4 Country Stars of the 90s Who Disappeared (And What They’re Doing Now)

There is nothing quite like the 1990s/early 2000s era of country music. It was one heck of a time, particularly for country-pop stars. With so many hits and stars to come out of that era, it isn’t exactly surprising that a few musicians who made it big during the 1990s have more or less disappeared. Let’s look at four country stars from the 90s who disappeared, and what they’ve been up to since their heyday.

1. LeAnn Rimes

For a hot minute, LeAnn Rimes was the it-girl of country music in the 1990s. She went on to experiment with pop music and even Christian pop music for a minute, too. However, you don’t hear much from Rimes nowadays. Where’s she been?

Sadly, Rimes was a victim of the early 2000s era of tabloid life-tarnishing. She also had to sue her own father for (allegedly) stealing millions of dollars from her after her debut record was released. The matter was settled out of court in the early 2000s. Sad stories aside, Rimes seems to be doing well for herself nowadays. She won The Masked Singer in 2020, and released her country spiritual album God’s Work in 2022.

2. Shenandoah

Country stars from the 90s have come and gone, but Shenandoah is as eternal as it gets. This country outfit made it big in the late 1980s and early 1990s with hits like “Next To You, Next To Me” and “If Bubba Can Dance (I Can Too)”. Sadly, the band split up in 1997.

Thankfully, the band got back together a few years later. They’re still together today. Shenandoah’s most recent album release was Every Road from 2020. In 2023, they re-recorded “Two Dozen Roses” with some help from Luke Combs, and it topped the iTunes country charts.

3. Lila McCann

Remember Lila McCann? Back in the 1990s, she was a teen country sensation with songs like “Down Came A Blackbird” and “I Wanna Fall In Love”. After the 2000s wrapped up, McCann more or less disappeared.

McCann had to decide whether she would continue with her music career or pursue higher education. She chose the latter.

“I had the opportunity four years ago to go out and tour with the first record or stay in school,” said McCann in a now-deleted MTV archive interview. “I chose to stay in school and finish with my schooling. I’m really glad I did.”

McCann returned to music with her 2017 record Paint This Town. She’s since come out, gotten married, and has worked in both real estate and photography.

4. Ricky Van Shelton

Ricky Van Shelton is another unfortunate example of country stars from the 90s who left music completely. Van Shelton is known for hits like “I’ve Cried My Last Tear” and “I Am A Simple Man”. He even worked with Dolly Parton for the hit “Rockin’ Years”. He has four albums under his belt that have gone certified platinum.

So, what happened to Van Shelton? Sadly, this country star struggled with addiction and made the brave choice to pursue recovery and spend more time with his family. He announced his retirement from music in 2006. Today, he appears to be sober, a licensed pilot, and even an avid cattle-raiser.

Photo by Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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