Tim McGraw

Infobox musical artist
Name = Tim McGraw|

---

Img_capt = Tim McGraw performing for the United States Air Force
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Samuel Timothy McGraw
Born = birth date and age|1967|5|1
Origin = Delhi, Louisiana, United States
Instrument = Vocals, Guitar, Piano
Genre = Country
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 1992-present
Label = Curb
Associated_acts = Faith Hill
The Dancehall Doctors
URL = [http://www.timmcgraw.com/ Tim McGraw official web site]

Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw (born May 1, 1967) is an American country singer and actor. With many of his albums and singles topping the country music charts, Tim has achieved total album sales in excess of 40 million units. He is married to country singer Faith Hill and is the son of former baseball player Tug McGraw. His trademark hit songs include "Indian Outlaw", "Don't Take the Girl", "I Like It, I Love It", "Something Like That", "It's Your Love" (featuring his wife, Faith Hill), and "Live Like You Were Dying".

McGraw had eleven consecutive albums to debut at Number One on the "Billboard" albums charts; Thirty-one singles to hit number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country 100 chart; three singles named the #1 country song of the year; ("It's Your Love", "Just To See You Smile", and "Live Like You Were Dying") Won 3 Grammys, 14 Academy of Country Music awards, 11 Country Music Association (CMA) awards, 10 American Music Awards and 3 People's Choice Awards. Ranked as one of the top five in all genres of music, his Soul2Soul II tour with Faith Hill became the highest-grossing tour in country music history.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = Curb Records | date = | url =http://www.curb.com/artists/artistbio_T1.cfm?ID=33 | accessdate = 2007-04-23]

McGraw has ventured into acting, with a supporting role in the Billy Bob Thornton film "Friday Night Lights", "The Kingdom", and a lead role in 2006's "Flicka". He is also a minority owner of the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats.

Early life

Tim McGraw was born Samuel Timothy McGraw in Delhi, Louisiana, a town in Richland Parish, the son of a waitress, Elizabeth (Betty) Ann D'Agostino, and a relief pitcher for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, Frank Edwin McGraw Jr. also known as Tug McGraw. McGraw is 25% Italian and 25% Irish on his mother's side and Scots-Irish descent on his father's side. In 1966, Tug was a pitcher for the Jacksonville Suns who lived in an apartment above Betty D'Agostino, who attended Terry Parker High School. The pair had a relationship and when Betty got pregnant, her parents sent her to Louisiana to live with relatives and have the baby. [http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/042304/woo_15421921.shtml Florida Times-Union: April 23, 2004-Tim's mom survives, has a new dream] ]

Raised by his mother in Start, Louisiana east of Monroe, McGraw grew up believing his stepfather, Horace Smith, was his birth father. At age eleven McGraw discovered his birth certificate while searching his mother's closet to find pictures for a school project. After his discovery, his mother revealed that his biological father was Tug McGraw, and took Tim to meet him for the first time. For seven years, Tug denied being Tim's father. Tim was 18 years old when Tug first realized how much Tim looked like him at that age and acknowledged paternity. Father and son remained close until Tug's death in 2004.

As a child, Tim McGraw loved to play competitive sports, including baseball, even though he did not know his biological father was a professional athlete. He attended Northeast Louisiana University on a baseball scholarshipcite news |title = Tim McGraw Biography | publisher = VH1 | url =http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:afq67uq0h0jw~T1 | accessdate = 2007-03-15] and became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.cite web |title = What's different about Pike? | publisher = Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Kappa Psi Chapter | date = | url =http://www.pomonapikes.com/ | accessdate = 2007-03-15] While in college he sang in a band that was known as the Electones.Fact|date=December 2007 During this period, he learned to play guitar and would frequently perform and sing for tips, although he claims that his roommates often hid the guitar because he was so bad.

His mother, Betty returned to Jacksonville, Florida in 1987, and Tim followed. He attended Florida Community College at Jacksonville for one term, and occasionally sat in with local bands. In 1989, on the day his hero Keith Whitley died, McGraw dropped out of college to head to Nashville and pursue a musical career.

