Meet Kim Carnes [PHOTOS, VIDEOS]

Kim Carnes was born July 20th, 1945, in Hollywood California! She is a singer, and a songwriter. This two-time Grammy Award winner's songs  have been sung by the likes of Barbra Streisand and Kenny Rogers, and many country artists. Some have called her the Female Rod Stewart, due to her distinctive, raspy voice.

As a teenager, Kim Carnes and a school friend formed a duo, and knocked on the doors of Hollywood record companies! After a few more years of trying, Kim Carnes joined The New Christy Minstrels in 1966, along with Kenny Rogers.

She signed a song-publishing deal in 1969, embarking on an additional career as a professional song writer. In the early 1970s, she and her husband Dave Ellingson co-wrote songs with David Cassidy (at the height of his career).  Carnes can be heard singing backup on several Cassidy recordings.

So, Kim Carnes songs were being recorded by other artists first...all the while, she was biding her time, singing her songs as demos that would eventually become her own first album.

Carnes patiently waited for her own first hit...

Kim Carnes' first solo album, "Rest On Me," came out in 1972.  A self-titled 1975 album spawned that first chart hit: "You're A Part Of Me."  The song reached #32 on the Adult Contemporary Charts (it did not appear on the Top-40 chart).

Her Top-40 breakthrough came in 1978, when she sang a duet of "You're A Part Of Me" with Gene Cotton. The song hit #36 on the Top-40 chart.

Kim Carnes' 1980 duet with Kenny Rogers, "Don't Fall In Love With A Dreamer," was a major hit: #4 on the Top-40, a #3 song on the Country charts, and #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts!

Later in 1980, she scored her first solo Top-10 hit, when Kim Carnes sang a remake of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles "More Love."

"More Love" went to #10.

Then came the song that Kim Carnes is best know for: "Bette Davis Eyes."

The song, co-written by 1960s artist Jackie DeShannon, spent 9 weeks at #1!

Bette Davis admitted to being a fan of the song...and Carnes and the screen legend were friends until Davis died in 1989!

Kim Carnes landed in the Top-15 two more times in the 1980s: "What About Me" (#15/1984)  with Kenny Rogers and James Ingam.

And "Crazy In The Night" (#15/1985).

And, she was a part of the all-star chorus on USA For Africa's "We Are The World" famine relief, charity single in 1985!

Kim Carnes continues to write music. She tours throughout America, Europe and South America.

She lives in Nashville, with husband Dave Ellingson.  She has 2 sons: Collin and Ry.

What is Kim Carnes up to now? Visit her official website by clicking here!