History of Garth Brooks in Timeline
Troyal Garth Brooks is a highly successful American country singer and songwriter known for blending pop and rock elements into country music. This fusion has propelled him to widespread popularity, achieving significant success on country music charts, earning multi-platinum certifications, and setting records for live performances. Brooks has also achieved crossover success in the mainstream pop music scene, expanding his audience and influence.
1929: Birth of Colleen McElroy Carroll
In 1929, Colleen McElroy Carroll, Garth Brooks' mother, was born. She was a 1950s-era country singer.
1931: Birth of Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr.
In 1931, Troyal Raymond Brooks Jr., Garth Brooks' father, was born. He later worked as a draftsman for an oil company.
February 7, 1962: Garth Brooks' birth
On February 7, 1962, Troyal Garth Brooks was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He would become a successful country singer and songwriter.
1971: Jack Clement founded Jack's Tracks Recording Studio
In 1971, Jack Clement founded Jack's Tracks, a recording studio that Garth Brooks would later purchase.
1975: Allen Reynolds Purchased Jack's Tracks Recording Studio
In 1975, Allen Reynolds purchased Jack's Tracks Recording Studio from Jack Clement, which Garth Brooks would later purchase.
1981: Decision to Play Country Music
In 1981, after hearing "Unwound" by 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: Professional Music Career Begins
In 1985, Garth Brooks began his professional music career, singing and playing guitar in Oklahoma clubs and bars.
1985: Phelps offered to produce Brooks' first demo
In 1985, entertainment attorney Rod Phelps offered to produce Garth Brooks' first demo, encouraging 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 First Album and Concert Tour
In 1989, Garth Brooks' first eponymous album was released and became a chart success. Also in 1989, he embarked on his first major concert tour, opening for Kenny Rogers.
1989: Garth Brooks releases albums
Since 1989, Garth Brooks released 27 records in all, which include 17 studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three Christmas albums, and four box sets, along with 77 singles.
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 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.
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 both 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-Wrote "We Shall Be Free"
In 1992, after spending time in Los Angeles during the riots, Garth Brooks co-wrote the gospel-country-rock song "We Shall Be Free" to express his desire for tolerance.
July 1993: "That Summer" Reached No. 1
In July 1993, "That Summer" became the most successful single from the album The Chase, reaching No. 1.
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," which includes the line, "When we're free to love anyone we choose," interpreted as a reference to same-sex relationships.
1993: First World Tour
In 1993, Garth Brooks' first world tour began, including sold-out venues in the UK. He also started the London radio station, Country 1035.
1993: Dispute over Used CD Sales
In 1993, Garth Brooks, critical of music stores selling used CDs, persuaded Capitol Records to not ship his album, In Pieces, to stores engaging in this practice, leading to antitrust lawsuits.
1994: Birth of Daughter August Anna
In 1994, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl welcomed their second daughter, August Anna.
1994: Appearance on KISS Tribute Album
In 1994, Garth Brooks paid homage to KISS by appearing on the tribute compilation, Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved, 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.
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, despite negative press treatment, Garth Brooks returned to the UK for more performances as part of his World Tour.
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.
1998: Release of 'The Limited Series' Box Set
In 1998, Garth Brooks also released the first installment of The Limited Series, a six-disc box set containing reissues of his first six studio albums, each with a bonus track.
1998: Launch of Touch 'em All Foundation and Baseball Spring Training
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 'Double Live' Album
In 1998, Garth Brooks released his first live album, Double Live, which went on to become the best-selling live album of all time and is the seventh-most shipped album in United States music history.
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: Establishment 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 San Diego Padres
In 1999, Garth Brooks continued his baseball endeavor with the San Diego Padres for spring training.
1999: Comments on Same-Sex Relationships
In a 1999 interview with George, Garth Brooks spoke about love and same-sex relationships, stating that if you're in love, you've got to follow your heart and trust that God will explain why we sometimes 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: Equality Rocks Benefit Concert Appearance
In 2000, Garth Brooks appeared at the Equality Rocks benefit concert for gay rights, singing a duet with openly gay singer George Michael.
December 17, 2001: Finalization of Divorce
On December 17, 2001, Garth Brooks and Sandy Mahl's divorce became final.
2001: Brooks Retired from Recording and Performing
In 2001, troubled by conflicts between career and family, Garth Brooks retired from recording and performing.
2004: Return to Baseball with the Kansas City Royals
In 2004, Garth Brooks returned to baseball, signing with the Kansas City Royals for spring training where he got 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, Pearl Records.
2005: Brooks Started a Partial Comeback
In 2005, Garth Brooks started a partial comeback, giving select performances and releasing two compilation albums.
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 Elvis Presley.
2007: California Wildfires
In 2007 the California wildfires affected the lives of many people and Garth Brooks later held concerts to raise money for the victims.
2008: Benefit Concerts for Fire Intervention Relief Effort
In January 2008, Garth Brooks performed five sold-out concerts over two days at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to raise money for the Fire Intervention Relief Effort, serving those impacted by the 2007 California wildfires. Tickets were $40 each.
December 2009: Garth at Wynn Concert Residency Began
In December 2009, Garth Brooks began Garth at Wynn, a periodic weekend concert residency at Las Vegas's Encore Theatre.
