Trisha Yearwood

Strong in her conviction and musical delivery, Trisha Yearwood empowered millions of women through her music. She began her career as a backup singer in Nashville and landed a recording contract with the help of longtime friend Garth Brooks. Yearwood released her self-titled debut album in 1991 and won raves for the hit single "She's in Love with the Boy." The country singer further rose to prominence with Hearts in Armor (1991) and Thinkin' About You (1995), albums that launched her as a crossover pop artist. She won a Grammy Award for her rendition of the Diane Warren-penned ballad "How Do I Live" for the 1997 action-drama "Con Air," which became one of the biggest selling movie theme songs in history. Yearwood also won kudos for her other projects, which included a recurring acting role on the drama series "JAG" (NBC, 1995-96; CBS, 1997-2005) and releasing a series of cookbooks. After a longstanding friendship with Brooks, she eventually married him in 2005 and became one-half of country music's power couple. From handfuls of accolades to platinum-selling albums, Yearwood stayed true to her roots and carved out a career that influenced many artists that followed in her footsteps.