Garth Brooks is a renowned and respected American country singer and songwriter who is recognized as the best-selling solo artist in American history. He has sold over 148 million albums domestically and over 200 million albums worldwide. He is the only artist in history to have released six albums certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), ahead of Elvis Presley and behind The Beatles. His notable Diamond-certified albums include “Garth Brooks”, “No Fences”, and “Double Live”.
Brooks has gained immense popularity around the world, including the United States, thanks to several multi-platinum albums and record-breaking live performances. During his career, he has earned numerous awards, including Grammy Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards. He was also named the best-selling solo album artist of the century in the U.S. by the RIAA.
Short Info
Full Name: | Troy Garth Brooks |
Profession: | American country singer and songwriter |
Rise to fame: | First Album “Garth Brooks” |
Historical First: | Six albums certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) |
Date of Birth: | February 7, 1962, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. |
Age: | 62 Years |
Height: | 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm) |
Education: | Master of bussiness Administration from Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
District Represented: | South Carolina’s 1st congressional district (including Charleston to Hilton Head Island) |
Early life and Family Background
Garth Brooks’ real name is Troy Garth Brooks. He was born on February 7, 1962, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Troy Raymond Brooks Jr. and Colleen McElroy Carroll. His father worked as a draughtsman for an oil company, while his mother was a 1950s country singer who recorded for Capitol Records and appeared on the television show “Ozark Jubilee.”
Brooks is the youngest of six siblings. He has four older half-siblings: Jim Smittle, Jerry Jerome Smittle, Mike Brooks, and Betsy Smittle. Betsy was also a musician and played in Brooks’ band for a time before her death in 2013.
Garth grew up in an affluent family. His parents often held musical talent shows at home where all the children participated by singing or pretending. This environment developed his early interest in music. He learned to play both guitar and banjo from his mother. Brooks initially focused more on athletics during his high school years, including football, baseball, and track and field.
Educational background
Brooks attended Oklahoma State University (OSU) via a track scholarship, where he went on to be a professional javelin thrower. During his college years, Brooks began performing at local bars and clubs. He began playing at Willie’s Saloon in Stillwater, where he quickly realised he could make money with music. He graduated from OSU in 1984 with a degree in advertising and later returned to complete his MBA in 2011.
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Career Highlights
After graduating in 1987, Garth Brooks moved to Nashville with aspirations of becoming a country singer, where he initially struggled to secure a record deal while working various jobs, including managing a cowboy boot store.
His early attempts were met with rejection from various record labels. Disappointed, he returned to Oklahoma soon after arriving in Nashville, but eventually made another attempt in 1988. This time, he performed at the Bluebird Café, where he caught the attention of a Capitol Records executive who had previously rejected him. This performance led to his contract with Capitol Records later that same year.
Debut album
Brooks’ first album, simply titled “Garth Brooks,” was released on April 12, 1989, through the label “Capitol Nashville”. This self-titled debut marked an important milestone in country music and helped launch Brooks’s illustrious career.
The album features a collection of ten tracks that reflect Brooks’ blend of traditional country music and contemporary elements. It includes his debut single, “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old),” which peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard country chart, and two number-one hits: “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and “The Dance.” The latter was particularly notable, winning ACM Song of the Year in 1991.
The album was certified Diamond by the RIAA for sales of over 10 million units in the United States, underscoring its commercial success. – It reached number 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Garth Brooks’ debut album not only launched his career but also left a lasting impact on the country music genre, setting the stage for his future successes.
Subsequent success
Following his debut album, Brooks released his second album, “No Fences,” in 1990. The album became a huge hit, selling over 17 million copies and producing several number-one singles, including “Friends in Low Places” and “When the Thunder Rolls.” His third album, “Ropin’ the Wind,” released in 1991, made history as the first country album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. Released on September 14, 1992, “The Chase” is Garth Brooks’ fourth studio album to debut at number one on both the Billboard 200 and Top Country Albums charts, marking his continued dominance in the music industry. The album sold 403,000 copies in its first week and has since been certified Diamond by the RIAA, indicating that over 10 million units have been sold. The album’s singles “Somewhere Other Than the Night” and “That Summer” both reached number one on the Hot Country Songs charts.
Awards and Achievements
Garth Brooks is a monumental figure in country music, known for his extensive career and numerous awards. Below is a detailed account of his awards and accomplishments.
Award Type | Wins | Nominations |
Grammy Awards | 2 | 13 |
American Music Awards | 17 | 24 |
Academy of Country Music | 22 | 47 |
Country Music Association | 11 | Numerous |
Billboard Music Awards | 36 | Various |
Special Recognitions
- Country Music Hall of Fame Induction 2012.
- Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction 2011.
- Brooks was awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021 for his contributions to American culture through music.
