Lindsay Belle

Lindsay Elizabeth Belle, known simply as Lindsay Belle, (born on August 4, 1980) is a American country singer-songwriter and actress, best known for her work in country music.

Belle made her breakthrough into country music in 2006. Her signature hit, (I Wannabe Your) Spice Girl, reached #2 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and was certified multiplatinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America. With the intital success of her debut album Bittersweet, Belle attained widespread national acclaaim for her similarities to vocal style of country legend Patsy Cline. When Belle released her sophomore studio effort in 2007, Lindsey, she went more towards country pop material as compared to the country folk genre she recorded with her debut. Belle went on to release two successful albums, Sunset Next To Oklahoma and Free, both which claimed the top spot on Billboard Top 200 and the UK charts.

Since her debut, Belle has won many major industry awards, which include three Grammys, four ACMs, two CMAs and six Billboard Music Awards. She has sold over 15 million albums worldwide, including 7 million in UK.

In 2013 she release her fifth studio album, Words That Never Were.

Early Life
Belle was born Lindsay Elizabeth Belle in Nashville, Oklahoma in 1980 to Randall Tex Belle and Trisha Cusack. Her family lived in Nashville, where Belle was raised. As an only child, Belle was showered with attention by her parents. She was singing by the age of five, was enrolled into vocal and dance training, and by the age of eight was performing at local talent shows such as Star Search. At the age of eleven, Cusack died of breast cance and Belle lost her motivation and drive to become a singer like she always dream to be. In 1997, Randall re-married to hairdresser Daisy Faye.

By the age of twenty-four, Belle graduated with Masters in Veterinary Science from Oklahoma State University. Even though she had a vet license, Belle decided to move on and pursue a singing career instead. Belle work odd jobs and spent time recording demos in Nashville, where she was discovered by independent label CountriSoul representative Liam Fowler.

Bittersweet
After signing with Countrisoul Records, Belle recorded her debut single "Watch Me Go". The single stalled at #24 on US Billboard Hot Country Songs, despite having minimal airplay and promotion budget. The country-folk guitar-ridden track found similarity to the musical style of KT Tunstall, leading Belle to perform at CD:UK, the only televised appearance of the song in the UK. Shortly after the release of the single, Fowler was involved in financial embezzlement with the label, Belle was subsequently dropped and signed to Lemon Records. It wasn't long until Lemon fold up yet again, leaving Belle in devastation. At that time, singer-songwiter Arwyn Knight, who also owns Wired Records, noticed Belle's talent and signed her to her UK label. Her US album release was distributed by Berryville Records, a sublet from major recording label RCA.

Belle went on to release her debut album "Bittersweet", followed by the singles "Hey Lucy!", "Remember", "(I Wannabe Your) Spice Girl", "Country Girls" and "Beautiful Hands". Belle found moderate success in UK and the Stateside, where she earned a Billboard Award for New Female Artist.

"Bittersweet was everything I had in me before I made it, the best and worst times of my life. Its a storybook in a musical form... I want to write an honest album where people can relate to."

The album propelled Belle as the newest and most current country act on Urapopstar.

Lindsey
"I didn't like what I did for Lindsey. It feels rushed, it was different, very strong lyrically but it feels something's amiss. And then I look back, that wasn't me."

"Lindsey", the second album was a drastic change of musical direction. The album found success in UK, selling over 600,000 copies with only three singles released. The lead single "Showstopper" also caused controversy with a banned video and lyrics with innuendo.

Sunset Next To Oklahoma
"I wanted to do what I feel most comfortable and love doing. It was country music. It is the story-telling catalogue of songs about life, love. Sunset Next To Oklahoma took me the longest time to write because I wanted it to be perfect, I want to tell my own story and I did."

"Sunset Next To Oklahoma", the third studio album was released to positive reviews from critics and fans alike. Country Weekly calls it "The country classic record with a modern twist". Shortly after, she won the Best Female Country Vocal Performance award at the Grammys for the lead single, "It's Good, It's Beautiful and It's Funny". "It was the most exciting moment of my life. I've never felt like this before, it wasn't an accomplishment - its a stepping stone."

