PrideFest announces LeAnn Rimes, Chely Wright June 10 (vids)

PrideFest 2011 takes a Country & Western turn when LeAnn Rimes with special guest star Chely Wright take the Miller Stage Sunday, June 12 at 7 p.m.

LeAnn Rimes

Recently put on the fashion A-List, Rimes was named Best Dressed at 53rd Annual Grammy® Awards according to InStyle Magazine. She was wearing a softly-draped Reem Acra dress.

LeAnn appears as a big city girl who returns to her small town roots in an emergency. The romantic-comedy “Reel Love” is set to air this September on CMT.

Rimes has sold over 37 million albums, won 2 Grammy® Awards, and was the youngest winner in Grammy® history to take the music industry award. LeAnn was the 1st c$ountry recording artist to take the new Grammy® “Best New Artist” category.

LeAnn has also won 3 Academy of Country Music Awards, 12 Billboard Awards and placed 42 singles on the Billboard Hot Country charts; 13 of those songs are top-10 hits. “Can't Fight The Moonlight” went to #1 and “How Do I Live” is the second longest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Rimes has a forthcoming album “Lady & Gentleman” which is reportedly an interpretive album with men's songs such as “Swingin' ” and the original new song “Crazy Women.”

Chely Wright

The crossover country singer announced last year that she was gay. She was recently honored in New York by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), with their Annual Respect Awards which highlights people that have made a difference in supporting diversity.

Wright and Cyndi Lauper were honorees at the recent Outmusic Awards at Irving Plaza in New York City. Even though Chely was ostricized by some of the music industry, she's been victorious over sterotypes and still proves that we all have a place in this world and that talent makes the artist, not sexual orientation.

Milwaukee's PrideFest 2011

Since 1974, PrideFest has been about diversity and gay pride. The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) communities welcome everyone to the 3 day celebration.

There is no age limit and absolutely no one is discriminated against.Held at the Henry Maier Festival Park on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan, PrideFest is a time of celebration, rememberance and a common ground for people of all races, religions and creeds.

This year the line-up is going to be nothing short of amazing. Comedienne Mo'nique appears Friday evening June 10 at 7 p.m. on the Miller Stage. Reserved seating is still available. And the hot pop sounds of Salt-n-Pepa “push it real good” on the same stage Saturday night, June 11 at 7 p.m.

Watch “Moonlight” video

Watch “How Do I Live” video

Watch "Shut Up" video

Watch Mo'nique videoWatch “Sex Talk” video

Dustin Alexander, a Chicago native, has been involved in broadcast and print journalism for over 20 years. His past work includes on-air news.