tails California: The Best Of Jo Dee Messina
2023-03-10
[Curb Records]
She Had Me At Heads Carolina (with Jo Dee Messina) [Remix]
She Had Me At Heads Carolina (with Jo Dee Messina) [Remix]
2022-11-07
[Warner Music Nashville]
Reckless Love
Reckless Love
2018-10-12
[FCM Records]
Bigger Than This
Bigger Than This
2018-05-04
[FCM Records]
All-Time Greatest Hits
All-Time Greatest Hits
2017-07-28
[Curb Records]
Night Crawl (Country Heat)
Night Crawl (Country Heat)
2016-07-25
[Beachbody]
Noel
Noel
2015-10-23
[Dreambound Records]
Me
Me
2014-08-19
[Dreambound Records]
Me
Me
2014-03-18
[eOne Music]
Peace Sign - Single
Peace Sign - Single
2013-08-26
[eOne Music]
Unbreakable (feat. Alyssa Bonagura)
Unbreakable (feat. Alyssa Bonagura)
2013-02-14
[Dreambound Songs]
Carry Me
Carry Me
2011-07-19
[Curb Records]
Unmistakable Drive
Unmistakable Drive
2010-11-09
[Curb Records]
Unmistakable Inspiration
Unmistakable Inspiration
2010-11-09
[Curb Records]
Unmistakable Love
Unmistakable Love
2010-04-27
[Curb Records]
I'm Done
I'm Done
2008-02-26
[Curb Records]
Delicious Surprise
Delicious Surprise
2005-04-26
[Curb Records]
Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits
2003-05-20
[Curb Records]
A Joyful Noise
A Joyful Noise
2002-10-29
[Curb Records]
Burn
Burn
2000-08-01
[Curb Records]
I'm Alright
I'm Alright
1998-03-17
[Curb Records]
JoDee Messina
JoDee Messina
1996-04-02
[Curb Records]