Personal life

He is married to Faith Hill. Tim and Faith have three daughters together, Gracie, Maggie and Audrey. Tim and Faith live with their three daughters in Williamson County, Tennessee, just outside of Nashville.

1990s

"Tim McGraw"

McGraw came to the attention of Curb Records in 1990. After cutting a demo single, McGraw gave a copy to his father, Tug McGraw. A man who was friends with Curb Records executives heard the demo while driving with Tug McGraw one day and recommended that Curb contact the young singer. Several weeks after he was able to play his tape for Curb executives, they signed him to a recording contract. Two years later, in 1992, he had his first minor hit "Welcome to the Club" off his self-titled debut album. Although the album failed to make much of a dent on the charts, McGraw did have two other minor hits from it in 1993, "Memory Lane" and "Two Steppin Mind."cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw Biography | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = VH1 | date = | url =http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:afq67uq0h0jw~T1 | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

"Not a Moment Too Soon"

His second album, "Not a Moment Too Soon", was much more successful, becoming best selling country album in 1994. The first single, "Indian Outlaw", caused considerable controversy as critics argued that it presented Native Americans in a patronizing way. Some radio stations refused to play it,cite web | last = Gerome | first = John | coauthors = | title = Growing Strong - McGraw's reach encompasses country music, more | work=
pages = | language = English | publisher = San Angelo Standard Times | date = April 13, 2007 | url =http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2007/apr/13/growing-strong---mcgraws-reach-encompasses-country/ | accessdate = 2007-04-23] but the controversy helped spur sales and the song became McGraw's first top ten country single (getting as high as #8) and reaching #15 on the pop chart.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Controversy: Episode "Indian Outlaw" | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher = Country Music Television | date= 2003 | url =http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/controversy/67940/episode_about.jhtml | accessdate = 2007-04-23]

The second single from the album, "Don't Take the Girl", became McGraw's first #1 country hit and "helped cement his image as a ruggedly good-looking guy with a sensitive side." The following year, the album's title track became a #1 country single, while "Down on the Farm" reached number two and "Refried Dreams" reached the top 5. The album sold over 5 million copies, topping the Billboard 200 as well as the country album charts. On the strength of this success, McGraw won Academy of Country Music awards for Album of the Year and Top New Male Vocalist in 1994.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw Biography | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = CMT | date = | url =http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/mcgraw_tim/bio.jhtml | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

"All I Want"

"All I Want", released in 1995, continued his run of success, debuting at number one on the country charts. The album sold over two million copies and reached the top 5 on the Billboard 200. "I Like It, I Love It" reached number one on the country charts as the leadoff single, while "She Never Lets It Go to Her Heart" also went to number one in 1996. "Can't Be Really Gone", "All I Want is a Life", and "Maybe We Should Just Sleep On It" were all top 5 hits.

In 1996, McGraw headlined the most successful country tour of the year, The Spontaneous Combustion Tour, with Faith Hill as his supporting act. Faith Hill broke off her engagement to her former producer Scott Hendricks so that she and Tim could start dating each other; then married on October 6, 1996. The couple have since had three daughters, Gracie Katherine (born May 1997), Maggie Elizabeth (born August 1998) and Audrey Caroline (born December 2001).cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Faith Hill | work= | pages = | language = English | publisher =InternationalSpeakers.Com | date = | url =http://www.internationalspeakers.com/speakers/ISBB-55387D/Faith_Hill/ | accessdate = 2007-04-23]

"Everywhere"

McGraw's next album, 1997's "Everywhere", again topped the country charts and reached number two on the album charts, selling 4 million copies. The first single, "It’s Your Love", a duet with Faith Hill, became the first single in twenty years to spend six weeks on top of Billboard's country singles chart (the previous such song had been Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson's "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)" in 1977).Fact|date=March 2007 The single reached #7 on the pop chart (and gained platinum status); and became the most played single in the history of the Billboard country charts.Fact|date=June 2007 Five more singles "Everywhere", "Where the Green Grass Grows", "One of These Days", "For a Little While", and "Just to See You Smile" reached the top of the country charts from the album, with the last of these setting a new record by spending 42 weeks on the Billboard charts. The Country Music Association awarded "Everywhere" its Album of the Year award for 1997.

