Early Life

Garth Brooks was born on February 7, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His father, Troyal Raymond Brooks, was a draftsman for an oil company. His mother, Colleen Carroll, was a country singer. Brooks has an older sister Kelly and four older half-siblings (Jim, Jerry, Mike, and Betsy). From an early age, Brooks was exposed to country music. Brooks began singing in talent contests when he was a teenager. He also worked as a bouncer at a local bar. In 1984, he graduated from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with a degree in advertising.

Personal Life

In 2005, Brooks married his third wife, country singer Trisha Yearwood. The couple had first met in 1987 when they were both touring. They began dating in 2005 and got married that same year. Brooks has three daughters: Taylor Mayne Pearl (born 1992), August Anna (born 1994), and Allie Colleen (born 1996).  He also has a granddaughter Karalynn, born in 2013. His first marriage was to Sandy Mahl from 1986 to 2001.

Career

In 1989, Brooks released his self-titled debut album Garth Brooks (diamond). The album was a critical and commercial success. His second album, 1990’s No Fences (17× platinum) was even more successful, topping the country charts and selling over 17 million copies.

In 1991, Brooks released his third album, Ropin’ the Wind. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for 14 weeks, making it Brooks’ first album to top the chart. The album was eventually certified 14× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

In 1992, Brooks released their first Christmas album, Beyond the Season. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number two on the Billboard 200.

In September 1993, Brooks released his fifth album, The Chase. The album was another critical and commercial success, reaching the top of the Billboard 200 chart and becoming his fourth album to be certified diamond. The album’s first single, “We Shall Be Free”, became one of Brooks’ most political songs, as it spoke out against racism and intolerance.

Garth Brooks’ sixth studio album, In Pieces, was released in August 1993. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and stayed there for four weeks. It eventually went on to be certified diamond by the RIAA for selling over ten million copies in the United States.

In November 1995, Brooks released Fresh Horses, his first album of new material in two years. The album was met with a lukewarm response from critics, many of whom found Brooks’ new musical direction unfocused. However, fans enthusiastically embraced the album, with the lead single “She’s Every Woman” reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and helping the album go platinum four times.

In 1997, Garth Brooks released his first album in two years, Sevens. The record was a commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard 200 and selling over 10 million copies in the United States.

In 1999, Brooks took on a new alter ego with the release of In The Life of Chris Gaines, a collection of songs recorded by a fictional character named Chris Gaines. The album was intended to be a soundtrack for an upcoming movie about the character’s life, but the film was ultimately shelved. Brooks himself appeared as Gaines on Saturday Night Live and in a mockumentary, but the project was generally panned by critics and fans alike.

Despite the commercial failure of In The Life of Chris Gaines, Brooks continued to find success with his music. He released a holiday album called Garth Brooks and the Magic of Christmas in November 1999, which went on to become one of the best-selling holiday albums of all time.

Garth Brooks announced he was coming out of retirement and released his album Scarecrow in 2001. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The album included the singles “Why Ain’t I Running,” Beer Run (B-Double E-Double Are You In?),” and “Wrapped Up in You.”

In 2014, Brooks announced he was coming out of retirement and embarking on a world tour. His first album in 13 years, Man Against Machine, was released later that year and debuted at number four on the Billboard 200. The album’s lead single, “People Loving People”, peaked at number 19 on the Country Airplay chart. In December of that year, Brooks embarked on his world tour, playing in nine countries across Europe and North America.

In 2016, Brooks released a Christmas album with his wife, Trisha Yearwood, titled Christmas Together. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. The same year, Brooks released a new album titled Gunslinger. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, making it his 23rd top 10 albums. In 2020, Brooks released a new album called Fun.

Discography

Awards and Records

Garth Brooks is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. He has released multiple albums that have gone platinum or multi-platinum, and his live performances are legendary. He has won numerous awards, including 22 Academy of Country Music Awards and 2 Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012. In 2019, he was named Artist of the Decade by the ACM.