Mindy McCready (Malinda Gayle McCready ) was born on November 30, 1975, Fort Myers, Florida) is an American country music artist.

McCready began singing in church at age 3, She graduated from high school at the age of 16 with the intention of beginning her music career early.

When she was 18, she moved to Nashville, where she was signed by RLG Records. Her debut album, Ten Thousand Angels, was released on April 30, 1996, and was certified gold six months later.

The album gave her international fame and produced her two biggest hits, "Ten Thousand Angels" and "Guys Do It All The Time". McCready also appears with Lorrie Morgan, Sara Evans, and Martina McBride on CMT's Girl’s Night Out special.

Mindy then released the next year "If I Don't Stay The Night." It spawned 3 singles, "What If I Do", "Other Side Of This Kiss", and "You'll Never Know." Overseas "O Romeo" was released. None were very successful. Still the album sold over 500,000 copies, and went Gold. In 1999 McCready released "I'm Not So Tough."

In April of 2000, she was signed by Capitol Records. She released a self-titled album with Capitol in 2002 to disappointing sales, and was dropped by Capitol later that year.

McCready was once engaged to actor Dean Cain. In 2005 she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and spoke of her problems with domestic abuse, depression, and drug abuse.

Mindy McCready admitted her ex-boyfriend Billy McKnight had beat her frequently and they had a tumultuous relationship, and that she had tried to commit suicide.