"A Place in the Sun

"A Place in the Sun" in 1999 continued McGraw's streak, debuting atop both the US pop and country album charts and selling three million albums. It featured another four chart topping singles on the country charts including "Please Remember Me", "Something Like That", "My Best Friend", and "My Next Thirty Years"; "Some Things Never Change" reached #7 on the country chart. He also contributed a song for the Grammy-winning tribute album to Bob Willis, "Ride With Bob." His song, a cover of "Milk Cow Blues", was recorded as a duet with Asleep at the Wheel, whom he had met while performing together at the George Strait Country Music Festival.

McGraw recorded two more duets with his wife in the late 1990s, both of which appeared on her albums. "Just to Hear You Say That You Love Me" off her multi-platinum 1998 album "Faith", reached the top five of the US country charts, while her follow-up and 1999 album "Breathe" featured "Let's Make Love", which would win a Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Country Vocal Collaboration.

2000s

"Greatest Hits"

In 2000, McGraw released his "Greatest Hits" album which topped the charts for nine weeks and sold almost 6 million copies, making it one of the biggest selling albums in the modern country market. In the latter half of the year, he and Hill went out on the Soul2Soul Tour, playing to sellout crowds in 64 venues including Madison Square Garden. It was one of the top tours of any genre in the US and the leading country tour during 2000.

While in Buffalo, McGraw and Kenny Chesney became involved in a scuffle with police officers after Chesney, who had permission from the sheriff's daughter, attempted to ride a police horse. McGraw came to Chesney's aid after police officers nearby believed the horse was being stolen and tried to arrest him. The two were arrested and charged with assault, but were later cleared. During a concert with the George Strait Country Music Festival several weeks later, Hill, dressed as a police officer, made an unscheduled appearance at the end of McGraw's set and led him off the stage.cite news | last =Ryan | first = Harriet | coauthors = | title = The singers, the deputies, and a horse | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = CourtTV | date = March 14, 2001 | url =http://www.courttv.com/archive/trials/countrymusic/051401_ctv.html | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

"Set This Circus Down"

McGraw's next album, "Set This Circus Down", was released in April 2001 and spawned four number one country hits - "Grown Men Don't Cry", "Angry All the Time"(with Faith Hill), "The Cowboy in Me", and "Unbroken". He also provided harmony vocals for the Jo Dee Messina song "Bring on the Rain", which he also produced. The song topped the country charts.

Hungry for more of his music, fans downloaded a version of his performance of the song "Things Change" from his appearance at the Country Music Association Awards Show. The song was played extensively on radio, becoming the first country song to appear on the charts from a fully downloaded version.

"Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors"

In 2002, Tim McGraw bucked country music traditions by recording his album "Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors" with his tour band The Dancehall Doctors. Unlike rock music, where it is commonplace for touring bands to provide the music on albums recorded by the artist they support, country albums are typically recorded with session musicians.cite news | last =Tyrangiel | first = Josh | coauthors = | title = The Clinton of Country | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Time Magazine |date=September 13, 2004 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,695870,00.html | accessdate = 2007-03-15] McGraw chose to use his own touring band in order to recognize their part in his success and to capture some of the feel of a real band.

