Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood is credited with unearthing a new youth-oriented market for country music in the '90s. A banker's daughter growing up in a small Georgia town, she spent her formative years listening to Elvis, classic country, and southern rock. After attending college in Nashville and planning an administrative career in the music industry, she landed an internship with MTM records. Her first break came when she was asked to try her hand at singing demos for songwriters, where her obvious artistry led to backing vocal work on Garth Brooks sessions, and eventually an artist's contract with MCA. Her debut album, Trisha Yearwood (1991), spawned her first number one hit, “She's in Love with the Boy,” which catapulted the album to double-platinum status. Among her eight subsequent albums, Thinkin' About You (1995) launched the number one hit “XXXs and OOOs (An American Girl).” Where Your Road Leads (1998) included the hit “I'll Still Love You More.” Inside Out (2001) featured guest appearances by Don Henley, Roseanne Cash, and Vince Gill. Yearwood was awarded the Country Music Association's Female Vocalist of the Year in 1997 and 1998 and has won three Grammys.