Garth Brooks has become one of the biggest music icons ever, selling over 100 million albums worldwide. His musical style fuses rock and country influences that were nurtured during his musical upbringing in an artistic family; his father Troyal taught him his first chords on guitar while mother Colleen sang professionally while performing dance routines herself onstage; both Brooks sisters performed alongside younger brother playing various stringed instruments.
Brooks first began his musical journey as a self-described “country boy from Oklahoma” singing college bars; however, his ambition quickly outgrew this local circuit. In 1988 he went back to Nashville in an attempt at success but it failed and he returned home. A year later however he signed with Capitol Records and released his eponymous debut album which contained three top 10 singles “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “The Dance,” and “Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old).” The album received certification by the Recording Industry Association of America upon reaching 10 million units shipped;
With his first three albums, Brooks established himself as a star through both songwriting and live performances. His shows resembled 70’s rock concert arena acts, complete with spectacular lighting effects and crowd participation; fans helped Brooks set new attendance standards that rivaled those of major rock acts.
By 1992, Brooks had become an international phenomenon, but some fans were dismayed at his departure from classic country on his album The Chase. With In Pieces more country-oriented but still topping the charts and an expansive tour under his belt he returned to studio production with Fresh Horses (1995) and Sevens (1997) both number ones before taking an unexpected detour and recording under the pseudonym Chris Gaines (Rock) under an assumed backstory and goatee rocker costume to record In the Life of Chris Gaines which collected greatest hits collected under one guise (In Pieces was more country).
Brooks has since become an accomplished touring performer and hit maker. He married fellow singer Trisha Yearwood and is father to four daughters. He remains active in charitable efforts, such as founding the Teammates for Kids foundation with other professional athletes from San Diego Padres spring training camp. The foundation encourages youth to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering, math and the arts. In 2001, Brooks released Scarecrow as his final studio album for Capitol and it reached number one on Billboard charts. After retiring, Trisha Yearwood remained committed to both charitable giving and spending time with his wife and children in Tulsa, Oklahoma, remaining close by their side. She took up ranching as well as having opened up the Trisha Yearwood Center for Athletic Excellence – all hobbies which she enjoyed immensely during his retirement years.