Tracy Byrd was born on Dec. 17, 1966, in Beaumont, Texas, and raised in nearby Vidor, Texas. He studied business at Southwest Texas State, then earned a residency with Mark Chesnutt at the local club Cutters. When Chesnutt found national success, Byrd formed his own band and took over the residency.

He signed with MCA Nashville in 1992 and had to wait a year before he fit into their release schedule. After two minor singles, Byrd flew to No. 1 with “Holdin’ Heaven.” It became the first of a series of Top 10 hits, most of them novelties, such as “Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous,” “Watermelon Crawl” and “I’m From the Country.” With MCA Nashville rather heavy with superstar acts, Byrd shifted to RCA in 1999. It took several years before he returned to the Top 10 when “Just Let Me Be in Love” peaked in late 2001. But by the end of 2002, he scored his second No. 1 hit with another novelty hit, “Ten Rounds With Jose Cuervo.”

In addition to his musical career, Byrd is an active outdoorsman. He also launched his own line of food products in 2003.