Regina Regina

In 1996 James Stroud, president of the label that signed them, christened the polished country duo Regina Regina “the Thelma and Louise of country music.” Regina Leigh, born 29 March 1968, and Regina Nicks had each been eyeing solo paths when Stroud first heard of them. Leigh had spent three years providing backing vocals for Reba McEntire, while Nicks served as personal assistant to both McEntire and her husband. The pair only joined forces after an impromptu lunch-hour encounter in producer Willy Wilson’s office, where they harmonized on “Amazing Grace.” Speaking to Billboard that same year, they recalled, “we never looked back.” Wilson promptly sent Stroud a cassette; the executive was struck by how seamlessly the two women locked into identical phrasing, pitch, and blend—so much so that he mistook them for sisters. Recording sessions for their first album began in March 1996 and drew on songs penned by Gary Burr/Tom Shapiro, Patty Smythe, and Tia Sellers. Leigh noted that the chosen material consisted of “strong women’s songs. They’re songs that women can identify with.” One programmer quipped that “Brooks And Dunn may have competition in the duo category now,” yet critical reaction to the finished album proved uneven.