The Grammy winner was just 17 when she filmed the iconic bar scene that she says introduced her to 'sexiness and sex sells'
Video LeAnn Rimes reflects on her first CMA Awards appearance LeAnn Rimes calls returning to CMAs a full circle moment after she first attended the awards show as a teenager in the late 1990s.
LeAnn Rimes is reflecting on how she shed her "America's Sweetheart" image and embraced her sexuality after appearing as herself in "Coyote Ugly."
The singer and actress, who rose to fame at the age of 13 in 1996 with the success of her hit song "Blue," was just 17 when she filmed a cameo in "Coyote Ugly."
In the finale of the 2000 musical drama, Rimes, who was clad in a low-cut, backless crop top with snakeskin leather pants, performed a duet of the film's theme song, "Can’t Fight the Moonlight" with lead actress Piper Perabo while dancing on the counter of the movie's titular bar.
During a Wednesday appearance on "Good Morning America," the two-time Grammy Award winner recalled that her iconic cameo marked a turning point in her career.
"That was kind of my introduction to sexiness and sex sells," Rimes, now 43, said.
LeAnn Rimes recalled how dancing on a bar in "Coyote Ugly" changed her "America's Sweetheart" image. (Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty Images;Greg Gayne/NBC via Getty Images )
"I mean really, I was 'America's Sweetheart' until they put me on a bar, and then it was all over," she continued. "So I mean I was just like, ‘What do I do?’"
"I know what to do now on a bar but back then that was just really good editing," Rimes joked. "Really good editing."
The movie follows shy aspiring songwriter Violet Sanford, who moves to New York City to pursue her dreams and ends up working at a wild bar called "Coyote Ugly."
At the bar, the female bartenders, known as "Coyotes," pour drinks while dancing on the counter and whipping the crowd into a high-energy frenzy.
Rimes rose to fame at the age of 13 and won two Grammy Awards the following year. (Jon Levy)
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"Coyote Ugly" became a box office hit, raking in $113 million worldwide and later achieved cult classic status.
"Can't Fight the Moonlight," which was written by Diane Warren and recorded by Rimes, reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"I mean really, I was 'America's Sweetheart' until they put me on a bar and then it was all over." — LeAnn Rimes
Rimes recently recreated "Coyote Ugly's" famous final scene at the Coyote Ugly Saloon Nashville in a video that she shared on Instagram Feb. 20.
Rimes performed a duet of Can't Fight the Moonlight" with Piper Perabo while dancing on a bar counter in "Coyote Ugly." (Buena Vista Pictures)
In the clip, Rimes lip-synced "Can't Fight the Moonlight" while dancing on the counter alongside her "9-1-1 Nashville" castmates Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Jessica Capshaw, Mackenzie Porter, Hailey Kilgore and Juani Feliz.
"Nashville, do we serve water in this bar…," Rimes wrote in the caption, referring to one of the movie's famous lines.
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"Somebody call the 113 as your girls had a little fun of their own in between filming #coyoteugly #cantfightthemoonlight #911nashville @911nashville," she added. "Big thank you @coyoteuglysaloonnash for having us and to the bada-- ladies for teaching us some moves!"
Rimes and her "9-1-1: Nashville" co-stars recently recreated the iconic scene. (Jason Kempin)
While appearing on "Good Morning America," Rimes shared the story behind her viral post.
