Jo Dee Marie Messina (born August 25, 1970) is an American country music artist. She has charted nine number one singles on the Billboard country music charts. She has been honored by the Country Music Association, the Academy of Country Music and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She was the first female country artist to score three multiple-week Number One songs from the same album. To date, she has two Platinum and three Gold-certified albums by the RIAA.
Messina debuted in 1996 with the single Heads Carolina, Tails California. Her album was certified Gold by the RIAA. Her second album, I'm Alright, produced five Top 10 Country hits between 1998 and 1999, and sold over a million copies in America. Since her debut, six of her singles have peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Country singles chart and five of her albums have received a certification by the RIAA or the CRIA. She has sold over 5 million records worldwide.
Messina was born Jo Dee Marie Messina on August 25, 1970, in Framingham, Massachusetts to Vincent and Mary Messina. Her father, of Italian descent, and mother, of Irish descent, raised her in Holliston, Massachusetts alongside sisters, Terese and Marianne, and a brother, Vincent. At an early age, Messina's love for music blossomed. She drew influence from a variety of country music artists, including Patsy Cline, Reba McEntire, and The Judds. By age 16 she was playing local clubs, singing while her brother and sister provided backup on drums and guitar. The group continued performing until Jo Dee graduated from high school.
Jo Dee Messina is the self-titled debut album of American country music singer Jo Dee Messina, released in 1996.
It was co-produced by country music artist Tim McGraw and Byron Gallimore, who has also produced all of McGraw's albums. The album's first two singles ("Heads Carolina, Tails California" and "You're Not in Kansas Anymore") both reached Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts in 1996, while follow-ups "Do You Want to Make Something of It" and "He'd Never Seen Julie Cry" both failed to enter Top 40.
The album reached number 22 on the Top Country Albums and number 146 on the Billboard 200. Seven years after its release, it was certified gold in the United States.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day (Eve)
City street lights, even stoplights
Blinking bright red and green
As the shoppers rush home with their treasures
Hear the snow crunch
See the kids bunch
This is Santa's big scene
And above all the bustle you'll hear
Silver bells, (Silver bells)
Silver bells, (Silver bells)
It's Christmas-time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas Day