Annie Sims hails from the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennesee, where she began singing in public at the ripe old age of three! Her capacity to emote through song always made the little old ladies cry when she sang “America the Beautiful” and laugh at her rendition of “Old Miss Mitchell.”
She began piano lessons at age six and acting in musicals at age eight. She continued performing in concerts, musicals, recitals and plays through her high school years, and went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music Education from the University of Tenneseee with piano as her major instrument.
After graduation, Annie began earning her living as a piano bar entertainer, first in Knoxville, then onboard cruise ships and in Europe. She traveled for four years before marrying her husband and producer, Greg Sims. Together they settled in Orlando, Florida, where Annie performed at Walt Disney World for ten years. She recorded her first CD, a collection of solo piano and vocal music, for Disney guests to take home as souvenirs.
The favorable response to Annie’s first CD landed her a personal manager in England which led to two fully-produced country CDs in Nashville and two month-long UK tours. She and Greg performed in such hallowed venues as Dublin National Concert Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and the London Palladium. Several songs were released as radio singles and her recording of “Eighty Acres of Stars” garnered Annie a DisCovery Award from Music Row Magazine, received airplay across the U.S., and remained in Music Choice Americana’s Top Ten for three months. The video was broadcast on CMT’s Pure Country and various other outlets.
Annie and Greg moved to Nashville shortly thereafter, where they recorded a compilation of self-penned inspirational songs. This led to a five-week European tour, providing music for best-selling author of Conversations With God, Neale Donald Walsch, at his workshops and lectures. The CD, titled “Go Within,” was awarded a Positive Music Association Seal of Excellence, and a follow-up single, “Center of the Heart,” won a Posi Award from emPower Music and Arts.
Annie’s work with Walsch brought her full-circle, back to her acting roots. She played the role of Truvy in his summer 2013 production of Steel Magnolias in Southern Oregon. Upon her return to Nashville, she starred as Mary in renowned celebrity photographer Raeanne Rubenstein’s original romantic comedy short, “Mary & Albert,” which won the Audience Choice Award at its premiere at Nashville’s ArtLightenment Art & Film Festival.
Annie and Greg relocated to Hollywood immediately following, where she quickly earned her SAG card by appearing in numerous film and television projects, including the leading role in an episode of “Justice With Judge Mablean.” In addition to her acting, Annie currently plays and sings Christine McVie’s parts in LA’s hottest new Fleetwood Mac tribute band, “Twisted Gypsy.”
