Mindy McCready

Malinda Gayle McCready was born at Fort Myers, Florida. Determined to seek a career in music from an early age, she set her sights high, and aged just eighteen moved to Nashville, the home of country music. In less than a year she had broken through and was signed by BNA Records, though her first album was not released until 1996. Ten Thousand Angels went double platinum and spawned the #1 Country single "Guys Do It All The Time."

Stunningly attractive with personality to match, McCready had enormous potential, but like so many artists she suffered inner demons, which for her were men and drugs. Her fourth and eponymous album was released in March 2002. After that it would be three days short of eight years before she would release her fifth and final album, the only one to which she contributed significant writing credits. This album did not include a song she co-wrote in 2005, the autobiographical "Black And Blue."

In May 2005, McCready's lover Billy McKnight battered and nearly choked her; he was charged with attempted murder. When the case came to court, McCready begged for leniency; McKnight pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. The following March, McCready gave birth to his son, Zander.