History of Garth Brooks in Timeline
Troyal Garth Brooks is a highly successful American country singer and songwriter renowned for blending pop and rock influences into country music. This fusion propelled him to widespread popularity in the United States, dominating country music charts with hit singles and albums. He's also celebrated for multi-platinum record sales and record-breaking live performances, effectively crossing over into mainstream pop culture.
1929: Birth of Colleen McElroy Carroll
In 1929, Colleen McElroy Carroll, Garth Brooks' mother, was born. She was a 1950s-era country singer who recorded on Capitol Records.
1931: Birth of Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr.
In 1931, Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr., Garth Brooks' father, was born. He worked as a draftsman for an oil company.
February 7, 1962: Birth of Garth Brooks
On February 7, 1962, Troyal Garth Brooks was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is an American country singer and songwriter known for integrating pop and rock elements into country music.
1971: Jack Clement Founded Jack's Tracks Recording Studio
In 1971, Jack Clement founded Jack's Tracks, a recording studio.
1975: Allen Reynolds Purchased Jack's Tracks Recording Studio
In 1975, Allen Reynolds purchased Jack's Tracks recording studio from Jack Clement.
1981: Decision to Play Country Music
In 1981, after hearing "Unwound", the debut single of George Strait, Garth Brooks decided that he was more interested in playing country music.
1984: Graduation from Oklahoma State University
In 1984, Garth Brooks graduated from Oklahoma State University with a degree in advertising.
1985: Start of Professional Music Career
In 1985, Garth Brooks began his professional music career, singing and playing guitar in Oklahoma clubs and bars, including Wild Willie's Saloon in Stillwater.
1985: First Demo and Encouragement from Rod Phelps
In 1985, entertainment attorney Rod Phelps offered to produce Garth Brooks' first demo and encouraged him to pursue a recording contract in Nashville.
May 24, 1986: Marriage to Sandy Mahl
On May 24, 1986, Garth Brooks married songwriter Sandy Mahl.
1987: Move to Nashville
In 1987, Garth Brooks and his wife Sandy Mahl moved to Nashville, where he began making contacts in the music industry.
1989: Release of Garth Brooks' First Album
In 1989, Garth Brooks' eponymous first album was released, becoming a chart success and peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
1989: Release of First Album and Career Beginnings
Since 1989, Garth Brooks has released 27 records, including studio albums, live albums, compilation albums, Christmas albums, and box sets, along with 77 singles, marking the beginning of his highly successful music career.
1990: Release of 'No Fences' Album
In 1990, Garth Brooks released his second album, 'No Fences', which spent 23 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
1990: Induction into the Grand Ole Opry
In late 1990, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.
September 1991: Release of Ropin' the Wind
In September 1991, Garth Brooks released his third album, Ropin' the Wind, which entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1, a first for a country artist.
August 25, 1992: Release of 'Beyond the Season' Christmas Album
On August 25, 1992, Garth Brooks released his first Christmas album, 'Beyond the Season', which included classic Christmas songs and an original tune.
1992: Birth of Daughter Taylor Mayne Pearl
In 1992, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl welcomed their first daughter, Taylor Mayne Pearl.
1992: Co-writing of 'We Shall Be Free'
In 1992, after spending time in Los Angeles during the riots, Garth Brooks co-wrote 'We Shall Be Free', a gospel-country-rock hybrid single expressing his desire for tolerance.
July 1993: 'That Summer' Reaches No. 1
In July 1993, 'That Summer' became the most successful single from The Chase album, reaching No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart.
1993: Dispute over Used CDs and Antitrust Lawsuits
In 1993, Garth Brooks persuaded Capitol Records to not ship his album, In Pieces, to stores selling used CDs, leading to antitrust lawsuits.
1993: GLAAD Media Award for 'We Shall Be Free'
In 1993, Garth Brooks won a GLAAD Media Award for his song "We Shall Be Free."
1993: First World Tour Begins
In 1993, Garth Brooks' first world tour began, including sold-out venues in the UK, a feat never accomplished by an American country music artist.
1994: Birth of Daughter August Anna
In 1994, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl welcomed their second daughter, August Anna.
1994: Collaboration with KISS on Tribute Album
In 1994, Garth Brooks paid homage to KISS by appearing on the tribute compilation, Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, and performing 'Hard Luck Woman' live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
November 1995: Release of Fresh Horses Album
In November 1995, Garth Brooks released Fresh Horses, his first album of new material in two years, which sold over three million copies within six months of its release.
1995: Ty England Goes Solo
In 1995, Ty England, Garth Brooks' former roommate and guitarist in his road band, went solo.
1996: Birth of Daughter Allie Colleen Brooks
In 1996, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl welcomed their third daughter, Allie Colleen Brooks.
1996: Return to the UK for Performances
In 1996, Garth Brooks returned to the UK for more performances, despite negative treatment from the British media in the past.
August 1997: Central Park Concert
In August 1997, Garth Brooks' Central Park concert went on as planned, receiving 980,000 fans in attendance and becoming the largest concert in park history, despite a dispute within Capitol Records delaying the release of Sevens.
