LeAnn Rimes Reflects on Her “Coyote Ugly” Cameo and Image Shift

LeAnn Rimes is taking a moment to look back at how she transformed her image from “America’s Sweetheart” to someone who embraced her sexuality after appearing as herself in “Coyote Ugly.” Rimes, who first hit the music scene at just 13 with her smash hit “Blue,” was only 17 when she made a noteworthy appearance in the film.

In the film’s explosive finale, Rimes rocked a low-cut crop top paired with snakeskin leather pants, performing a duet of the title track “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” with lead actress Piper Perabo. It marked a pivotal moment in her career, as she described it on “Good Morning America,” recalling that this cameo introduced her to a new side of sexiness and selling that image.

“Honestly, I was considered ‘America’s Sweetheart’ until that bar scene,” said Rimes, now 43. She chuckled as she admitted, “I was thinking, ‘What am I supposed to do now?’” Today, she feels confident in her bar skills, but at the time, she credits “really good editing” for how it all turned out.

The film’s plot follows Violet Sanford, a timid, aspiring songwriter who moves to New York to achieve her dreams, landing a job at the wildly energetic Coyote Ugly bar, where female bartenders dance on the counter while serving drinks, all amidst a lively crowd.

Since its release, “Coyote Ugly” has become a cult classic, grossing over $113 million worldwide, and “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” — written by Diane Warren — peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

“I was ‘America’s Sweetheart’ until I got hung up on the bar, and then it all changed,” Rimes reflected.

Recently, Rimes recreated her iconic scene from the film in a fun video at Nashville’s Coyote Ugly Saloon, lip-syncing to “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” alongside her “9-1-1 Nashville” co-stars. She humorously captioned the video with a nod to one of the movie’s memorable lines, joking about needing water at the bar.

The actress also expressed her enduring connection with her co-stars, mentioning that they all grew up together and were thrilled to revisit the experience of filming together.

Reflecting on the filming, Rimes recalled a particularly surprising moment involving a chicken cutlet stuffed in her jacket, which left her perplexed at how to wear her costume. She jokingly told a story about how her mother would only want to see her dance at that particular bar, further recalling the blend of youth and awkwardness she felt at the time.

Additionally, Rimes discussed her continued connection to “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” revealing that after recording a new version of the song for her EP “Re-Imagined,” she was fascinated by the song’s global success, even if it took time to make its mark in the U.S.

“I guess you never really know how things will turn around,” she mused, adding that it’s quite unpredictable how success can unfold in unexpected ways.