Garth Brooks: The Launching Pad

By Tom Roland

Garth Brooks photo by Mark Tucker, courtesy of Pearl Records.

November 28, 2007 — According to an old saying, a rising tide lifts all boats. That was certainly true in the case of Garth Brooks, whose ascent to record-breaking levels helped to spawn and/or invigorate careers for a number of other artists.

1) Trisha Yearwood
Trisha met Garth when both were struggling artists who would make a few bucks by singing on demo recordings for other artists and songwriters. After she released her first album, he gave her the opening slot on his tour, helping to expose her very quickly to the masses. He liked her so much, he eventually married her.

2) Martina McBride

Martina's husband, John McBride, got a job working on the road with Garth, and Martina went along selling T-shirts at every venue. Within just a couple of years, she would need somebody in her own crew to sell Martina McBride Ts.

3) Chris LeDoux
Chris had been making records for more than a dozen years when Garth's first single, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old)," mentioned the rodeo pro in the lyrics. Suddenly, Chris rose from obscurity to prominence, but it wasn't the only way in which Garth would help out. Garth provided supporting vocals on Chris' only Top 10 hit, "Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy," and offered to donate part of his liver when Chris needed a transplant.

4) Tyler England
Ty earned attention as a guitar player and primary backup singer in Garth’s road band, Stillwater, and that led directly to a solo career, paced by the hit single "Should've Asked Her Faster." Garth later produced one of his albums, and Ty continues to work with Garth when the moment is right.

5) Steve Wariner
Steve was a well-established artist with more than 15 years of hits behind him when Garth recorded his song "Longneck Bottle." Shortly thereafter, Steve grew frustrated with his record company and asked for a release. Garth encouraged him to talk with Capitol Records and put in a word for him with the label. Lo and behold, Steve signed there to release "Holes In The Floor Of Heaven."

6) Jimmy Mattingly
Jimmy played fiddle in Stillwater. After Garth’s retirement, he formed a bluegrass band, The Grascals, in 2004. The group has won Entertainer of the Year in the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards each of the last two years.