All of the Dancehall Doctors have worked with McGraw since at least 1996. They include:
* Darran Smith - Lead Guitar, Acoustic guitar
* Bob Minner - Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic guitar, Banjo, Mandolin
* Denny Hemingson - Steel Guitar, Electric, Baritone, and Slide Guitars, Dobro
* John Marcus - Bass guitar
* Dean Brown - Fiddle, Mandolin
* Jeff McMahon - Piano, Organ, Synthesizer, Keyboards
* Billy Mason - Drums
* David Dunkley - Percussion.Citation | last = | first = | title = Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors - Bio | place= Liner notes for album "Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors" | publisher = Curb Records | year = 2001 | location = | url =http://countrymusic.about.com/library/bltim-bio.htm]

The album debuted at number 2 on the country albums charts,Citation | last = | first = | title = Interviews with Joe Biden, Chuck Hagel, Tim McGraw | place= Larry King Live | publisher = CNN | year = December 10, 2002 | location = | url =http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0212/10/lkl.00.html] with the single "Real Good Man" reaching number one on the Hot Country Songs chart. "She's My Kind of Rain" reached number 2 in 2003 and "Red Rag Top" reached the top 5. The album also featured a cover version of Elton John's early 1970s classic "Tiny Dancer", as well as appearances by Kim Carnes on "Comfort Me" - a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks - and Don Henley and Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles on "Illegal".

"Live Like You Were Dying"

2004's "Live Like You Were Dying" continued McGraw's record of commercial success. The title track, dedicated to his father Tug McGraw who died of brain cancer earlier in the year, was a soaring ode to living life fully and in the moment,cite web | last = McNary | first = Dave | coauthors = | title = 'Dying' for a deal | work= | pages = | language = | publisher = Variety | date = December 12, 2004 | url =http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117914872.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=tim+mcgraw | accessdate = 2007-04-03] while the second single "Back When" was a paean to an easy nostalgia. 'Live Like You Were Dying' spent seven non-consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard (10 weeks on Radio & Records) and went on to become the biggest hit single of the year. It also became one the most awarded songs/records by winning ACM Single and Song of the Year, CMA Single and Song of the Year and a Grammy.

In late 2004, his unlikely duet with hip-hop artist Nelly on " Over and Over", a soft ballad of lost love, became a crossover hitcite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Nelly's 'Over & Over' Jumps To #1! | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = SixShot | date = November 9, 2004 | url =http://www.sixshot.com/articles/4572/ | accessdate = 2007-03-15] spending 10 weeks atop the Top 40 chart. This made Tim the first modern country artist to have two 10 week number one hits in a single year.Fact|date=April 2007 "Over and Over" brought McGraw a success he had never previously experienced on contemporary hit radio, rap radio, and brought both artists success neither had previously experienced in the hot adult contemporary market. The song also spent a week at the top of the UK single charts, and was McGraw's first visit to the UK hit countdown.

Throughout the 2005 NFL season McGraw sang an alternate version of "I Like It, I Love It" every week during the season. The alternate lyrics, which changed each week, would make reference to plays during Sunday's games and the song would be played alongside video highlights during halftime on "Monday Night Football".cite web | last = Kelley | first = Austin | coauthors = | title = Pigskin Poet | work= | pages = | language = | publisher = The New Yorker |date=October 10, 2005 | url =http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/10/10/051010ta_talk_kelley | accessdate = 2007-03-15] Later in the year McGraw became a minority owner of the Arena Football League's Nashville Kats when majority owner Bud Adams (owner of the NFL's Tennessee Titans) was awarded the expansion franchise.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw owner of Arena Football Team | work= | pages = | language = | publisher = USAToday | date = November 2, 2004 | url =http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2004-11-02-mcgraw-football_x.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-15] It was dedicated to Tug McGraw..

