For the millions of fans who have made Garth Brooks the biggest solo musical artist in history--and for everyone else who wants to know what all the excitement is about--here is the whole amazing story of Garth"s wild ride to the top. New York Times bestselling author Jo Sgammato shares the fun-filled stories--many of them never-before published--from the songwriters, managers, publicists, agents, journalists, and industry insiders who witnessed the Garth Brooks phenomenon and helped to make it happen. On April 12, 1989, Garth"s first album was released, and since then, the entertainment world--and America--haven"t been the same. He was an ordinary guy from Yukon, Oklahoma, who hoped to become an athlete-- until he discovered his own unique ability to harness the power of music and reach into people"s hearts and souls. By giving his all to his fans and combining the flash of rock "n" roll with the music and values of country, Garth has created some of the most spectacular hits and concert events of our time, selling a monumental 89 million albums in just ten years. In a book that"s (almost!) as much fun as being there, go backstage and into the recording studios . . . travel from Texas Stadium to Central Park and to the concert halls of Europe and Australia . . . and learn the stories behind the songs like "The Dance," "The Thunder Rolls," and the all-time party anthem, "Friends in Low Places." Discover the real Garth Brooks--from his childhood and college years in Oklahoma to his ordinary-guy struggles with questions of success, family, and the meaning of life. From his tough early years in Nashville to his latest venture into the movies with The Lamb, celebrate the man who created a new kind of storm: American Thunder. If you own even one Garth Brooks album--you must read this book!