History of Sara Evans in Timeline

Sara Evans is a celebrated American country music singer-songwriter, record producer, actress, and author. She has achieved significant success in the country music scene with five number-one hits on the Billboard country songs chart and over six million albums sold. Nine more singles reached the top ten, solidifying her place as a prominent figure in the genre. Her notable songs include "I Could Not Ask for More," "I Keep Looking," and "Cheatin'." Evans has earned awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association, in addition to multiple nominations.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

February 5, 1971: Sara Evans's Birth

On February 5, 1971, Sara Lynn Evans, an American country music singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, and author, was born.

1983: Parents' Divorce

In 1983, Sara Evans's parents divorced.

1985: Mother's Remarriage and Family Move

In 1985, Sara Evans's mother remarried, and the family moved to a tobacco farm in New Franklin.

1989: High School Graduation

In 1989, Sara Evans graduated from high school and accepted a scholarship to Central Methodist University.

1991: Moved to Nashville

In 1991, Sara Evans and her brother Matt moved to Nashville to pursue a country music career.

1992: Moved to Aumsville, Oregon

In 1992, Sara Evans and her first husband temporarily moved to Aumsville, Oregon, where she performed as Sara Evans & North Santiam.

1993: Marriage to Craig Schelske

In 1993, Sara Evans married Craig Schelske, who was an aspiring musician at the time.

July 1997: Release of "Three Chords and the Truth" Album

In July 1997, Sara Evans released her debut album, Three Chords and the Truth, on RCA Records, which received critical acclaim but was not commercially successful.

1997: Debut Album Release

In 1997, Sara Evans released her first album, Three Chords and the Truth, with RCA Records.

October 1998: "No Place That Far" Album Release

In October 1998, Sara Evans released her second album, No Place That Far, on RCA. The title track reached number one on the Billboard country chart.

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1998: Release of "No Place That Far" Album

In 1998, Sara Evans released the album No Place That Far. The second single of the same name topped the Billboard country chart.

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1999: Birth of First Son

In 1999, Sara Evans gave birth to her first son, Avery Jack.

October 2000: "Born to Fly" Album Release

In October 2000, Sara Evans released the album Born to Fly, which became her breakout album and was certified double platinum.

2000: "Born to Fly" Album Release

In 2000, Sara Evans released the album Born to Fly, which sold over one million copies and included the number one country single "Born to Fly."

2000: Shift Towards Contemporary Country with Born to Fly

In 2000, Sara Evans shifted her sound towards a contemporary country musical identity with the release of Born to Fly.

2001: Country Music Association Awards Nominations and Win

In 2001, Sara Evans received five nominations from the Country Music Association Awards, including Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year. She won Music Video of the Year for Born to Fly's title track and was also nominated for Top Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music Awards.

2002: "I Keep Looking" Hit

In 2002, "I Keep Looking" became a top-five country hit for Sara Evans.

2002: Schelske's Congressional Run

In 2002, Craig Schelske ran unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for Oregon's 5th congressional district.

August 2003: "Restless" Album Release

In August 2003, Sara Evans released her fourth studio album Restless, which received mixed reviews but was certified platinum in the United States.

2003: Birth of Daughter Olivia

In 2003, Sara Evans had a daughter named Olivia Margaret.

2003: "Restless" Album Release

In 2003, Sara Evans released the album Restless, which sold over one million copies.

2004: Co-headlined Mud & Suds Tour

In 2004, Sara Evans co-headlined the Mud & Suds Tour with Brad Paisley.

October 2005: "Real Fine Place" Album Release

In October 2005, Sara Evans released her fifth studio album Real Fine Place. It topped the Billboard country albums chart and was certified platinum in sales.

December 2005: "Meltdown" and Mental Health Struggles

In December 2005, Sara Evans experienced a "meltdown" after realizing her first marriage was ending, leading to severe anxiety and a brief hospitalization.

2005: "Real Fine Place" Album Release

In 2005, Sara Evans released the album Real Fine Place, which sold over one million copies and included the number one country single "A Real Fine Place to Start".

2005: "Tonight" Single Release

In 2005, Sara Evans's single "Tonight" from the album Restless peaked outside the top 40 of Hot Country Songs.

2005: Return to Traditional Country with Real Fine Place

In 2005, as the genre shifted back to a traditional country style, Sara Evans followed suit with the album Real Fine Place.

2005: Last Number One Single Before "A Little Bit Stronger"

Sara Evans's single "A Little Bit Stronger" became her first number one single since 2005.

October 2006: Hollins' Interview and Lawsuit

In October 2006, Craig Schelske sued Sara Evans' Nashville attorney, John Hollins Sr., for slander after Hollins gave an interview about Evans' divorce claims to People magazine.