"Let It Go"

In April 2006 McGraw and Hill began their 73-concert 55 city Soul2Soul II Tour 2006, again to strong commercial acceptance. The tour grossed nearly $89 million and sold almost 1.1 million tickets, making it the top grossing tour in the history of country music.cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim, Faith set tour mark | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Country Standard Time |date=September 14, 2006 | url =http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/newsitem.asp?xid=221 | accessdate = 2007-03-15] It was named "Major Tour of the Year" by the prestigious Pollstar Magazine, beating out such heavyweights as Madonna and the Rolling Stones. In a special gesture, the couple donated all of the profits from their performance in New Orleans to Hurricane Katrina relief.cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw and Faith Hill concert to benefit Katrina relief | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Country Standard Time | date = May 12, 2006 | url =http://www.countrystandardtime.com/d/newsitem.asp?xid=39 | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

Tim, along with Kenny Chesney, contributed to a version of Tracy Lawrence's song "Find Out Who Your Friends Are", which can be found on Lawrence's album "For the Love". Although the official single version features only Lawrence's vocals, many stations have opted to play the version with McGraw and Chesney instead.

McGraw released his eleventh album, "Let It Go", on March 27, 2007. The album's debut single, "Last Dollar (Fly Away)", reached No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart, marking Tim's first No. 1 single since "Back When" in late 2004. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart and #1 on the Billboard Country Album chart, marking his 4th #1 top 200 album and 9th #1 country album (Source: Billboard Magazine). His daughters can be heard singing the chorus during the last few seconds of the song on the video.

During the Academy of Country Music awards show on May 21, 2007, McGraw performed a song titled "If You're Reading This", which he co-wrote with The Warren Brothers. [ [http://www.gactv.com/gac/nw_headlines/article/0,,GAC_26063_5547858,00.html Tim McGraw's Special Tribute ] ] Several radio stations began to play the live recording of the song; as a result, it entered the Hot Country Songs chart at #35. [ [http://www.the9513.com/tim-mcgraws-if-youre-reading-this-is-in-high-demand/ Tim McGraw’s “If You’re Reading This” Is In High Demand -- The 9513] ]

McGraw also produced the debut album of country music duo Halfway to Hazard. The duo's first single, "Daisy", peaked at #39 on the country charts in Summer of 2007.

In the summer of 2007 McGraw and Hill toured together once again in the Soul2Soul 2007 tour.

In the January 18, 2008 edition of the USA Today newspaper, McGraw was featured on the Def Leppard album Songs From The Sparkle Lounge and has co-written the first single, "Nine Lives", with Def Leppard band members Joe Elliott, Phil Collen and Rick Savage. The unusual pairing goes back to 2006 when McGraw joined Def Leppard onstage for the song "Pour Some Sugar On Me" and then collaborated on the song "Nine Lives" afterward. The album has a release date of May 6, 2008.

In May 2008 he hit the road with the Live Your Voice Tour. The mainly outdoor arena concert tour will be his first solo outing in nearly three years. Also in May 2008, he debuted a new song off of his follow-up to Let It Go at the Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, California.

In July 2008, Tim McGraw's new single and the title track of his album, "Let It Go," was released to country radio. Tim McGraw released his third greatest hits package, "Greatest Hits 3" on October 7, 2008. The album features 12 tracks. No new material was recorded for the compilation. A new album of all new material was scheduled for release in October, but has since been pushed back to 2009.

Acting

McGraw's first acting appearance came in a 1995 episode of The Jeff Foxworthy Show, where he played Foxworthy's rival.

In 2004 McGraw played a sheriff in Rick Schroder's independent release "Black Cloud". Later in the same year, McGraw received good notices as the overbearing father of a running back in the major studio Texas high school football drama "Friday Night Lights". The "Dallas Observer" said the role was "played with unexpected ferocity by country singer Tim McGraw."cite web | last = Wilonsky | first = Robert | coauthors = | title = Hell of a Catch | work= | pages = | language = | publisher = The Dallas Observer |date=October 7, 2004 | url =http://www.dallasobserver.com/2004-10-07/film/hell-of-a-catch/ | accessdate = 2007-03-26] The movie went on to gross over $60 million dollars worldwide at the box officecite web | last = Weinstein | first = Joshua L. | coauthors = | title = Hollywood via Nashville | work=
pages = | language = | publisher = Variety | date = May 22, 2006 | url =http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117943931.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1&query=tim+mcgraw | accessdate = 2007-04-03] and sold millions in the DVD market. Most recently it was named one of the top 50 high school movies of all time (number 37) by Entertainment Weekly.

