Born Troyal Garth Brooks, future country icon and Oklahoma native Garth Brooks inherited his love of music from his mother Colleen, who was an artist on Capitol Records in the 1950s. He attended Oklahoma State University on a track scholarship and graduated with a degree in advertising before leaving for Nashville to pursue country music. His first move to Music City was short, but his second, in 1987, with his then-wife Sandy, was permanent. Brooks released his self-titled debut album in 1989 and found instant success: 'Garth Brooks' peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart; all four singles made it to the Top 10, with two hitting No. 1; and the album has since been certified diamond by the RIAA. Brooks dominated the country music industry in the 1990s, becoming the second-best-selling solo artist of the 20th century, winning countless awards and notching plenty of hit singles and No. 1 albums, before "retiring" in 2001 to devote his time to being a father to his three daughters. In 2005, Brooks married Trisha Yearwood, and in 2014, he returned to country music with a world tour and new album, 'Man Against Machine'.
- Birthday: February 7, 1962
- Did You Know …: Brooks wishes that “Alabama Clay,” from his debut album, had been released as a single.
- Required Reading: Top 10 Garth Brooks Songs, Top 10 Garth Brooks Cover Songs, You Think You Know Garth Brooks?, Unforgettable Garth Brooks Moments, Unforgettable Garth Brooks Comeback Moments, 25 Little-Known Tidbits About Country Icon Garth Brooks, Garth Brooks’ Wackiest Shirts