Tracy Lawrence
Encyclopedia
Tracy Lawrence is an American country music
artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music. Lawerence signed to Atlantic Records
in 1991, Lawrence debuted that year with the album Sticks and Stones, which produced his first chart single and first Number One hit in its title track
. Five more studio albums, as well as a live album and a compilation album, followed throughout the 1990s and into 2000 on Atlantic before the label's country division was closed in 2001. Afterward, he recorded for Warner Bros. Records
, DreamWorks Records
, Mercury Records Nashville and his own label, Rocky Comfort Records.
Lawrence has released nine studio albums, three compilations, a live album, and a Christmas album. His studio albums have accounted for more than thirty singles on the Billboard
country music charts. Of these, eight have reached number one: "Sticks and Stones
" (1991), "Alibis
", "Can't Break It to My Heart
", "My Second Home
"(all 1993), "If the Good Die Young
" (1994), "Texas Tornado
" (1995), "Time Marches On
" (1996) and "Find Out Who Your Friends Are
" (2006).
, and lived most of his early life in Foreman, Arkansas
. He played in his first band at the age of sixteen and later attended Southern Arkansas University
in Magnolia, Arkansas
, where he was a member of the Epsilon Kappa chapter of Sigma Pi
Fraternity. In 1990 Lawrence left Arkansas
for Nashville, Tennessee
where he planned to find success as a recording artist.
Lawrence worked as an ironworker
and in phone sales while he tried to break into the music business. He began participating in talent shows and earned enough money to live on. He began working with Wanda Collier, a music publisher, doing some shows and co-writing some songs, while learning his way around the music scene in Nashville. He had a gig at the Bluebird Cafe
and met Wayne Edwards
who became his manager.
Sticks and Stones, upon its late-1991 release, accounted for four singles on the Billboard
country charts. First was the album's title track
, which spent a week at Number One in January 1992. Following it were, in order: "Today's Lonely Fool
", "Runnin' Behind
" and "Somebody Paints the Wall
." Sticks and Stones was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
for shipments of one million copies. In 1992, he was also named by Billboard as Top New Male Vocalist.
, also produced four singles. The first of these, which was the title track
, was his second number-one, as well as his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100
, where it peaked at number 72. After this song came "Can't Break It to My Heart
", "My Second Home
" and "If the Good Die Young
", all of which went to number-one. The album was certified 2× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. In 1994, he contributed the song "Renegades, Rebels, and Rogues" to the soundtrack
of the film Maverick
. This song became a Top Ten hit for him as well, and in 1993, he was awarded as Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music
.
, produced two consecutive number 2 hits in its title track
and "As Any Fool Can See
", the former of which was a number 84 on the Hot 100. The Bobby Braddock
-penned "Texas Tornado
" became his sixth number-one hit in mid-1995, followed by another number 2 in "If the World Had a Front Porch
". Later in 1995, he released a live acoustic album, Tracy Lawrence Live and Unplugged
.
, his fourth album, was released in 1996. Its lead-off single was "If You Loved Me
", which reached a peak of number 4 in early 1996. Following this song was Lawrence's longest-lasting number-one hit, "Time Marches On
", also written by Braddock. After this song came "Stars over Texas
" and "Is That a Tear
", both peaking at number 2. Time Marches On was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
, was issued in 1997. This album produced consecutive Top Five hits in the #2 "Better Man, Better Off
" and #4 "How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye
". The title track, however, became the first single of his career to miss Top Ten, peaking at #26, and the final single, "While You Sleep", fell short of Top 40. Nonetheless, The Coast Is Clear was certified gold.
In March 1997, Lawrence married his 2nd wife Stacie Drew, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. By December she had filed charges against him. He was eventually convicted of misdemeanor
battery
and suspended by his record label until he got "his personal matters straight." He was ordered to pay a $500 fine to a women's shelter in Las Vegas
.
". This was the title track to his sixth album, 2000's Lessons Learned
. "Lessons Learned" was Lawrence's only Top 40 hit on the pop charts, peaking at number 40 there. Despite this single's success, however, the other singles from the album ("Lonely" and "Unforgiven") did not peak as highly, reaching number 18 and number 35 respectively. By the end of 2000, Atlantic closed its Nashville division, and several acts on its roster, including Lawrence, were transferred to Warner Bros. Records
. His only release for that label, Tracy Lawrence
, produced only two low-charting singles in "Life Don't Have to Be So Hard" and "What a Memory" before he exited the label.
". This song, which had also been a number 53-peaking single for Ken Mellons
earlier that year, went on to peak at number 4 for Lawrence in early 2004. It was the first release from Strong, his only album for DreamWorks Records
. Following this song were "It's All How You Look at It" and "Sawdust on Her Halo", at number 36 and number 48 respectively.
. His only release for the label, this album included fifteen of his previous hits, all of which (except "Paint Me a Birmingham") had to be newly recorded as the label did not own the rights to his Warner Bros. and Atlantic releases. Two new tracks were included as well: "Used to the Pain", previously a single in 1998 for its co-writer, Mark Nesler
, and "If I Don't Make It Back". These two new songs were both issued as singles, but after the release of the latter, Lawrence exited Mercury's roster.