McGraw's first lead role was in the 2006 film "Flicka", which was released in theatres October 20, 2006. In the remake of the classic book "My Friend Flicka", McGraw played the father, Rob, costarring with Alison Lohman and Maria Bello. The family-friendly movie debuted in the top 10 list and has grossed over 25 Million dollars at the box office.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Flicka | work= | pages = | language = | publisher =Box Office Mojo | date = | url =http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=homevideo&id=flicka.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-26] McGraw again achieved critical acclaim for his acting.cite web | last = McCarthy | first = Todd | coauthors = | title = Flicka | work= | pages = | language = | publisher = Variety |date=October 17, 2006 | url =http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931913.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 | accessdate = 2007-03-26] cite web | last = Hartlaub | first = Peter | coauthors = | title = McGraw alone can't rein in unruly 'Flicka' | work= | pages = | language = | publisher = The San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 20, 2006 | url =http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/10/20/DDGFFLRSLP1.DTL&type=movies | accessdate = 2007-03-26]

Shortly before "Flicka" opened McGraw received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His star is located at 6901 Hollywood Blvd. near stars in the sidewalk honoring Julie Andrews, William Shatner and the late Greta Garbo. One of his "Flicka" co-stars, Alison Lohman, attended the ceremony that included comments from Billy Bob Thornton, McGraw's co-star in the film, Friday Night Lights.cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw Receiving Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = CMT |date=September 14, 2006 | url =http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1543037/10122006/mcgraw_tim.jhtml | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

In addition to acting in "Flicka", McGraw served as executive producer of the soundtrack album, which was released by his record label, StyleSonic Records, in association with Curb Records and Fox 2000 films. It featured the closing credit song "My Little Girl", one of the first two songs that McGraw recorded that he also co-wrote (the other being "I've Got Friends That Do," both of which were included on "Greatest Hits Vol. 2"). [ [http://www.livedaily.com/news/Briefly_Tim_McGraw_Master_P_Silkk_the_Shocker_Pete_Doherty-9677.html Briefly: Tim McGraw, Master P, Silkk the Shocker, Pete Doherty >> LiveDaily ] ] The song was nominated by the Broadcast Film Critics for "Best Song" in a film, and the movie was nominated in the category "Best Family Film (Live Action). The movie proved to be another huge success in the DVD market and has sold over a million copies, debuting at number 3 on the DVD sales chart.

McGraw also had a small part in the Michael Mann-produced 2007 film The Kingdom. McGraw played a bitter, angered, widower whose wife was killed in the terrorist attack the movie revolves around.

Charitable efforts

As his success has grown, McGraw has become increasingly interested in giving back to the community. When McGraw first reached fame in 1994 he established his annual Swampstock event. Begun as a charity softball game to raise money for hometown little league programs, the event now includes a celebrity softball game and a multi-artist concert that attracts over 11,000 fans per year. The combined events have funded new little league parks and equipment and established college scholarship funds for students in the Northeast Louisiana area.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Awareness | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = TimMcGraw.Com | date= 2007 | url =http://www.timmcgraw.com/awareness | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

From 1996-1999 McGraw also hosted an annual New Year's Eve concert in Nashville with special guests including Jeff Foxworthy, the Dixie Chicks, and Martina McBride. The 1997 show raised over $100,000 for the Country Music Foundation Hall of Fame and Museum. Beginning in 1999, McGraw would pick select cities on each tour, and, the night before he was scheduled to perform, would choose a local club and host a quickly-organized show. This tour within a tour became known as "The Bread and Water Tour", and all proceeds from the show would go to a charity from that community.

