Full Name: Jo Dee Marie Messina
Birthdate: August 25, 1970
Birthplace: Framington, Mass.
Raised: Holliston, Mass.
Hair: Red
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5ft. 3in.
Parents: father Vincent, mother Mary; Divorced
Siblings: older sisters Marianne and Therese and older brother Vincent
Marital Status: engaged to longtime tour manager Don Muzquiz
Early Musical Interests: Her mother caught 2 year old Jo Dee sitting at the family piano plinking out her favorite tune, and ran to get her camara because she thought no one would believe it.
Preditions: Jo Dee scribbled her dreams in her high school yearbook: "My ambition is to have a song on the country chart."
First Gig: As a preteen, she got up and sang with the band at a Holiday Inn hotel.
First Concert Attended: Her brother took her to see the rock band Rush.
Arrival in Nashville: At age 19, she came to Music City in her Poniac Sunbird with $500, knowing no one in the business. She formed a friendship with then-struggling singer Tim McGraw, who went on to co-produce her albums
Big Break: At Fan Fair in 1994, Jo Dee told Curb REcords excecutive Phil Bernard that his label needed a redhead- and Phil signed her soon after.
Favorite Colors: Purple and Burgundy
Favorite Foods: Chocolate and Ice Cream
Favorite Beverage: Water
First Crush: "There was a guy named L.J. Combe in my kindergarten class. We were going to the lunch room to wait for the bus, and he gave me a kiss!"
Favorite Actors: Robert Redford and Richard Gere
Favorite Actresses: Sally Field, Julia Roberts, and Meg Ryan
Favorite Movies: Steel Magnolias, It's A Wonderful Life and Titanic
Favorite Book: the Bible
Favorite Way to Relax: "My favorite thing to do is hang around with people I love. I could be doing nothing- just as long as I'm with people I care about."
Pet Peeves: selfishness, pride and inconsiderate people
Musical Influences: Reba McEntire, The Judds, Dottir West and Dolly Parton
Dream Duet Parters: "If I could sing a duet with anyone, it would be either James Taylor or Ronny Raitt."
ACM Award: 1998 Top New Female Vocalist
Albums: Jo Dee Messina (1996); I'm Alright (1998, double platinum); Burn (2000, gold)
Billboard Top 10 Singles: "Heads Carolina, Tails California" (No.2,1996); "You're Not In Kansas Anymore" (No.7,1996); "Bye, Bye" (No.1,1998); "I'm Alright" (No.1,1998); "Stand Beside Me" (No.1, 1999); "That's The Way" (No.1,2000)
History Maker: Jo Dee was the first woman in history of country music to score three consecutive, multi-week No.1 singles from one album-"Bye, Bye" (2 weeks), "I'm Alright" (3 weeks) and "Stand Beside Me" (3 weeks)