At the beginning of this year, LynnMarie was ready to throw in the towel and her squeeze box and refocus her energy away from her music. However, in February, her CD, "Squeeze Box" was nominated for a Grammy in the polka category. Although she didn't win, this experience has opened new opportunities of which she never dreamed. The Grammy nomination and the appearances on the Leno and Letterman shows have been significant turning points in her career. LynnMarie can still remember her father, Ludwig Hrovat's ability to walk into a room and make the audience come to life with his accordion music. Her father became a true inspiration for LynnMarie. She too wants to move audiences and change the mood, from a neutral or depressed one to an atmosphere of joy. LynnMarie wants to make people happy. She lights up the room while singing and playing the squeeze box. LynnMarie spent her free time during her growing up years at the Slovenian home (similar to a community hall) in Cleveland. Her father was the leader of the house band there. LynnMarie has fond memories of singing with the Slovenian Junior Chorus at age five and festivities filled with music, singing and dancing. She first had the opportunity to transform a typically uneventful, boring First Communion party into a festive occasion through her music. In high school, LynnMarie was a teen you could label, Miss High School. She was one who participated in all the school extracurricular activities such as being in plays, cheerleading, in addition to playing the button box. However, her first love was acting, and she was accepted to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. But LynnMarie's mother died of cancer during her senior year in high school. She changed her plans and decided to remain in Ohio to continue her education. LynnMarie, 36, has been married to Jim Rink for 15 years. He is supportive
of her and encourages her to do all that she does and be all that she
can be. In 1994, they moved from San Diego (where they had been living
for eight years working in the television industry) to Nashville. |