In the days immediately following Hurricane Katrina, McGraw and his wife, who was raised in Mississippi, joined groups taking supplies to Gulfport, Mississippi. The two also hosted several charity concerts to benefit those who were displaced by the storm.cite web | last = Gordon | first = Dan | coauthors = Buck Wolf | title = Faith Hill, Tim McGraw Blast 'Humiliating' Katrina Cleanup | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = ABC News | date = March 8, 2006 | url =http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=1702714&page=2 | accessdate = 2007-03-15] Later in the year the couple established the Neighbor's Keeper Foundation, which provides funding for community charities to assist with basic humanitarian services in the event of a natural disaster or for desperate personal circumstances.

McGraw is also a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet,, in which various celebrities donate their time, skills, and fame to help the Red Cross highlight important initiatives and response efforts.cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet Members | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = The American Red Cross | date= 2007 | url =http://www.redcross.org/news/other/entertainment/natcelebcab/2007_members.asp | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

McGraw, a Democrat, has stated that he would one day like to run for public office in the future, possibly for Senate or governor of Tennessee, his home state. [cite web |url=http://www.antimusic.com/news/08/jan/04Gov_Tim_McGraw.shtml |title=Gov Tim McGraw? |work=antiMUSIC News |date=01/03/2008 ] In the same interview, he praised former President Bill Clinton.cite news | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim MCGraw Likes the sound of Gov. McGraw | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = MSNBC | date = January 13, 2006 | url =http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10840346/ | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

McGraw has helped out with charity events held by NFL Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. The Favre Forward Foundation has featured McGraw (and at other times Faith Hill) performing concerts during dinners and auctions that benefit children with disabilities in Wisconsin and Mississippi. (One instance is recorded on Favre's official website [cite web |url=http://www.officialbrettfavre.com/news/story_e23f2d11758c8034/ |title=Favre's golf tourney a success for QB, charity |work=Official Website of Brett Favre |date=Apr. 5, 2005 ]

On July 12th, 2007, it was made public that McGraw and his wife Faith Hill, while in Grand Rapids, Michigan for a performance, donated $5000 to Kailey Kozminski, 3 year-old daughter of Officer Robert Kozminski, a Grand Rapids police officer who was killed on July 8, 2007 while responding to a domestic disturbance. [cite web |first=Jessica Puchala |last=John Bumgardner |url=http://www.koz089.com/index.php?page=article&no=5 |title=Country Music Couple Donates $5,000 to Kozminski Fund |work=Grand Rapids Police Officer Robert Kozminski |date=Jul 13, 2007 ]

Discography

Awards

cite web | last = | first = | coauthors = | title = Tim McGraw Awards
work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Curb Records | date= 2007 | url =http://www.curb.com/artists/tm/tmbio2.html | accessdate = 2007-03-15]

Further reading

*Brown, Jim, and Susan Sparrow. "Faith Hill & Tim McGraw: Soul 2 Soul". Quarry Music Books, 2002. ISBN 1550822934
*Gray, Scott. "Perfect Harmony: the Faith Hill & Tim McGraw Story". 1st ed. Ballantine Books, 1999. ISBN 0345434129
*McGraw, Tim. "Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors: This is Ours". Atria Books, 2002. ISBN 074346706X
*Nichols, Tim, and Craig Wiseman. "Live Like You Were Dying". Rutledge Hill P, 2004. ISBN 1401602126
*Trimble, Betty "McMom". "A Mother's Story". D'Agostino/Dahlhauser/Ditmore Pub, 1996. ISBN 1886371326

References

External links

* [http://www.timmcgraw.com/ Tim McGraw official web site]
*imdb name|id=0005210|name=Tim McGraw
* [http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/mcgraw_tim/artist.jhtml Tim McGraw] at Country Music Television
*people.com
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bbph9kept7q70/ Tim McGraw All Music Guide Page]

Persondata
NAME= McGraw, Tim
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= McGraw, Samuel Timothy
SHORT DESCRIPTION= American country singer
DATE OF BIRTH= May 1, 1967
PLACE OF BIRTH= Delhi, Louisiana, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=