The album went on to produce hit after hit. The collaboration with pop star Elice Claire, "Think Twice, Think Thrice" became her best selling single. The song also won Best Collaboration at Urapopstar Awards 17 and Video Music Awards. The album sold over 7,000,000 copies worldwide, becoming Belle's best selling album.

Free
"Free" is Belle's fourth studio album, her last in completion of her three-album contract with Wired. "This will my last studio album. I always say, never say never, but I think I've told my story and there are some better left unsaid."

"Don't Mess With The Woman In A Truck" was also made into a short film, directed by Ken Kwapis. The film stars Belle as Lindsay, and her series of misadventure and relationships she had. The film also stars Elice Claire and ten other male celebrities. The film is an instant hit after being released online through Payperview, with critics and fans-alike raving about the short romantic-comedy film. The video won the Best Video award at Urapopstar Awards 18.

"Don't Mess With The Woman In A Truck" also becomes Belle's first US #1 single, topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs. The second single, the Alicia B-penned country rock track, "I'd Rather Have A Cigarette", marks the first single to be released not written by the singer herself. She became a household name when she joined the judges panel for Uraps Idol in 2008 and 2009.

The album produce two more singles, "Now All That's Left (What's Going On?)", a duet with latina superstar Esmeralda Dimuzio and "Wonder Why". The latter became her first and final UK number-one single.

Words That Never Were
Belle took a two and half year break from music and returned with her fifth studio album, Words That Never Were. The album spawned her second UK number one single, "The Foxtrot". It was also met with favourable reviews, applauding Belle for steering from the formulaic country pop sound and taking on folk-rock and elements of rock-and-roll, dance, soul and pop. The second single from the album "Damn Middle Name" will be released in July.

Vocal ability and musical stylings
Since her debut in 2006, Belle voice and vocal style was often compared to the late Patsy Cline. Cline was known for her distinctive and expressive vocal stylings. In 2008, Belle released the single "Patsy Cline" as a tribute to Cline.

Personal life
Little is known about Lindsay's personal life, but her relationship with husband Italian-American actor Mark Scavo was much publicized in the US media. The couple filed a divorce in 2012 only after two years of marriage. Belle held the custody to their adopted daughter Emma-Lee Scavo.

She also consider close friends with pop stars Elice Claire and Sophie Ramone.

Advocacy
Lindsay is also known for her philanthropy and her strong advocacy for Breast Cancer Awareness.

In 2007, she created her own charity foundation - Lindsay Belle's Home Sweet Home - a self-funded organization, working with orphanages.

She was elected to be a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2009.

Women Who Rock
In 2010, Lindsay organized the first televised charity show "Women Who Rock" to raise money for the Women Abuse Prevention Association to raise awareness and help victims of domestic violence and physical abuse. The show featured Lindsay as the host and performer, alongside fellow female artists such as Loretta Lambert, China, Elice Claire, Violetta DiNozzo, Esmeralda Dimuzio, 4tune and a few others.

Tours

 * 2006: Bittersweet Tour (UK)
 * 2007: Bittersweet Tour (US)
 * 2007: The Lindsey tour (UK)
 * 2009: Sunset Next To Oklahoma Tour (US)

Discography
ALBUMS
 * 2006 Bittersweet
 * 2007 Lindsey
 * 2008 Sunset Next To Oklahoma
 * 2009 Free
 * 2013 Words That Were Were

SINGLES
 * 2006 Watch Me Go
 * 2006 Hey Lucy/Remember
 * 2006 (I Wanna Be Your) Spice Girl
 * 2007 Country Girls
 * 2007 Beautiful Hands
 * 2007 Showstopper
 * 2008 Hail Me Like A Queen
 * 2008 Patsy Cline
 * 2009 It's Good, It's Funny And It's Beautiful
 * 2009 Six Penny Ain't Worth A Pence
 * 2009 Let Freedom Ring
 * 2009 Think Twice, Think Thrice (with Elice Claire)
 * 2009 Heart of Mine
 * 2009 Don't Mess With The Woman In A Truck
 * 2010 I'd Rather Have A Cigarette
 * 2010 Now All That's Left (What's Going On?) (with Esmeralda Dimuzio)
 * 2010 Wonder Why
 * 2013 The Foxtrot
 * 2013 Damn Middle Name

Filmography
Main Article: Lindsay Belle filmography