Some country singers have a slow build in their career, where it might take several records for them to have much success. Others release a debut album that practically turns them into a superstar overnight. We found four country artists, whose lives were forever changed with their first record.
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1. Garth Brooks' Self-Titled Album
In 1989, Garth Brooks released his self-titled debut album, and country music was never the same. The 10-song record includes his first single, "Much Too Young (To Feel This Damn Old," followed by "If Tomorrow Never Comes," "Not Counting You" and "The Dance."
Brooks became a superstar overnight, with fans clamoring for his music, and to see him on tour. Garth Brooks was later certified Diamond, for sales in excess of 10 million units. For all of his gratitude, Brooks admits he wishes he could take back some of the decisions he made.
"I probably didn't handle it well," Brooks later admits on CBS Mornings. "A nation watches you grow up, right? So you're gonna make decisions that you go, 'Man, I wish I could take that one back.'"
2. Billy Ray Cyrus, 'Some Gave All'
When Billy Ray Cyrus released Some Gave All in 1992, he likely had no idea what was about to happen. The title track became a hit for Cyrus, as did "Could've Been Me" and "She's Not Cryin' Anymore," also from the record. But it's Cyrus' debut single, "Achy Breaky Heart," which made Cyrus an instant, overnight superstar.
It was also the boost Cyrus needed in his personal life.
"I lived in my car and was homeless when I [originally] recorded this song," Cyrus tells The Boot. "So it's all blessing to me. I feel really fortunate."
Cyrus went on to have more success. But he never replicated what he had with Some Gave All.
3. Faith Hill's 'Take Me As I Am'
When Faith Hill released Take Me As I Am in 1993, she could never have predicted the career she would ultimately enjoy. The record's title track became one of three chart-topping singles, with "Wild One" released first, also becoming her first No. 1 hit.
Take Me As I Am became the launching pad for a superstar career in country music for Hill, which also includes sold-out tours, movie roles, more hits at radio - and a happy marriage to fellow singer, Tim McGraw.
"Wild One' was responsible for so many things," Hill reflects to The Boot. "For landing me a spot on David Letterman. That was the first national TV show that I ever did. Not to mention it was a big hit at radio and was No. 1 for many weeks. It changed my career in such a big way. I just hit the gate running."
Sadly for Hill's fans, she seems to have retired from the spotlight. Her last solo studio album, Fireflies, came out in 2005.
4. Taylor Swift's Self-Titled Album
When Taylor Swift released her eponymous debut in 2006, she was just shy of her 17th birthday. The first single, "Tim McGraw," gave country music fans an idea of the songwriting she was capable of, even as a precocious teenager.
"Tim McGraw" was followed by "Teardrops on My Guitar," "Our Song," "Picture to Burn" and "Should've Said No." Some criticized Swift for being too pop, and some didn't like the youthful edge to her music, but Swift likely laughed all the way to the bank.
Swift wrote or co-wrote all the songs on Taylor Swift. Although she could not predict her success when it came out, she maintains songwriting is her first love.
"If I'm not a star, then I guess I'm going to be a writer," she tells ABC News in a 2005 interview, before her first album came out. "I know that what I want to do is music, because everyone is like, 'Yeah, you should do what you love,' and this is what I love," Swift said at the time. "This is what I feel I was meant to do, because I think it means something when you can't put a guitar down, you can't stop writing, you can't stop thinking about new ideas for songs."