2006: Dancing with the Stars Appearance and Divorce Filing

In 2006, Sara Evans appeared on Dancing with the Stars but dropped out after filing for divorce. The stress in her personal life caused Evans to suffer from anxiety and panic attacks.

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2006: Top Female Vocalist Award

In 2006, Sara Evans won the Top Female Vocalist award from the Academy of Country Music.

2006: Divorce Media Attention

In 2006, Sara Evans's divorce received widespread media attention, which continued into 2007, delaying plans for recording a studio album.

2006: Divorce Filing and Allegations

In 2006, after departing from Dancing with the Stars, Sara Evans filed for divorce from Craig Schelske, accusing him of various misconducts. Schelske denied the claims and made counter-allegations.

September 28, 2007: Divorce Finalization

On September 28, 2007, the divorce between Sara Evans and Craig Schelske was finalized, establishing a joint custody plan, asset split, and alimony agreement.

2007: Meeting Jay Barker

In 2007, Sara Evans met her second husband, Jay Barker, through her marriage counselor and they began exchanging emails.

2007: Greatest Hits Album Release and CMA Awards Hosting

In 2007, Sara Evans' first compilation album, Greatest Hits, was released by RCA, reaching number three on the Billboard country albums chart and number eight on the Billboard 200. The album featured twelve of her most popular recordings, along with four new tracks co-written by Evans. Also in 2007, she co-hosted the Country Music Association Awards.

May 2008: CMT Crossroads Appearance with Maroon 5

In May 2008, Sara Evans appeared on CMT Crossroads, a music show on CMT. During the episode, she collaborated with pop band Maroon 5 to sing songs from both artists' catalogs.

June 14, 2008: Marriage to Jay Barker

On June 14, 2008, Sara Evans married Jay Barker in Franklin, with their children as attendants.

September 2, 2008: Performance at Ron Paul's Rally

On September 2, 2008, Sara Evans headlined Ron Paul's Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

September 2008: Theme Song Recording for Billy: The Early Years

In September 2008, Sara Evans recorded "Low", the theme song for the film Billy: The Early Years. The song was released as a single and briefly charted on the Hot Country Songs chart.

2008: "Greatest Hits" Package Release

In 2008, Sara Evans took a step back from her recording career to focus on her family life, releasing a Greatest Hits package.

June 2009: Headlined Tour Sponsored by ABC Daytime and SOAPnet

In June 2009, Sara Evans headlined a tour sponsored by ABC Daytime and SOAPnet, featuring performances throughout the middle of the year.

July 2009: Nanny Lawsuit Settlement

In July 2009, Sara Evans settled a lawsuit filed by her ex-nanny for $500,000, who claimed Evans had smeared her name.

2010: Collaboration with Author Rachel Hauck on The Sweet By and By and Release of "A Little Bit Stronger"

In 2010, Sara Evans collaborated with author Rachel Hauck to write the novel The Sweet By and By. Also in 2010, she released "A Little Bit Stronger" as a single.

2010: Restraining Order Against Schelske

In 2010, Sara Evans obtained a temporary restraining order against Craig Schelske, restricting him from making derogatory statements about her or their marriage.

January 2011: Release of Softly and Tenderly

In January 2011, Sara Evans and Rachel Hauck released Softly and Tenderly, a follow-up to their previous novel, The Sweet By and By.

2011: Settlement and Apology

In 2011, Craig Schelske's lawsuit against John Hollins resulted in an undisclosed financial settlement and a written apology from Hollins.

2011: Barker's Perspective on Family

In 2011, Jay Barker shared his perspective on their blended family, emphasizing that they don't think of it as 'blended' but simply as 'our kids'.

2011: Second Restraining Order

In 2011, Sara Evans obtained a second temporary restraining order against Craig Schelske, restricting him from making derogatory statements about her or their marriage.

2011: "Stronger" Album Release

In 2011, Sara Evans re-launched her career with her sixth studio album, Stronger, which was supported by the number one single "A Little Bit Stronger".

2011: Opening Act for Rascal Flatts and Award Nominations

In 2011, Sara Evans served as the opening act for Rascal Flatts on their Flatts Fest tour. Also in 2011, "A Little Bit Stronger" was nominated for Single of the Year by the Country Music Association Awards, and Sara Evans was nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year by both the Country Music Association Awards and the Academy of Country Music Awards.

2011: Acknowledging Pop and Rock Influences in Stronger

In 2011, with the release of Stronger, Sara Evans acknowledged the shift towards pop and rock-inspired sounds in country music, integrating these trends into her music.

November 2012: Back in the Recording Studio

In November 2012, Sara Evans went back into the recording studio alongside Mark Bright to prepare for her next album project.

