Listening to Someone Who’s Been There

Along with the strong winds that have buffeted the Southland this week, 14-year-old singer LeAnn Rimes blew into town Wednesday to emerge as the big winner at the 32nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

During the nationally televised ceremony at the Universal Amphitheatre, the Texas teen collected trophies for top new female vocalist, and for song and single record of the year for “Blue,” the mega-hit written by Dallas disc jockey Bill Mack that launched her career last summer.

So omnipresent has Rimes been on the awards circuit this year--she won two Grammys in February--that veteran singer Patty Loveless was “shocked” to be named top female vocalist for the second year in a row.

“I did not expect this at all,” said Loveless in the backstage press area. “I was sharing the dressing room with LeAnn and I looked at her and said, ‘Honey, I think you’re going to take it home tonight.’ She’s had a very successful year and she’s so young.”

But not too young, apparently, to realize that the road ahead might not be so smooth.

Rimes said backstage that she has sought advice from former teen sensation Tanya Tucker, a presenter Wednesday night. Tucker’s new autobiography documents the turbulent, hard-drinking life that followed her initial breakthrough more than two decades ago.

“She’s basically told me to keep my head on straight and enjoy what I do, and I’m basically trying to do that,” Rimes said. “I think she’s given me some great advice.”

Overhearing this was the show’s producer, Dick Clark, who joked to reporters in a stage whisper: “The main thing is, don’t follow any of the advice she gave you.”