1998: Launch of Touch 'em All Foundation and Baseball Career Start
In 1998, Garth Brooks launched his Touch 'em All Foundation with Major League Baseball and signed with the San Diego Padres for spring training.
1998: Release of The Limited Series
In 1998, Garth Brooks released the first installment of The Limited Series, a six-disc box set containing reissues of his first six studio albums.
1998: Release of Double Live Album
In 1998, Garth Brooks' first live album, Double Live, was released, recorded at various shows over the course of his second world tour.
March 1999: Separation from Sandy Mahl
In March 1999, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl separated.
1999: Death of Colleen McElroy Carroll
In 1999, Colleen McElroy Carroll, Garth Brooks' mother, passed away.
1999: Founding of Teammates for Kids Foundation
In 1999, Garth Brooks began the Teammates for Kids Foundation, which provides financial aid to charities for children.
1999: Spring Training with the New York Mets
In 1999, Garth Brooks signed with the New York Mets for spring training, after his first spring training in 1998 with the San Diego Padres.
1999: Comments on Love and Sexual Orientation
In a 1999 interview with George, Garth Brooks spoke about love and sexual orientation, stating that one should follow their heart and trust that God will explain why people fall in love with people of the same sex.
October 9, 2000: Announcement of Divorce Plans
On October 9, 2000, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl announced their plans to divorce.
November 6, 2000: Filing for Divorce
On November 6, 2000, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl filed for divorce.
2000: Appearance at Equality Rocks Benefit Concert
In 2000, Garth Brooks appeared at the Equality Rocks benefit concert for gay rights and sang a duet with George Michael.
December 17, 2001: Finalization of Divorce
On December 17, 2001, Garth Brooks's divorce from Sandy Mahl became final.
2001: Retirement from Recording and Performing
In 2001, Garth Brooks retired from recording and performing due to conflicts between his career and family life.
2004: Return to Baseball with the Kansas City Royals
In 2004, Garth Brooks returned to baseball with the Kansas City Royals. During his final spring training game, he achieved his first and only hit off Mike Myers.
December 10, 2005: Remarriage to Trisha Yearwood
On December 10, 2005, Garth Brooks remarried to country singer and cookbook author Trisha Yearwood.
2005: Establishment of Pearl Records
In 2005, Garth Brooks ended his association with Capitol Records and established his own record label called Pearl Records.
2005: Partial Comeback
In 2005, Garth Brooks started a partial comeback, giving select performances and releasing two compilation albums after a period of retirement.
November 5, 2007: Named Best Selling Solo Artist in US History
On November 5, 2007, Garth Brooks was named the best-selling solo artist in US history, surpassing Presley after audited sales of 123 million were announced.
2007: California Wildfires
In 2007, Garth Brooks held concerts to raise money for Fire Intervention Relief Effort, serving those impacted by the California wildfires.
2008: Garth Brooks: Live in LA Benefit Concerts
In January 2008, Garth Brooks performed five sold-out concerts at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to raise money for Fire Intervention Relief Effort, supporting those affected by the 2007 California wildfires. The first concert was broadcasted live as a telethon.
December 2009: Start of Garth at Wynn Residency
In December 2009, Garth Brooks began a periodic weekend concert residency called 'Garth at Wynn' at Las Vegas's Encore Theatre.
May 2010: Nashville Flood
In May 2010, Nashville experienced a devastating flood, leading to significant damage and displacement of residents.
December 2010: Benefit Concerts for Nashville Flood Victims
In December 2010, Garth Brooks played nine shows in Nashville to benefit the victims of the May 2010 Nashville flood, raising $5 million.
December 2010: Elvis Presley Surpasses Brooks in Album Certifications
In December 2010, several more of Elvis Presley's albums received certifications from the RIAA, resulting in Elvis again surpassing Brooks as best selling artist.
2010: Purchase of Jack's Tracks Recording Studio
In 2010, Garth Brooks purchased Jack's Tracks, a recording studio founded by Jack Clement in 1971 and sold to Allen Reynolds in 1975, where most of Brooks' albums were recorded.
2010: Induction into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame
In 2010, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame.
2010: Death of Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr.
In 2010, Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr., Garth Brooks' father, passed away.
May 6, 2011: Completion of MBA and Commencement Ceremony
On May 6, 2011, Garth Brooks completed his MBA from Oklahoma State University and participated in the commencement ceremony.
October 21, 2012: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame
On October 21, 2012, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2012: Brooks Passed The Beatles as Top-Selling Act of the Past 20 Years
In 2012, Garth Brooks officially passed the Beatles as the top-selling act of the past 20 years, moving 68.5 million units worldwide, almost 5 million more than the Beatles.
2012: Renaming Jack's Tracks to Allentown Studios
In 2012, Garth Brooks renamed Jack's Tracks recording studio, which he purchased in 2010, to Allentown Studios in honor of his 50th birthday.
2012: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame
In 2012, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
July 6, 2013: Benefit Concert for Oklahoma Tornado Victims
On July 6, 2013, Garth Brooks and Toby Keith held a benefit concert for victims of the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes, featuring several other artists.
