Rimes reportedly told a representative of Global Entertainment that she’d like to return to Yuma, but “would prefer to perform in a controlled environment with the dust and wind and overhead airplane noise – a place like the proposed multi-purpose events center,” according to the Yuma Sun.

The singer recently headlined a fundraiser for the Yuma Regional Medical Center at the county fairgrounds.

Facility management company Global Entertainment would develop the proposed 6,000-seat, $53 million venue with the financial backing of the city should the proposal pass.

But despite the high profile pitch, the measure was failing by about 1,300 votes at press time, with some 9,000 absentee and provisional ballots remaining to be counted.