Garth Brooks has become one of the most prominent country stars over the last fifty years. The popular country artist was born near Tulsa, Oklahoma, on February 7, 1962. Brooks always had an interest in music growing up, but his main focus was athletics. He was a track and field star in high school, and after he graduated from school he attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, to continue his athletic career. He graduated from college in 1984, and he began singing and playing guitar at local bars and restaurants near Stillwater.