Lari White was best known as a country singer-songwriter who scored a string of hits in the ’90s, but did you know she also had an acting career? White even appeared in one of Tom Hanks’ most iconic films.
The singer took acting lessons early on in her career to learn how to best present herself onstage, and after the peak of her success as a country singer, she parlayed that into several roles in movies and even on Broadway. In 2000 she played a small, but impactful role opposite Hanks in Cast Away, directed by Robert Zemeckis. White turns up in the final scene of the film, rolling up in a pickup truck and offering Hanks’ character directions as he comes to a literal crossroads in his life.
White had a long and diverse career in country music that was highlighted by the success of her sophomore album, Wishes, in 1994. She landed three Top 10 hits from that project with “That’s My Baby,” “Now I Know,” and “That’s How You Know (When You’re in Love).” Wishes was also certified gold after selling more than 500,000 copies.
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White’s music career encompassed mainstream country, bluegrass and gospel, and she contributed to three Grammy Award-winning projects; two volumes of Amazing Grace: A Salute to Country Gospel and the soundtrack for the film The Apostle took home Grammys for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album.
The entertainer’s acting career also included appearances in Country Strong in 2010 and a stint as an original cast member of the Broadway musical Ring of Fire in 2006. She debuted a cabaret production, My First Affair, in 2007.
In Novmber of 2017, White revealed she had been diagnosed with advanced peritoneal cancer in a post to the ArtistsBlog website, and on Jan. 19 her mother announced she had entered hospice care. The beloved singer died on Tuesday (Jan. 23), surrounded by her family at home, and her mother shared her final hours with fans in another post online.
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This Article Was Originally Posted at www.TasteofCountry.com
