LeAnn Rimes has been touring almost constantly this year.

The country singer performs around the country on weekends and spends the week with her family and friends.

But rarely does she perform a three-day stand with a symphony, like she will on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with the Omaha Symphony.

Rimes is excited for the change of pace.

"I don't get to do it all the time," she said. "It's great to have that kind of energy backing you. It's beautiful and I love doing it."

Intimate acoustic moments will be peppered among big numbers including the symphony, Rimes said, and she'll sing songs from her new covers album as well as her old hits such as "How Do I Live."

"Lady and Gentlemen," Rimes' latest record, is an album of classic covers originally sung by men.

George Jones, Merle Haggard and John Anderson were all artists that her father listened to while she grew up. Songs from all are featured on the album, including "He Stopped Loving Her Today," "Swingin'" and "The Bottle Let Me Down."

"That kind of country music is a lost art. It's kind of sad to me," she said. "I picked these classic songs and really made them my own."

Anderson, Haggard, Jones, Kris Kristofferson and others have all voiced their approval, which she said was touching.

"These guys don't have to say anything really, but it's truly an honor to have their stamp of approval," Rimes said. "They've been really touched and moved by the work we've done on this album."

Contact the writer:

402-444-1557, kevin.coffey@owh.com

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