May 2010: Nashville Flood
In May 2010, Nashville was hit by a severe flood, prompting Garth Brooks to organize benefit concerts to support the victims later that year.
December 2010: Benefit Concerts for Nashville Flood Victims
In December 2010, Garth Brooks played nine shows in less than a week in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena to benefit victims from the May 2010 Nashville flood, selling over 140,000 tickets and raising $5 million.
December 2010: Presley Surpasses Brooks Again in Album Sales
In December 2010, several more of Elvis Presley's albums received certifications from the RIAA, resulting in Elvis again surpassing Garth Brooks in album sales.
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 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: Completed MBA from Oklahoma State University
On May 6, 2011, Garth Brooks completed his MBA from Oklahoma State University and participated in the commencement ceremony.
October 21, 2012: Induction into Country Music Hall of Fame
On October 21, 2012, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2012: Brooks Passes the Beatles as Top-Selling Act
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: Induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame
In 2012, Garth Brooks was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
2012: Renaming of Recording Studio to Allentown Studios
In 2012, in honor of his 50th birthday, Garth Brooks renamed Jack's Tracks studio to Allentown Studios.
July 6, 2013: Benefit Concert for Oklahoma Tornado Victims
On July 6, 2013, Garth Brooks joined Toby Keith for a benefit concert for victims of the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes, featuring artists Mel Tillis, John Anderson, Willie Nelson, Trisha Yearwood, Sammy Hagar, Kellie Coffey, Ronnie Dunn, Carrie Underwood and Krystal Keith.
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. She was a lesbian, and Brooks credited her with inspiring his support for same-sex marriage.
January 2014: End of Garth at Wynn Residency
In January 2014, Garth Brooks' periodic weekend concert residency at Las Vegas's Encore Theatre, called Garth at Wynn, ended.
May 2014: Best-Selling Album Artist in the U.S.
In May 2014, Garth Brooks' total album sales reached 69,544,000 copies, making him the best-selling album artist in the U.S., ahead of the Beatles, Metallica, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion.
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 Began
In September 2014, Garth Brooks began his comeback world tour with his wife and musician Trisha Yearwood.
September 2014: Establishment of GhostTunes
In September 2014, Garth Brooks established GhostTunes, an online music store featuring his own digital music and songs from other artists, allowing for autonomous pricing and distribution format.
October 2014: RIAA Lists Presley and Brooks Album Sales
As of October 2014, the RIAA lists Elvis Presley's total sales at 134.5 million and Garth Brooks' at 134 million albums.
2014: Release of Studio Album
In 2014, Garth Brooks released a studio album via Pearl Records and RCA Records Nashville.
2014: Awarded Arkansas Traveler Certificate
In 2014, Garth Brooks was awarded the Arkansas Traveler certificate.
2015: Benefit Concert in Barretos, Brazil
In 2015, during a break from his world tour, 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 for Garth Brooks' 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, surpassing the previous record tied with The Beatles.
2016: Induction into 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 Album
In 2016, Garth Brooks released a studio album via Pearl Records and RCA Records Nashville.
March 2017: Closure of GhostTunes and Merger with Amazon Music
In March 2017, GhostTunes officially closed, merging with Amazon Music.
2017: Culmination of Comeback World Tour
In 2017, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood culminated their comeback world tour.
2019: Filming Grammy Tribute
In 2019 Garth Brooks took a trip with his former hairstylist and make up artist to film a Grammy tribute.
2019: Return to Spring Training with Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2019, Garth Brooks made a return to spring training, joining the Pittsburgh Pirates to promote his charity.
2020: Recipient of Library of Congress Gershwin Prize
In 2020, Garth Brooks became the youngest recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
2020: Gershwin Prize and Billboard Icon Award
In 2020, Garth Brooks was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, becoming the youngest recipient at the time, and received the Billboard Icon Award presented by Cher.
June 16, 2021: Pollstar Award for 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 a recipient for the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors.
April 30, 2022: Performance in Tiger Stadium caused seismograph registration
On April 30, 2022, Garth Brooks performed in Tiger Stadium at Louisiana State University. During his performance of "Callin' Baton Rouge," the crowd's excitement registered on the university's seismograph, mirroring a previous incident with LSU quarterback Tommy Hodson, an earthquake caused by excited fans.
November 14, 2022: Second Concert Residency Announcement
On November 14, 2022, Garth Brooks announced his second concert residency, 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 2023: Time Traveler Album Release
In November 2023, Garth Brooks released his most recent album, Time Traveler.
November 24, 2023: Amazon Music Live Concert Special
On November 24, 2023, Garth Brooks headlined an Amazon Music Live concert special, Garth Brooks: Dive Bar Concert, which was held at his Nashville bar Friends in Low Places Bar & Honky-Tonk.
October 2024: Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
In October 2024, Garth Brooks was sued by his former hairstylist and makeup artist who claimed she was sexually harassed by him on several occasions and that Brooks raped her during a trip the two took to film a Grammy tribute in 2019. Brooks has denied the allegations.
2024: Garth Brooks/Plus ONE 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, along with his wife 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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