Music Metrics Vault

Jo Dee Messina

Data updated on 2025-03-28 10:25:46 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

Genres

: country

Total plays

473.5 million
Updated on 2025-03-28

Country

United States

Monthly listeners

1,947,730

Followers

821,536

Top Cities

  1. United States
    35,037 listeners
  2. United States
    32,267 listeners
  3. United States
    32,610 listeners
  4. United States
    34,542 listeners
  5. United States
    28,671 listeners

Most popular tracks

Track Plays Duration Release date
Heads Carolina, Tails California
Heads Carolina, Tails California
154,741,024 3:30 1996-04-02
I'm Alright
I'm Alright
85,471,650 3:19 1998-03-17
Bye-Bye
Bye-Bye
76,708,914 3:21 1998-03-17
Lesson In Leavin'
Lesson In Leavin'
52,488,592 3:40 1998-03-17
Bring On The Rain
Bring On The Rain
22,805,187 4:00 2000-08-01
My Give A Damn's Busted
My Give A Damn's Busted
16,468,286 3:19 2005-04-26
She Had Me At Heads Carolina - Remix
She Had Me At Heads Carolina - Remix
12,061,917 3:44 2022-04-08
Stand Beside Me
Stand Beside Me
8,606,267 3:45 1998-03-17
Heaven Was Needing A Hero
Heaven Was Needing A Hero
8,306,304 4:25 2010-11-09
Because You Love Me
Because You Love Me
5,279,577 3:51 1998-03-17
That's The Way
That's The Way
4,217,294 3:22 2000-08-01
Burn
Burn
2,774,189 4:41 2000-08-01
You're Not In Kansas Anymore
You're Not In Kansas Anymore
1,910,738 2:56 1996-04-02
Do You Wanna Make Something Of It
Do You Wanna Make Something Of It
1,637,860 2:45 1996-04-02
He Got a Hold of Me
He Got a Hold of Me
1,232,917 3:40 2023-09-15
I'm Done
I'm Done
1,100,665 2:53 2008-02-26
Downtime
Downtime
791,788 3:44 2000-08-01
That’s God
That’s God
745,569 4:42 2010-11-09
Silver Thunderbird
Silver Thunderbird
737,562 4:09 1998-03-17
Peace Sign
Peace Sign
609,500 3:23 2013-08-26
No Time For Tears
No Time For Tears
604,035 3:26 1998-03-17
Reckless Love
Reckless Love
586,782 5:36 2018-10-12
Even God Must Get The Blues
Even God Must Get The Blues
577,845 3:55 1998-03-17
Just To Be Loved
Just To Be Loved
554,698 3:12 2023-07-07
Life Is Good
Life Is Good
546,449 3:12 2005-04-26
Biker Chick
Biker Chick
531,209 3:11 2010-11-09
Delicious Surprise (I Believe It)
Delicious Surprise (I Believe It)
507,583 3:49 2005-04-26
I Wish
I Wish
460,949 3:34 2003-05-20
Not Going Down
Not Going Down
445,659 3:16 2005-04-26
Was That My Life
Was That My Life
386,801 3:50 2003-03-18
I Know A Heartache
I Know A Heartache
383,070 3:29 1998-03-17
He's Messed Up
He's Messed Up
369,347 2:55 2014-03-18
A Woman's Rant
A Woman's Rant
362,350 3:33 2014-03-18
If Not You
If Not You
358,072 4:11 2000-08-01
Who's Crying Now
Who's Crying Now
355,067 3:29 2005-04-26
Bigger Than This
Bigger Than This
352,246 4:03 2018-05-04
It's Too Late To Worry
It's Too Late To Worry
327,283 3:55 2005-04-26
Dare To Dream
Dare To Dream
293,716 3:19 2000-08-01
Not Dead Yet
Not Dead Yet
279,411 3:00 2014-03-18
Walk To The Light
Walk To The Light
251,095 3:56 1996-04-02
Cover Me
Cover Me
249,835 3:25 1998-03-17
You Belong In The Sun
You Belong In The Sun
241,861 3:37 2003-05-20
Wishing Well
Wishing Well
241,652 3:11 2003-05-20
It Gets Better
It Gets Better
237,700 4:33 2005-04-26
On A Wing And A Prayer
On A Wing And A Prayer
224,988 3:07 1996-04-02
Saturday Night
Saturday Night
219,454 3:42 2000-08-01
These Are The Days
These Are The Days
209,218 3:49 2000-08-01
Just Drive
Just Drive
186,417 3:13 2010-11-09
He'd Never Seen Julie Cry
He'd Never Seen Julie Cry
182,934 4:11 1996-04-02
I Didn't Have To Leave You
I Didn't Have To Leave You
146,953 3:48 1996-04-02
