Biography of Tim McGraw

The son of former major-league pitcher Tug McGraw, Tim McGraw grew up in Start, Louisiana, moving to Nashville the day Keith Whitley died. His first album, Tim McGraw, didn't leave much of a mark, but his second, Not a Moment Too Soon, contained a controversial song called "Indian Outlaw" that took him to the top of the country charts and to the upper levels of the pop charts too. ~ Brian Mansfield

Biography of Nelly

St. Louis-based MC Nelly began his hip-hop career in the early '90s with the St. Lunatics, who scored a regional hit in 1996 with the single "Gimme What Ya Want." Though they tried to get a record deal as a group, the Lunatics decided Nelly would have better luck as a solo artist; soon after, he was signed by Universal Records. His 2000 debut album, Country Grammar, featured contributions from the St. Lunatics as well as from the Teamsters, Lil' Wayne, and Cedric the Entertainer. ~ Heather Phares