Born: July 29, 1966
Place of Birth: Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Major Notes:
Martina McBride has sometimes been referred to as the "Celine Dion of Country Music."
During her early years, she developed an ear for country and western music by listening to songs of top singers.
McBride was given support by being added to her father's band, The Shiffters, at age 8.
Following high school, McBride played in rock bands in her local area but realized as a singer she preferred country music.
She decided in 1987 to form her own band and rented some rehearsal space from her future husband, John McBride.
By 1989, the married couple moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where many country stars begin their careers.
Her husband, who was a sound engineer, found work for a major western star, Garth Brooks.
While helping doing roady work for Brooks in 1991, McBride made a demo tape and used it to win a contract with RCA National Records.
By 1993, she had made two albums and successfully placed three songs in the Top Ten country list.
On her next album, McBride had a number one hit with the song Wild Angels.
Her early success was rewarded as, in 1995, she was inducted into the Grand Ol' Opry.
By the year 2002, she had become one of the most popular female singers not only on the country music scene but also she was being recognized on the Adult Contemporary record charts.
Throughout the 2000's, McBride was routinely nominated for and won Top Female Vocalist awards.
McBride has released over ten albums to date whose sales number in the tens of millions.
Martina McBride is a very active supporter of several charities and in 2003 she was presented the "Minnie Pearl Humanitarian Award."
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