Someone Else's Life
Someone Else's Life
142,818 3:28 2005-04-26
Angelene
Angelene
133,449 3:57 2000-08-01
You Were Just Here
You Were Just Here
126,390 3:27 2005-04-26
Get Up Again
Get Up Again
125,315 3:39 2010-11-09
Night Crawl (Country Heat)
Night Crawl (Country Heat)
124,421 2:50 2016-07-25
Noel
Noel
124,327 4:07 2015-10-23
Love on a Maybe
Love on a Maybe
123,983 3:42 2014-03-18
Closer
Closer
122,969 4:05 2000-08-01
Nothing I Can Do
Nothing I Can Do
122,800 4:04 2000-08-01
I Like Me
I Like Me
120,890 3:26 2010-11-09
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
117,136 2:15 2002-10-29
Love Is Not Enough
Love Is Not Enough
116,312 3:55 2005-04-26
Let It Go
Let It Go
114,822 4:12 1996-04-02
Where Were You
Where Were You
114,100 3:31 2005-04-26
Real Man
Real Man
112,602 3:18 2010-11-09
Another Shoulder At The Wheel
Another Shoulder At The Wheel
104,639 3:45 1996-04-02
Every Little Girl's Dream
Every Little Girl's Dream
103,167 3:60 1996-04-02
Me
Me
100,823 3:43 2014-03-18
Sharp Dressed Man
Sharp Dressed Man
99,530 3:50 2007-06-19
Strong Shot of You
Strong Shot of You
98,369 3:04 2014-03-18
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
Whatcha Gonna Do About It
96,352 2:46 2010-11-09
I Wear My Life
I Wear My Life
92,106 4:09 2005-04-26
Say Goodbye to Superman
Say Goodbye to Superman
86,478 4:28 2014-03-18
I’m Alright - Live Acoustic
I’m Alright - Live Acoustic
83,987 3:33 2010-11-09
How Do You Get High
How Do You Get High
80,943 3:51 2010-11-09
Lesson In Leavin’ - Live Acoustic
Lesson In Leavin’ - Live Acoustic
75,843 3:41 2010-11-09
Bring On The Rain - Live Acoustic
Bring On The Rain - Live Acoustic
75,588 3:43 2010-11-09
Breakin' it Down
Breakin' it Down
75,102 3:47 2014-03-18
Like a Kid Again
Like a Kid Again
73,743 3:51 2014-03-18
The Day That I Can’t Love You
The Day That I Can’t Love You
72,660 3:06 2010-11-09
A Joyful Noise
A Joyful Noise
71,242 3:51 2002-10-29
I'm Free
I'm Free
66,245 3:35 2014-03-18
Keep The Faith
Keep The Faith
65,201 3:35 2002-10-29
Carry Me
Carry Me
65,030 4:17 2011-07-19
Take It
Take It
54,787 3:27 2014-03-18
Even God Must Get The Blues - Live Acoustic
Even God Must Get The Blues - Live Acoustic
53,085 4:03 2010-11-09
One Day Closer
One Day Closer
52,803 3:40 2010-11-09
Sleigh Ride
Sleigh Ride
49,074 2:32 2002-10-29
I’m Home
I’m Home
48,699 3:47 2010-04-27
Winter Wonderland
Winter Wonderland
44,952 3:01 2002-10-29
Welcome To The Rest Of My Life
Welcome To The Rest Of My Life
40,480 3:25 2010-04-27
O Holy Night
O Holy Night
34,217 4:36 2002-10-29
Silver Bells
Silver Bells
32,847 2:48 2002-10-29
I'll Be Home For Christmas
I'll Be Home For Christmas
31,641 4:04 2002-10-29
What Child Is This?
What Child Is This?
31,575 2:46 2002-10-29
Silent Night
Silent Night
31,520 2:34 2002-10-29
Unmistakable
Unmistakable
29,981 3:57 2010-04-27
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
29,932 2:57 2002-10-29
The Christmas Song
The Christmas Song
28,978 4:23 2002-10-29
Unbreakable (feat. Alyssa Bonagura)
Unbreakable (feat. Alyssa Bonagura)
23,103 3:14 2013-02-14
One Love
One Love
18,149 3:53 2007-06-19
Always Have, Always Will
Always Have, Always Will
17,325 4:01 2010-04-27
Think About Us
Think About Us
11,531 4:07 2010-04-27
Stand Beside Me - Live Acoustic
Stand Beside Me - Live Acoustic
9,118 3:47 2010-04-27
Because You Love Me - Live Acoustic
Because You Love Me - Live Acoustic
8,942 4:19 2010-04-27
Treat Me Like A Woman Today
Treat Me Like A Woman Today
8,312 2:36 2010-04-27
Hard Life
Hard Life
7,802 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]