December 2012: Near-Fatal Plane Crash

In December 2012, Sara Evans was nearly killed in a plane crash in Minnesota after her private plane's gyroscope malfunctioned.

2012: Release of Third Novel and Singing the National Anthem at the NBA Finals

In 2012, Sara Evans released her third novel, Love Lifted Me, co-written with Rachel Hauck. Also in 2012, Sara Evans sang the National Anthem at Game two of the NBA Finals.

2012: Continued Touring with Rascal Flatts

Sara Evans continued touring with Rascal Flatts through 2012.

March 2014: Release of Slow Me Down Album

In March 2014, Sara Evans released her seventh album, Slow Me Down, on RCA. The album reached number two on the Country Albums list and number nine on the Billboard 200.

October 2014: Appearance on ABC's Nashville

In October 2014, Sara Evans appeared on ABC's Nashville, playing herself. She performed a duet version of her next single, "Put My Heart Down", with Will Chase, who performed in-character as Luke Wheeler.

November 2014: Release of First Christmas Album

In November 2014, Sara Evans released her first full studio album of Christmas music titled At Christmas. The project featured covers of Christmas songs along with original tunes.

2014: Release of "Slow Me Down"

In 2014, Sara Evans released "Slow Me Down" and left RCA to form her own record label.

2014: Finding Strength and Confidence in Pop Music

In 2014, it was noted that on her recent albums, including Slow Me Down, Sara Evans had located a new undercurrent of steely firmness that strengthened her singing, showing a fondness for pop music.

August 2015: Second Appearance on CMT Crossroads with REO Speedwagon

In August 2015, Sara Evans made a second appearance on CMT Crossroads, this time performing alongside rock band REO Speedwagon.

2015: Singing the National Anthem at the World Series

In 2015, Sara Evans sang the National Anthem at the start of Game 2 of the World Series between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets.

February 2016: Departure from RCA Records

In February 2016, Sara Evans left RCA Records after spending her entire recording career with the label.

July 2017: Release of Words Album on Born to Fly Records

In July 2017, Sara Evans's label, Born to Fly Records, released Words, her ninth studio record. All fourteen of the album's tracks included credits from female songwriters.

2017: "Words" Album Release on Own Label

In 2017, Sara Evans released her first album, Words, through her own record label.

May 2019: Release of The Barker Family Band EP and Mini Tour

In May 2019, Sara Evans collaborated with her son and daughter to release an EP named The Barker Family Band. Also in May 2019, a corresponding live album was recorded at City Winery in Nashville, and both projects were promoted through a mini tour that included five show dates.

2019: Return to Nashville

In 2019, Sara Evans and her family returned to Nashville so that she could live closer to the country music business.

May 2020: Release of Copy That Album

In May 2020, Sara Evans released her tenth studio project titled Copy That. The project was a collection of classic country and pop covers from different decades.

September 2020: Release of Memoir

In September 2020, Sara Evans released a memoir that discussed highlights from her life and career. The book was published by Howard Books.

2020: Experimenting with Musical Styles on Copy That

In 2020, after leaving RCA Records, Sara Evans began experimenting with other musical styles, particularly on the album Copy That, feeling free from genre constraints.

August 2021: Divorce Filing

In August 2021, Sara Evans filed for divorce from Jay Barker, citing "irreconcilable differences and inappropriate marital conduct".

2021: Daughter's Musical Debut

In 2021, Sara Evans' daughter, Olivia, debuted in her touring band as a vocalist.

January 15, 2022: Barker's Arrest

On January 15, 2022, Jay Barker was arrested for aggravated assault after allegedly attempting to hit Sara Evans with his car.

March 2022: Barker's Court Appearance

In March 2022, Jay Barker was scheduled for a court appearance following his arrest for aggravated assault.

June 2022: Barker's Plea Deal

In June 2022, Jay Barker entered a plea deal and was sentenced to a year of probation. A divorce between Sara Evans and Barker was "in progress" at that time.

2023: The Masked Singer Competition and Grand Ole Opry Membership

In 2023, Sara Evans competed in season nine of The Masked Singer as "Mustang", she was eliminated during the season premiere. Also in 2023, she accepted an invitation to become an official member of the Grand Ole Opry.

March 2024: Release of Pride Single

In March 2024, Sara Evans released the album Unbroke's lead single "Pride".

March 2024: Reconciliation with Barker

In a March 2024 interview, Sara Evans stated that she and Jay Barker had reconciled and were living together again after therapy.

June 2024: Release of Unbroke Album

In June 2024, Sara Evans's first Melody Place album was issued titled Unbroke. The project chronicled her marital conflicts and reconciliation with her second husband.