Mindy McCready
Malinda Gayle McCready (November 30, 1975 – February 17, 2013)[4] was an American country music singer. Active from 1995 until her death in 2013, she recorded a total of five studio albums. Her debut album, 1996's Ten Thousand Angels, was released on BNA Records and was certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA, while 1997's If I Don't Stay the Night was certified Gold. 1999's I'm Not So Tough, her final album for BNA, was less successful, and she left the label. A self-titled fourth album followed in 2002 on Capitol Records. McCready's fifth and final studio album, I'm Still Here, was released in March 2010 on Iconic Records.
For the fictional character, see Hit-Girl.
Mindy McCready
November 30, 1975[2]
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
February 17, 2013 (aged 37)[2]
Heber Springs, Arkansas, U.S.[3]
Singer
Vocals
1995–2013
BNA, Capitol Nashville, Iconic
McCready's first four studio albums yielded twelve singles on the Billboard country singles charts. This figure includes the No. 1 hit "Guys Do It All the Time", as well as the Top 10 hits "Ten Thousand Angels" and "A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do)".
Although she had not charted a single since 2002, McCready received significant media coverage regarding her troubled personal life and suicide attempts and her eventual death by suicide.
Career[edit]
Music[edit]
Born Malinda Gayle McCready in Fort Myers, Florida, McCready began singing in her local Pentecostal church at age 3[5] and graduated from high school at the age of 16 to begin her music career early.[2]
When she was 18, McCready moved to Nashville, where she was signed by BNA Records. Her debut album, Ten Thousand Angels, was released in 1996 and sold two million copies. The album produced four chart singles on the country charts: the title track at No. 6, followed by her first and only Number One hit, "Guys Do It All the Time". This song, in turn, was succeeded by "Maybe He'll Notice Her Now", a duet with Richie McDonald, then the lead vocalist of Lonestar. The fourth and final single, "A Girl's Gotta Do (What a Girl's Gotta Do)", peaked at No. 4.[6]
In 1997, she was nominated for Top New Female Vocalist at the Academy of Country Music Awards, but lost to LeAnn Rimes.
The next year, McCready released the album If I Don't Stay the Night. The album spawned three singles, "What If I Do", "The Other Side of This Kiss", and "You'll Never Know". The album sold 825,000 copies.[7]
In 1999, McCready released I'm Not So Tough. The first single, "All I Want Is Everything", failed to break the top 50. The album was a commercial failure, selling 144,000 copies. Soon after, McCready's record company dropped her. McCready was then signed by Capitol Records. She released her self-titled album with Capitol in 2002 to disappointing sales and was dropped by Capitol later that year.[7]
In May 2008, McCready released the single "I'm Still Here" via her official website. She also announced that she had been working on a documentary, a new album, and a reality show.[8] McCready's critically acclaimed fifth album, I'm Still Here, was released in March 2010.[9]
On February 18, 2013, the day after McCready's death, her final song, "I'll See You Yesterday" was released.[10]
Reality television[edit]
In June 2009, McCready signed on to appear on the reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.[11] The series aired and depicted her struggle with substance addiction.[12] She later discussed her recovery and possible studio work with Todd Gaither on a March 2010 episode of The View.
In mid-2011, McCready appeared on an episode of each of Celebrity Close Calls and Celebrity Ghost Stories. She also appeared on the December 9, 2011 episode of 20/20, where she discussed her son Zander, her producer boyfriend David Wilson, and new music.
Death[edit]
On February 17, 2013, McCready's neighbors called the Sheriff's Office of Cleburne County, Arkansas, reporting gunshots. McCready was found dead on her front porch from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the same place where David Wilson, her former boyfriend and the father of her younger son, had fatally shot himself one month prior.[48][49] She was 37 years old.[3][50] She also shot and killed Wilson's pet dog before her suicide.[48][51] McCready is interred at Alva Cemetery in Alva, Florida.