July 2013: Becoming a Grandfather
In July 2013, Garth Brooks became a grandfather when his daughter August had daughter Karalynn with Chance Michael Russell.
2013: Death of Betsy Smittle
In 2013, Garth Brooks' half-sister, Betsy Smittle, a musician who released her own album Rough Around the Edges and was part of Brooks' band, passed away.
January 2014: End of Garth at Wynn Residency
In January 2014, Garth Brooks concluded his periodic weekend concert residency called 'Garth at Wynn' at Las Vegas's Encore Theatre.
May 2014: Brooks Reached Total Album Sales of 69,544,000 Copies
In May 2014, Garth Brooks' total album sales reached 69,544,000 copies, which made him the best-selling album artist in the U.S.
July 2014: Signing with Sony Music Nashville
In July 2014, following the conclusion of his residency, Garth Brooks announced his signing with Sony Music Nashville.
September 2014: Comeback World Tour Begins
In September 2014, Garth Brooks began his comeback world tour with his wife, Trisha Yearwood.
September 2014: Establishment of GhostTunes
In September 2014, Garth Brooks established GhostTunes, an online music store featuring his own digital music, as well as over ten million songs from other artists.
October 2014: RIAA Sales Listing
As of October 2014, the RIAA listed Presley's total sales at 134.5 million and Brooks' at 134 million.
2014: Release of Studio Albums Via Pearl Records
In 2014, Garth Brooks released his studio album via Pearl Records, as well as RCA Records Nashville.
2014: Awarded the Arkansas Traveler Certificate
In 2014, Garth Brooks was awarded the Arkansas Traveler certificate.
2015: Benefit Concert in Barretos, Brazil
In 2015, Garth Brooks performed a sold-out concert in Barretos, Brazil to benefit the Hospital de Câncer de Barretos.
June 13, 2016: Death of Mike Chapman
On June 13, 2016, Mike Chapman, the bass guitar player in Garth Brooks's studio band, known as the "G-Men", passed away.
September 2016: Seven Career Diamond Award Albums
In September 2016, Garth Brooks became the first and only artist in music history to achieve seven career Diamond Award albums, according to the RIAA.
2016: Induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum
In 2016, Garth Brooks and his studio musicians, The G-Men, were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
2016: Release of Studio Albums Via Pearl Records
In 2016, Garth Brooks released his studio album via Pearl Records, as well as RCA Records Nashville.
March 2017: Closure of GhostTunes and Merger with Amazon Music
In March 2017, GhostTunes officially closed and merged with Amazon Music.
2017: Culmination of Comeback World Tour
In 2017, Garth Brooks' comeback world tour, which began in 2014 with his wife Trisha Yearwood, culminated.
2019: Start of the Stadium Tour
In 2019, Garth Brooks began his Stadium Tour.
2019: Return to Spring Training with Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2019, Garth Brooks returned to spring training, joining the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote his charity.
2019: Alleged Rape Incident
In 2019, during a trip to film a Grammy tribute, Brooks' former hairstylist claimed that she was raped by him.
2020: Gershwin Prize for Popular Song
In 2020, Garth Brooks became the youngest recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
2020: Awards Received in 2020
In 2020, Garth Brooks received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and the Billboard Icon Award.
June 16, 2021: Pollstar Award as Country Touring Artist of the Decade
On June 16, 2021, Garth Brooks won the Pollstar award as the "country touring artist of the decade" (2010s).
2021: Kennedy Center Honors Recipient
In 2021, Garth Brooks was named as a recipient for the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
April 30, 2022: Performance in Tiger Stadium Caused Seismic Activity
On April 30, 2022, Garth Brooks performed in Tiger Stadium at Louisiana State University. His performance of "Callin' Baton Rouge" caused enough excitement to register on the university's seismograph, similar to an earthquake.
November 14, 2022: Announcement of Second Concert Residency
On November 14, 2022, Garth Brooks announced his second concert residency, titled Garth Brooks/Plus ONE, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
November 2023: Release of 'Time Traveler' Album
In November 2023, Garth Brooks released his most recent album, 'Time Traveler'.
November 24, 2023: Headlining Amazon Music Live Concert
On November 24, 2023, Garth Brooks headlined an Amazon Music Live concert special, named Garth Brooks: Dive Bar Concert. The concert was held at Brooks' Nashville bar, Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk.
October 2024: Sexual Harassment and Rape Lawsuit
In October 2024, Garth Brooks was sued by his former hairstylist and makeup artist, who alleged sexual harassment and rape during a trip in 2019. Brooks denied the claims, calling them extortion. Both parties filed lawsuits.
2024: Garth Brooks/Plus ONE Las Vegas Residency Continues
In 2024, Garth Brooks' Las Vegas concert residency, Garth Brooks/Plus ONE, continued.
January 9, 2025: Performance at Jimmy Carter's State Funeral
On January 9, 2025, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood performed John Lennon's song "Imagine" at the state funeral for former President Jimmy Carter at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
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