selected life & times

n Feb. 7, 1962: Troyal Garth Brooks born in Tulsa, Okla. n 1966: Brooks family moves to Yukon, Okla., where Brooks is raised n 1983: Plays his first gigs around Stillwater, Okla. n 1984: Graduates Oklahoma State University, moves to Nashville the first time, returns to Oklahoma n 1986: Marries college girlfriend Sandy Mahl, returns to Nashville n 1988: Signs with Capitol Records n 1989: First album, Garth Brooks, is released n 1992: Brooks first child, Taylor Maine Pearl Brooks, is born n 1994: His second child, August Anna Brooks, is born n 1996: His third child, Allie Colleen Brooks, is born n Dec. 1996: Garth Brooks: Storytellers airs on VH1 n Aug. 1997: Garth Live from Central Park airs as the most watched original program on HBO n 1999: Co-founds Teammates for Kids charity October 2000: Brooks announces his retirement and return to Oklahoma n 2001: Final promised album, Scarecrow, is released December 2005: Marries his second wife, fellow recording artist Trisha Yearwood n 2005: Briefly leaves retirement, for several charity performances n 2007: Agrees to one show in Kansas City, does nine due to demand n Dec. 2009: After nine years, Brooks ends his retirement, with regular shows in Las Vegas n July 2012: At the Calgary Stampedes 100th birthday, Brooks returns to Canada and to Calgary

accolades
24 Billboard Music Awards 18 Academy of Country Music Awards (also, Artist of the Decade, Crystal Milestone) 17 American Music Awards (including Artist of the 90s) 11 Country Music Association Awards 10 Peoples Choice Awards 5 World Music Awards 2 Grammy Awards 2 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards 2 Blockbuster Awards 1 Recording Industry Association of America Award (Artist of the Century) 1 Radio Music Award 1 GLAAD Media Award