Andy Griggs

Louisiana native Andy Griggs grew up listening to the sounds of Merle Haggard, but turned his head toward outlaw country and gospel by the time he reached college. After a short stint at Northeast Louisiana University, Griggs returned home in the early '90s to grieve the deaths of his father and brother. He became a minister, and settled into family life with a new marriage, but he was still playing guitar. The music was in his veins, so Griggs began writing songs. By 1997, Griggs was paving his way in Nashville. He issued his debut album, You Won't Ever Be Lonely, in 1999; it went gold and charted three Top Ten singles with "She's More," "I'll Go Crazy," and "You Won't Ever Be Lonely." Three years later, Griggs returned to the country spotlight with a second album, Freedom. The album's first single, "Tonight I Wanna Be Your Man," was another chart smash. The Good Life, on Montage Records, appeared in 2008. ~ MacKenzie Wilson