Garth Brooks

Garth Brooks, born in 1962, American singer and songwriter, one of the most popular performers in country music. His third album, Ropin' the Wind (1991), was the first country recording to become the best-selling popular album in the United States—number one on the pop charts—the first week it was released. Brooks is well known for his energetic live performances.

Brooks was born Troyal Garth Brooks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1985, he began performing in nightclubs. In 1986 Brooks moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he signed his first record deal. The success of his first album, Garth Brooks (1989), helped him become a leader among a group of widely popular new country singers.

Brooks's music covers a range of subjects and styles. Some of his songs could be classified as southern rock. Others, such as “Friends in Low Places,” have humorous lyrics carried by a traditional country twang. A few songs, such as “The Dance” and “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” more closely resemble romantic pop music. Brooks has spoken out—both in person and in his music—on social issues such as gay rights and spousal abuse.

Brooks’s many albums include Beyond the Season (1992), In Pieces (1993), Fresh Horses (1995), Sevens (1997), In the Life of Chris Gaines (1999), and Scarecrow (2001).