- Garth Brooks received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in 2020. He became the youngest recipient of this honour.
- Brooks has sold over 162 million albums, making him the best-selling solo artist in U.S. history according to the RIAA.
- Brooks is also known for having seven Diamond Award albums, a record surpassed by the Beatles.
Tours and Performances
Garth Brooks has performed several notable concert tours since beginning his career in 1991. They are detailed below:
- Ropin’ the Wind Tour (1991–1992): This was Garth Brooks’ first headlining tour which ran from February 1, 1991 to December 12, 1992. It included performances across the United States and also featured a televised concert special.
- Garth Brooks World Tour (1993–1994): This was Garth Brooks’ second headlining tour and first world tour, supporting the album “In Pieces” and included shows in several countries, breaking attendance records at various venues. The tour ran from January 29, 1993 to October 8, 1994.
- Garth Brooks World Tour (1996–1998): Garth Brooks’ third tour began on March 12, 1996, and lasted until November 22, 1998. This was one of the highest-grossing tours of the decade.
- Garth Brooks World Tour (2014–2017): Garth Brooks’ fourth tour began on September 4, 2014, and lasted until December 23, 2017. This was Brooks’ significant world tour after a long hiatus which began in Chicago, Illinois. This tour was particularly notable as this tour was Garth Brooks’ first tour in 13 years, in which he rejuvenated his presence in the live music scene after focusing on family and other projects. Brooks’ tour was extremely successful, with the Garth Brooks World Tour with Trisha Yearwood selling over 6.3 million tickets, making it one of the biggest tours in North American history. Brooks’ return to the stage not only confirmed his status as a leading figure in country music, but also demonstrated his ability to draw massive crowds even after years away from touring.
- Garth Brooks Stadium Tour (2018–2022): Brooks’ fifth tour began on October 20, 2018, and lasted on September 17, 2022. The tour kicked off at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, also known as the “Stadium Tour”.
Upcoming Concerts
Garth Brooks will perform several shows in Las Vegas in October 2024 and early 2025. Here are some key dates:
- October 3, 2024
- October 5, 2024
- October 6, 2024
- October 10, 2024
- October 12, 2024
- February 21 to March 9, 2025
Net worth
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Garth Brooks and his wife Tricia Yearwood have a net worth estimated at $400 million. He is one of the world’s best-selling artists (singer). His main source of income is based on his music career, successful tours, and business ventures. He earned more than $364 million during his 2014-2017 “Garth Brooks World Tour.” Between June 2017 and June 2018, Brooks earned $45 million.
Brooks also owns homes in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as Nashville, Tennessee and Malibu, California. In 2019, the couple were rumoured to have purchased the Layby Hotel on Anna Maria Island, Florida, for $8.825 million. Yearwood listed her Nashville home for sale in May 2023 for $4.5 million.
Personal life
Garth Brooks has been married twice. His first marriage was to Sandy Mahl on May 24, 1986. The couple has three daughters: Taylor Mayne Pearl (born 1992), August Anna (born 1994), and Allie Colleen (born 1996).
Brooks first met Sandy while attending Oklahoma State University. However, they separated in March 1999 due to irreconcilable differences arising from the pressures of Brooks’ growing music career and eventually divorced on December 17, 2001 after 15 years together. The couple’s divorce settlement was remarkably substantial, with Sandy receiving $125 million, making it one of the most expensive in celebrity history.
Brooks married fellow country music star Tricia Yearwood for the second time on December 10, 2005. They first met during a recording session in 1987 and became friends and then married. Yearwood has been a loving stepmother to Brooks’ daughters, who she treats like her own.
Philanthropy Works
Brooks and his wife, fellow country singer Trisha Yearwood, have been heavily involved in charitable work. They co-founded “Teammates for Kids,” an organisation that partners with professional athletes to provide financial support to children’s health, education, and inner-city outreach programs. Over the years, the foundation has raised millions of dollars for a variety of causes, showing that Brooks’ wealth has often gone to helping those in need.
Recent News
According to CNN, Garth Brooks has recently been accused of sexual harassment and assault by a woman named “Jane Roe”. In the lawsuit, Jane Roe claims that she worked as Brooks’ hairstylist and makeup artist between 2017 and 2021. During this time, Brooks raped her.
Brooks has publicly denied these allegations, saying they are false and part of an effort to extort money from him after refusing to hire him as a salaried employee or provide him with medical benefits. He has described the legal actions against him as attempts to tarnish his reputation and has filed his own suit against them.
Legacy and influence
Garth Brooks’ impact on the music industry goes far beyond sales and records. He has been a pioneer in pushing the boundaries of country music, infusing it with elements of rock and pop in a way that has attracted a wide audience. His ability to connect with his fans, combined with his down-to-earth personality, has made him a beloved figure both within and outside the country music world.