![Blame It All on His Roots: Garth Brooks Through the Years [Pictures]](https://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2019/01/garth-brooks-through-the-years-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Blame It All on His Roots: Garth Brooks Through the Years [Pictures]
Garth Brooks is a country music icon, one of the biggest names in the genre thanks to his astronomical success in the 1990s. But while he comes from a musical family — Brooks' mother, Colleen, was an artist on Capitol Records in the 1950s — his own career path wasn't obvious at first.
Athletic in high school, Brooks attended Oklahoma State University on a track scholarship and graduated with an advertising degree. His first move to Nashville was brief — as in, "24 hours or so" brief — but Brooks' second move, in 1987, stuck. Two years later, he released his self-titled debut album and found instant success.
Now, Brooks is one of the best-selling artists of all time, with seven diamond-certified albums to his name. He's won numerous Grammys, ACM Awards and CMA Awards, among other honors, and is a Country Music Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame member. Following a retirement in the 2000s, Brooks has returned to the stage in a massive way.
How He's Changed! Garth Brooks' Storied Career in Pictures:
More From 102.7 KORD
![Walking Thru the McNary Dam Railroad Tunnel [VIDEO]](http://townsquare.media/site/112/files/2022/02/attachment-McNary-tunnel.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Top 7 Unforgettable Garth Brooks Moments](http://townsquare.media/site/623/files/2016/04/garth-brooks-unforgettable-moments-video.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![For a Strong Heart, Stay Active — 5 Great Cardiovascular-Health Exercises](http://townsquare.media/site/757/files/2017/02/woman-doing-yoga.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![61 Years Ago: Garth Brooks Is Born in Tulsa, Okla.](http://townsquare.media/site/623/files/2015/02/Garth-Brooks.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![‘1883’ Ratchets Up the Action With a Tornado, Gunfight + Unexpected New Relationship [Spoiler Alert]](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2022/02/attachment-1883Ep7.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Hank Williams Jr.’s Son, Sam Williams, Wants Out of Conservatorship He Says His Father Put Him In](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2022/02/attachment-sam-williams-conservatorship-i-want-out.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Dolly Parton, Kelly Clarkson Re-Record Iconic ‘9 to 5′ for New Documentary](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2022/02/attachment-Dolly-Parton-Kelly-Clarkson.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Tim McGraw Reveals He Wrote a Short Musical Number for ‘1883’](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2022/02/attachment-Tim-McGraw-on-Kelly-Clarkson-Show.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Remember When Luke Bryan Rocked the National Anthem at the Super Bowl?](http://townsquare.media/site/204/files/2021/02/luke-bryan-2017-super-bowl-li-national-anthem.jpg?w=980&q=75)