Trisha Yearwood

Trisha Yearwood playlist

Contributor: Jane Dove

Described as having the best female voice by both Dennis Quaid and Garth Brooks (but he’s biased as they are married!), I don’t know when I first became aware of Trisha Yearwood; it may have been on an Arena programme about new Country artists or on radio station Country 1035 but I have loved her music ever since. I’ve seen her perform live three times and been on “Meet and Greets” as well. She is known for singing ballads, such as How Do I Live from the film Con Air but can do slow songs, fun songs and rock it too. She has sung at the Oscars and at the opening ceremony of the Atlanta Olympics.

Trisha was born in Monticello, Georgia in 1964 and went to Nashville in 1985 where she worked at MTM Records and recorded demos and sang backing vocals (including for Garth Brooks) before getting a recording contract with MCA. Her first album, Trisha Yearwood, was released in 1991. Produced by Garth Fundis, it was eventually certified double platinum. The first single, She’s In Love With The Boy. got to No.1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs.

Trisha released albums steadily over the years, mainly working with Garth Fundis but also with Tony Brown and Mark Wright. She then took a break from recording to go into TV with her cookery show Trisha’s Southern Cooking and produced several cookery books. She has been touring in recent years with Garth Brooks. In the last few years some new albums have been released, the latest, Every Girl, in 2019.

I heard her interviewed on Radio 2 around the time of the CMAs and she said she hoped to come back to the UK soon and do the smaller venues again. Can’t wait!

It has been difficult for me to narrow Trisha’s tracks down to 10 but here are a sample. Enjoy!

Like We Never Had A Broken Heart from Trisha Yearwood (1991)
Written by Pat Alger and Garth Brooks who sings harmony vocals.

For Reasons I’ve Forgotten from Hearts In Armor (1992)
Written by Jamie O’Hara this features Raul Malo (The Mavericks) on harmony vocals and the late great Buddy Emmons on steel guitar.

Here Comes Temptation from The Song Remembers When (1993)
Written by Kostas and, with harmony vocals, Raul Malo again.

Till I Get It Right from Thinkin’ About You (1995)
One of my favourite songs, originally sung by Tammy Wynette and co-written by Red Lane this is Trisha’s version. Love it!

I Wanna Go Too Far from Thinkin’ About You (1995)
Another favourite of mine, also because it features Lee Roy Parnell on slide guitar.

I Need You from Everybody Knows (1996)
Personal to me, this features Dan Dugmore on pedal steel.

Real Live Woman from Real Live Woman (2000)
Written by Bobbie Cryner who allegedly left it in Trisha’s mailbox.

Sweet Love from Jasper County (2005)
Written by Tia Sillers and Craig Wiseman this features Dan Dugmore on steel guitar and Johnny Garcia from Trisha’s road band on electric guitar.

Sing You Back To Me from Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love (2007)
Co-written by Tony Arata (The Dance), Trisha dedicated this to the memory of her father.

Your Husband’s Cheatin’ On Us from Prizefighter (2014)
Co-written by Matraca Berg who has written several songs for Trisha; the sentiment of this song makes me smile!

Trisha Yearwood official website

Trisha Yearwood awards & nominations

“Get Hot Or Go Home: Trisha Yearwood – The Making Of A Nashville Star” by Lisa Rebecca Gubernick (St Martins Press paperback, 1995)

Trisha Yearwood – Live at the Hollywood Bowl 1997 (YouTube)

Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood on “Leno” 1997 (YouTube)

Trisha Yearwood biography (Apple Music)

Jane and Merric (Mr Toppermost) met when they worked in the same library service where she recalls that he wore a black tie on the day Otis Redding died (that dates us!) and teased her about her devotion to Scott Walker. At home Jane sings along to music channelling her inner Trisha Yearwood but having been told that she sings upside down and in the key of L, she now sings alto in a Can’t Sing Choir.

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