Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks
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Name	Garth Brooks
Caption	Brooks performing in 2019
Birth name	Troyal Garth Brooks
Birth date	7 February 1962
Birth place	Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genre	Country, country pop, country rock
Occupation	Singer, songwriter
Years active	1984–present
Label	Capitol, Liberty, Pearl Records, Big Machine
Spouse	Sandy Mahl (m. 1986; div. 2001), Trisha Yearwood (m. 2005)

Garth Brooks is an American country music singer and songwriter. His integration of rock and pop elements into the country music genre has made him one of the most successful artists in music history. Since his debut in the late 1980s, he has broken records for both sales and concert attendance, becoming a pivotal figure in popular culture.

Early life and education

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he was the youngest child of Colleen and Raymond Brooks, a former Marine and oil company draftsman. He grew up in Yukon, Oklahoma, where he was a multi-sport athlete, earning a track and field scholarship to Oklahoma State University. While at university, he performed in local Stillwater clubs and bars, graduating in 1984 with a degree in advertising.

Musical career

After moving to Nashville in 1987, he signed with Capitol Records and released his self-titled debut album in 1989. His second album, No Fences (1990), became a massive commercial breakthrough, featuring hits like "Friends in Low Places" and "The Thunder Rolls". This success established his signature sound, which blended traditional country music with the energy of arena rock and the production of pop music. Subsequent albums like Ropin' the Wind (1991) and The Chase (1992) debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, a rare feat for a country artist at the time. His innovative world tours in the 1990s, often featuring elaborate stage designs, set new benchmarks for live entertainment. After a semi-retirement in the early 2000s, he launched a successful residency in Las Vegas and later embarked on massive stadium tours, including the Garth Brooks Stadium Tour, which broke attendance records at venues like Croke Park in Dublin and Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Business ventures and philanthropy

Beyond music, he co-founded GhostTunes, a digital music store that later evolved into the Amazon Music platform. He is also a part-owner of the Nashville Sounds, a Minor League Baseball team. His philanthropic efforts are channeled primarily through his Teammates for Kids Foundation, which supports children's health and educational causes. He has been a major fundraiser for organizations like Feeding America and disaster relief efforts following events such as Hurricane Katrina.

Personal life

He was married to songwriter Sandy Mahl from 1986 to 2001; they have three daughters together. In 2005, he married fellow country music superstar Trisha Yearwood in a ceremony at their home in Owasso, Oklahoma. The couple has collaborated musically, including on the joint album Christmas Together and a concurrent world tour. He is an avid fan of Major League Baseball, particularly the New York Mets and the Kansas City Royals, and is a licensed FAA pilot.

Discography and achievements

His major studio albums include Garth Brooks (1989), No Fences (1990), Ropin' the Wind (1991), The Chase (1992), In Pieces (1993), and Fresh Horses (1995). He is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with RIAA certifying him as the top-selling solo artist in U.S. history. Among his numerous accolades are two Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, and induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. In 2020, he received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Category:American country singers Category:American country songwriters Category:21st-century American singers