Lari Michele White Cannon, an American country musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress, was born on May 13, 1965, in Dunedin, Florida, and passed away on January 23, 2018, due to peritoneal cancer. Her journey in music took off in 1988 after winning You Can Be a Star, leading to her signing with RCA Records Nashville in 1993. Lari White released impactful albums during her tenure with RCA, including Lead Me Not, Wishes, Don't Fence Me In, and a compilation, The Best of Lari White. Wishes emerged as her most successful project, achieving gold certification and producing three top-ten Billboard Hot Country Songs hits: "That's My Baby", "Now I Know", and "That's How You Know (When You're in Love)". In 1998, she became the inaugural artist signed to Lyric Street Records, releasing Stepping Stone before venturing into independent productions. Besides her solo work, Lari White produced music for notable artists like Toby Keith and Billy Dean and penned songs for Tammy Wynette, Travis Tritt, Danny Gokey, and Sarah Buxton. Her acting career included roles in the television pilot XXX's and OOO's, the movie Cast Away, and her cabaret production My First Affair. Lari White's musical style blended country with blues and contemporary R&B, showcasing her versatile vocal delivery and broad musical influences.
