Country music often highlights the real-life highs and lows that people experience on a day-to-day basis. And perhaps no other artist has lived out the struggles that can make up a country song’s lyrics more than the late Mindy McCready.
The Story Of Country Singer Mindy McCready
Born in Fort Myers, Florida, on November 30, 1975, McCready (Malinda Gayle McCready) was the daughter of parents Melody Gayle Inge and Tim McCready. Although she grew up in a broken family, her love of music began at age three when she started singing in church. McCready’s passion for music continued into her high school years, and when she was old enough, she decided to move to Nashville, Tenn., where she caught the attention of labels and signed on to BNA Records.
The blond bombshell’s rise to fame came shortly after her move in 2006, with the release of her debut album, Ten Thousand Angels. The 10-track project garnered favorable success, producing four singles, selling two million copies, and earning McCready multi-platinum recognition by the RIAA (The Recording Industry Association of America).
The album’s title track was McCready’s first entry on the charts. But it was her unapologetic and sassy single, “Guys Do It All the Time,” which landed her the status of being country music’s newest female sensation. Written by Bobby Whiteside and Kim Tribble, the song landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. McCready never replicated that success with any of her follow-up singles, but she did score a Top 10 hit with her fourth release, “A Girl’s Gotta Do (What a Girl’s Gotta Do).”
How Many Albums Did McCready Release?
Over the course of her career, McCready released five studio albums. They include 1996’s Ten Thousand Angels, 1997’s If I Don’t Stay the Night, 1999’s I’m Not So Tough, 2002’s self-titled album, and 2010’s I’m Still Here. As she continued to record new music, McCready’s sales only plummeted with each new release, and she moved labels before trying her hand at reality TV.
Decades Of Legal Battles And A Chaotic Lifestyle
Despite an early rise to fame and the potential of a promising career – and a short-lived engagement to Superman actor Dean Cain — the talented McCready’s story would end in tragedy. She would go on to face more than a decade of legal battles that went hand in hand with a chaotic lifestyle that included drug and alcohol abuse, a tumultuous romance, jail time, and a series of suicide attempts – all of which derailed her from having any opportunity of a future in country music.
2002 was the beginning of McCready’s downward spiral following the release of her self-titled album, which tanked and ended her deal with Capitol Records. She served time for various charges ranging from using a fake drug prescription to identity fraud to parole violations and more.
Appeared On Celebrity Rehab After Splitting From Billy McKnight
In 2005, McCready’s then-boyfriend, aspiring singer Billy McKnight, was charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to kill her inside her home. Although McCready had been beaten by McKnight, the Floridian returned to her abuser and became pregnant with the couple’s first child, a son named Zander, who was born in 2006.
In an attempt to turn her life around and revitalize her career, McCreedy eventually split from McKnight and joined the cast of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2009. The show chronicled her story and followed her journey as she tried to get clean.
Released Her Final Album I’m Still Here In March of 2010
That following year, McCready capitalized on the success of her TV show role with the release of her final album, I’m Still Here.
However, problems continued to plague her when, after a visit, she failed to return her 5-year-old son, Zander, back to his grandmother, who had custody of the child. McCready had violated court orders after taking Zander from Florida to Arkansas, which resulted in the filing of a missing person’s report.
Amid the custody battle with her mother regarding her son, McCready revealed she was pregnant with twins. However, the troubled singer wasn’t expecting twins but instead gave birth to her second son, Zayne, whom she shared with her boyfriend David Wilson.
The Tragic Death Of Mindy McCready
In 2012, McCready won custody of her eldest son, and she and her family resided in Arkansas. But the good news didn’t last very long. In 2013, Wilson was found dead outside of the couple’s home from an apparent suicide. A month later, McCready was found dead on the front porch of the same home that she and Wilson shared.
McCready died on February 17, 2013, at the age of 37, a victim of an apparent suicide. According to reports, she died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside her home in Heber Springs. She leaves behind her two young sons. At the time of her passing, McCready, who was buried at Alva Cemetery in Florida, was working on a song called “I’ll See You Yesterday” — a tune sent to her by a fan, which was released on the day after her death.
