Tracy Lawrence in Oxford, AL

Born in Atlanta, Texas in 1968, Lawrence grew up mostly in Foreman, Arkansas, where he soaked up traditional and outlaw country as well as Southern rock. He started performing in public when he was 15 and was a regular presence on the local honky-tonk circuit by 17. After college, he moved to Nashville in 1990 and worked day jobs while winning numerous talent shows. That led to a live radio performance and, in 1991, a showcase gig that netted him a deal with Atlantic. Hits followed in the Top Tens Runnin’ Behind, Today’s Lonely Fool, and Somebody Paints the Wall, and Lawrence was on his way to stardom. He arrived there with Alibis, the platinum-selling 1993 follow-up that produced an astounding four chart-topping singles: the title track, Can’t Break It to My Heart, My Second Home, and If the Good Die Young.