American musician. Award-winning country singer and songwriter, Jo Dee Messina won the Top New Female Vocalist award at the American Country Music Awards in 1999. She began her entertainment career as a child when she performed in plays in Boston; by age 14, she was singing in the Jo Dee Messina Band while attending school during the day. A few years later she left home for Nashville. When a demo tape got rave reviews, she was signed to Curb and her debut album was released in 1996, with two of the singles topping the charts. Her second album was released in 1998 and she became the first female solo artist to score three consecutive multiple-week number one hits from one album since “Billboard” charted the first country album in 1964.
In early 2004, she ended her four year engagement to Don Muzquiz, age 40, though the two plan to continue to work together professionally.
In April 2004 it was revealed that Messina battled alcoholism. She said that her work schedule, her travels, and her break-up with Muzquiz were the triggers for her drinking, and in February 2004 she entered a four-week alcohol treatment program in Sundance, UT. On February 19th after her performance was decidedly off due to her drinking, she made her decision and at 5 AM she boarded a plane for Sundance and entered in the rehab program. She checked out on March 22, 2004 and plans on attending AA and other 12-step program meetings on the road.
Her engagement to businessman Chris Deffenbaugh was announced on June 22, 2007. They married the following October and have two sons: Noah Roger born January 12, 2009 and Jonah Christopher, born January 11 2012.
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