Born in 1962, Brooks has been entertaining audiences with his unique blend of country and pop-rock music for over three decades. His unique style has earned him widespread popularity, especially in the United States, with hits on the country music album and singles charts, multi-platinum recordings and record-breaking live performances. He has also moved into the mainstream pop arena, making him a household name.
Throughout his illustrious career, Brooks has achieved a level of success unmatched in the music industry. He is the only artist in history to have released nine albums that have achieved diamond status in the United States, surpassing the Beatles' previous record of six albums. To date, he has released a total of 23 albums, including 13 studio albums, two live albums, three compilation albums, three Christmas albums and four box sets, as well as 77 singles.
His accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as he has won several awards throughout his career, including two Grammy Awards, 17 American Music Awards, and the RIAA Award for the best-selling solo artist of the century in the United States.
Despite his success, Brooks has had to endure some difficult times in his career. In 2001, he retired from recording and performing due to conflicts between his career and his family. However, in 2005, he made a partial comeback, performing select shows and releasing two compilation albums. He then began a periodic weekend concert residency in Las Vegas called Garth at Wynn, which lasted from 2009 to 2014.
In 2014, he signed with Sony Music Nashville and began his comeback world tour with his wife and musician, Trisha Yearwood, which culminated in 2017. He followed that up with a Stadium Tour that began in 2019, and his latest album, Fun, was released in November 2020.
It's not just his music that has made Brooks a legend, his impact on the industry is undeniable. He is one of the best-selling music artists in the world, having sold over 170 million records. In 2020, according to the RIAA, he is the top-selling solo artist in the United States, with 156 million domestic units sold, ahead of Elvis Presley, and is second only to the Beatles in total album sales.
His contributions to the industry have also been recognized by his peers, as he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012, the Songwriters Hall of Fame the year before, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2016 with his studio musicians, The G-Men. In 2020, Brooks received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, and at 58, he is the youngest recipient of the award.
On January 20, 2021, Brooks performed "Amazing Grace" at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, declaring his performance an opportunity "to serve" and is a "statement of unity."
