Trisha Yearwood Biography

Country singer. Born Patricia Lynn Yearwood, on September 19, 1964, in Monticello, Georgia, to Gwen, a teacher, and Jack, a banker. Trisha was raised in a small farming community, where she excelled in school and developed a love for country music. Originally influenced by the classic country sound of Hank Williams and Patsy Cline, Yearwood soon developed an affinity for Southern rock bands like the Allman Brothers and the Eagles.

In 1982, after graduating from Piedmont Academy, Yearwood attended a two-year junior college, followed by a semester at the University of Georgia. Unhappy with campus life, she transferred to Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. While working toward a degree in business administration, Yearwood interned as a receptionist for MTM Records. Upon her graduation in 1987, she was hired as a full-time employee. That same year, she married musician Chris Latham.

Benefiting from the company's resources, Yearwood recorded a handful of demo tapes and worked as a backup singer for some up-and-coming artists. Most notably, Yearwood sang backup on Garth Brooks' No Fences (1990) album. Brooks introduced her to his producer, Allen Reynolds, who in turn introduced her to producer Garth Fundis. Soon after, Yearwood landed a deal with MCA Records.

In 1991, Yearwood released her self-titled debut album. The record was certified double platinum for two million copies, and Yearwood became the first female country singer to sell a million copies of her first album. While Yearwood hit No. 2 on the country charts, the song "She's in Love with the Boy," debuted at No. 1 on the singles charts. Later that year, she was named the Top New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. She and Latham divorced soon after.

Yearwood secured success again with the 1992 release of Hearts in Armor, which featured the hit singles "Wrong Side of Memphis," "Woman Walk the Line," as well as a duet with Don Henley titled "Walkaway Joe." Her next record, The Song Remembers When (1993), was accompanied by a cable television concert and yielded a chart-topping title song. That same year, Yearwood was the subject of Lisa Gubernick's biography, Get Hot or Go Home: Trisha Yearwood, the Making of a Nashville Star.

Three years after her divorce, Yearwood married Robert Reynolds, the bass player for The Mavericks. Her 1994 Christmas compilation, The Sweetest Gift, and her 1995 album, Thinkin' About You, sold well. Her next LP, Everybody Knows (1996), received a mediocre response from audiences and music critics alike. In 1997, Yearwood released Songbook: A Collection of Hits and was also honored with two Grammy Awards: one for her duet with Garth Brooks called "In Another's Eyes," and one for the single "How Do I Live."

After Yearwood was named the Academy of Country Music's Top Female Vocalist in both 1997 and 1998, the star decided to branch out. She began an acting career in earnest, landing a multi-season recurring role on CBS's "JAG."