n Feb. 7, 1962: Troyal Garth Brooks born in Tulsa, Okla.n 1966: Brooks’ family moves to Yukon, Okla., where Brooks is raisedn 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 Nashvillen 1988: Signs with Capitol Recordsn 1989: First album, Garth Brooks, is releasedn 1992: Brooks’ first child, Taylor Maine Pearl Brooks, is bornn 1994: His second child, August Anna Brooks, is bornn 1996: His third child, Allie Colleen Brooks, is bornn Dec. 1996: Garth Brooks: Storytellers airs on VH1n Aug. 1997: Garth — Live from Central Park airs as the most watched original program on HBOn 1999: Co-founds Teammates for Kids charityOctober 2000: Brooks announces his retirement and return to Oklahoman 2001: Final promised album, Scarecrow, is releasedDecember 2005: Marries his second wife, fellow recording artist Trisha Yearwoodn 2005: Briefly leaves retirement, for several charity performancesn 2007: Agrees to one show in Kansas City, does nine due to demandn Dec. 2009: After nine years, Brooks ends his retirement, with regular shows in Las Vegasn July 2012: At the Calgary Stampede’s 100th birthday, Brooks returns to Canada and to Calgary

accolades24 Billboard Music Awards18 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 Awards10 People’s Choice Awards5 World Music Awards2 Grammy Awards2 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Awards2 Blockbuster Awards1 Recording Industry Association of America Award (Artist of the Century)1 Radio Music Award1 GLAAD Media Award

selected life & times