Mickie Laree James-Aldis is a world-renowned American professional wrestler, having won 11 World Championships in her 25+ year career as one of the preeminent performers in both WWE & TNA Impact Wrestling. As one of the most influential women in the history of pro wrestling, Mickie's Hall of Fame resume, both in & out of the ring has been honored as a multiple time Woman of the Year in Pro Wrestling Illustrated & an induction into the Cauliflower Alley Club in 2023.
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Mickie James has become a household name in professional wrestling and also the world of country music. Growing up in the state of Virginia, she was a tomboy who loved riding horses on her grandmother’s farm. Her love of the wrestling business was passed down to her by her father at a young age. She had dreams of being in the ring performing for fans all over the world and eventually she lived that dream. James began her professional wrestling career in 1999.
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After making her mark on wrestling's independent circuit she debuted on the national stage by working for Total Nonstop Action (TNA) in 2002. In 2003 she signed a developmental deal with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) where she trained in Louisville, Kentucky.
In October 2005, she made her on screen debut for WWE and would go on to win her first Women's Championship at WrestleMania 22 in Chicago after a very memorable feud with Trish Stratus. It is regarded by many WWE fans as one of the best women’s feuds in company history. Mickie’s WWE career saw her capture the Women's Title five times and the Divas Title once. Her combined six championships in WWE are second only to Stratus.
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In October of 2010, Mickie returned to TNA Wrestling. Her goal was to become the first woman to win WWE's Women's & Divas Titles as well as TNA's Knockouts Title. In April of 2011, she accomplished that goal by defeating Madison Rayne in a steel cage match to become TNA's Knockouts Champion. She went on to win TNA's Knockouts Title three times.
While Mickie's wrestling career continues, music has always been a passion for her as well.
"I had played the violin for five years in school. I would walk around the house with a boom box recording myself and give the tapes to my mom. I don't really get the chance to watch TV, so I listen to music all the time. I would write down the melodies in my head and the feelings I had in lyrical form."
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In 2009 she began to pursue her dream of recording a country music album. While on the road with WWE, Mickie would travel to Nashville on her days off to meet with producers, songwriters and vocal coaches to perfect her craft.
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In the spring of 2010, Mickie released her first album entitled Strangers and Angels. The eleven song album features three songs that Mickie co-wrote: "Hollywood Movie Moment," "No Good at Pretending" and "Don't Apologize." The first single released off the album is a fast paced, exciting track called "Are You With Me?"
How does she compare the two art forms? Mickie explains: "In the ring, fans see this kick-butt girl who is full of energy and full of life, someone who is ready to kick butt and take names. My music is like a whole other side of me that fans and people in general necessarily wouldn't know."
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Mickie's albums have received positive reviews from publications such as Country Weekly, CMA Magazine and led to TV appearances on Fox & Friends and Red Eye. Mickie has also shared the stage with other country music recording artists such as Rascal Flatts, Montgomery Gentry, Gretchen Wilson and Randy Houser among others. She's performed in concerts all over the world and also performed at the CMA Fest as well.
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After signing with TNA Wrestling in the fall of 2010, Mickie also released a single track that is also her entrance music: "Hardcore Country." How did that process come about? In Mickie's words: "Everything in wrestling seems to be hardcore, so to me it seemed too easy. They had talked to different people and they were looking at it from the country music side where you’ve never heard of Hardcore Country before. The more I listened to it they were right. It works. It’s a badass song."
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In May 2013, Mickie released her second album titled Somebody's Gonna Pay through Entertainment One Music. She wrote three of the songs on the album entitled Best Damn Night and 80 Proof. In addition to that, she also did a music video for the cover track Somebody's Gonna Pay that co-starred fellow professional wrestlers Trish Stratus and her husband Nick Aldis (Magnus).
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On September 25, 2014, Mickie gave birth to her son Donovan. Even with the extra responsibilities in her life, she continues to tour the world as a wrestler and singer.
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As a working mom, James continued with her music career by releasing the single "Shooting Blanks" in 2016 and “Left Right Left” with the Ying Yang Twins in 2018, which also included a music video.
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James also received a tremendous honor in October 2017 when she was inducted in the Native American Music Awards Hall of Fame. James also won the Nammy Award for Song of the Year for "Shooting Blanks."
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James also returned to WWE as a full-time talent in January 2017 after having an excellent NXT match with Asuka in November 2016. James has competed as part of WWE’s Raw and Smackdown programs while also taking part in history making matches such as the first ever women’s Royal Rumble and women’s Elimination Chamber matches.
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In 2021, Mickie was the Executive Producer of the All-Women's NWA Empowerrr pay-per-view and also became Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion to become a 10-time major wrestling champion. Mickie went on an inspirational run, dubbed, "The Last Rodeo" in 2022, putting her storied career on the line against some of the top women in the industry, leading to her 11th World Championship when she defeated "The Juggernaut" Jordynne Grace at TNA/Impact's Hard to Kill PPV in 2023.
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Continuing her mission of growing women's professional wrestling worldwide, Mickie followed up the critically acclaimed Empowerrr event with one of the top international cards of 2024, producing and performing on "HER" in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia as part of Starrcast Downunder.
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Mickie has this message for all her fans.
"To my fans I just want to say thank you for all of your support. I love you. Without you I wouldn’t be able to do what I do and do it on the stage that I do it. I am forever grateful."
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For all things Mickie James please explore everything we have here at MickieJames.com and you can also check out the Official Facebook Page, follow her on Twitter @MickieJames and check her out on Instagram @themickiejames as well.
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-- Written by John Canton & Tony Lorusso of MickieJames.com.