In 2006, Lawrence started his own record label, Rocky Comfort Records. A partnership with his manager and brother, Laney, Rocky Comfort operates as a joint venture with CO5 Nashville. His first single for the label was "Find Out Who Your Friends Are
", which was released in August 2006 from his album For the Love
. This song did not enter Top 40 on the country charts until January 2007, when the album was released, and in June of the same year, it became his first Number One in eleven years. The song reached the top of the country charts in its forty-first week, setting a new record for the slowest-climbing Number One country single, and the second-slowest on any Billboard singles chart. It was also the first time that any artist had reached Number One with the first release from a self-owned label. The song's chart performance was aided by an alternate recording on the album which featured guest vocals from Tim McGraw
and Kenny Chesney
, although only Lawrence was credited on the charts. The re-recorded version received Musical Event of the Year honors at the 2007 CMA
Awards, Lawrence's first award from that association. Following this song was "Til I Was a Daddy Too" at #32, and "You Can't Hide Redneck", the third single. Shortly before the latter, Lawrence also issued a Christmas album entitled All Wrapped Up in Christmas
, the title track of which peaked at #57 based on Christmas season airplay. Chad Brock
and Zona Jones
also signed to the Rocky Comfort label, although Brock never released anything for it.
, which was released in June 2009. The album is composed entirely of Christian music
and has been nominated for a Grammy in the best southern, country or bluegrass gospel album category.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
artist. He started at a country music restaurant called "Live At Libby's" where owner Libby Knight would help local talent find their way into country music. Lawerence signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1991, Lawrence debuted that year with the album Sticks and Stones, which produced his first chart single and first Number One hit in its title track
Sticks and Stones (song)
"Sticks and Stones" is the title of a song written by Elbert West and Roger Dillon, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in November 1991 as the title track and first single from Lawrence's 1991 debut album...
. Five more studio albums, as well as a live album and a compilation album, followed throughout the 1990s and into 2000 on Atlantic before the label's country division was closed in 2001. Afterward, he recorded for Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
, Mercury Records Nashville and his own label, Rocky Comfort Records.
Lawrence has released nine studio albums, three compilations, a live album, and a Christmas album. His studio albums have accounted for more than thirty singles on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country music charts. Of these, eight have reached number one: "Sticks and Stones
Sticks and Stones (song)
"Sticks and Stones" is the title of a song written by Elbert West and Roger Dillon, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in November 1991 as the title track and first single from Lawrence's 1991 debut album...
" (1991), "Alibis
Alibis (song)
"Alibis" is the title of a song written by Randy Boudreaux and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in February 1993 as the lead single from his album Alibis. The song became Lawrence's second Number One country hit in 1993 on the U.S...
", "Can't Break It to My Heart
Can't Break It to My Heart
"Can't Break It to My Heart" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in June 1993 as the second single from his album, Alibis.' The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 2 on the...
", "My Second Home
My Second Home
"My Second Home" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in September 1993 as the third single from his album, Alibis. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 6 on the...
"(all 1993), "If the Good Die Young
If the Good Die Young
"If the Good Die Young" is the title of a song, written by Craig Wiseman and Paul Nelson, and recorded by Tracy Lawrence for his 1993 album Alibis. The song was released in January 1994 as that album's fourth and final single, and in April of that year, it became that album's fourth consecutive...
" (1994), "Texas Tornado
Texas Tornado (song)
"Texas Tornado" is the title of a song written by Bobby Braddock and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in April 1995 as the third single from Lawrence's 1994 album I See It Now...
" (1995), "Time Marches On
Time Marches On (song)
"Time Marches On" is the title of a country music song recorded by Tracy Lawrence. It was written by Bobby Braddock, who also wrote Lawrence's 1995 Number One hit "Texas Tornado". The title track and second single from his fourth studio album, it was the fifteenth chart single of his career...
" (1996) and "Find Out Who Your Friends Are
Find out Who Your Friends Are
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" is the title of a song written by Casey Beathard and Ed Hill, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was the lead-off single for his album For the Love, which was released in early 2007 on Rocky Comfort Records, a label which Lawrence owns...
" (2006).
Biography
Tracy Lawrence was born in Atlanta, TexasAtlanta, Texas
Atlanta is a city in Cass County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,745.-Geography:Atlanta is located at ....
, and lived most of his early life in Foreman, Arkansas
Foreman, Arkansas
Foreman is a city in Little River County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,011 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Foreman is located at ....
. He played in his first band at the age of sixteen and later attended Southern Arkansas University
Southern Arkansas University
Southern Arkansas University is a public four-year institution located in Magnolia, the seat of Columbia County in Arkansas, United States, not far from the Louisiana state line.-Location:Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, which, as of the census...
in Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia, Arkansas
Magnolia is a city in Columbia County, Arkansas, United States, that was founded in 1853. At the time of its incorporation in 1858, the city had a population of about 1,950. The city grew slowly as an agricultural and regional cotton market until the discovery of oil just east of the city in March,...
, where he was a member of the Epsilon Kappa chapter of Sigma Pi
Sigma Pi
Sigma Pi is an international college secret and social fraternity founded in 1897 at Vincennes University. Sigma Pi International fraternity currently has 127 chapters and 4 colonies in the United States and Canada and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee...
Fraternity. In 1990 Lawrence left Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
for Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
where he planned to find success as a recording artist.
Lawrence worked as an ironworker
Ironworker
Ironworker is a class of machines that can shear, notch, and punch holes in steel plate. Ironworkers generate force using mechanical advantage or hydraulic systems. Modern systems use hydraulic rams powered by a heavy alternating current electric motor. High strength carbon steel blades and dies...
and in phone sales while he tried to break into the music business. He began participating in talent shows and earned enough money to live on. He began working with Wanda Collier, a music publisher, doing some shows and co-writing some songs, while learning his way around the music scene in Nashville. He had a gig at the Bluebird Cafe
Bluebird cafe
The Bluebird Cafe is a music club in Nashville, Tennessee that opened in 1982. The club is famous for intimate, acoustic music performed by its composers...
and met Wayne Edwards
Wayne Edwards
Wayne Edwards is a part time racer in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He has driven for numerous teams over the past eight years....
who became his manager.
1991-1993: Sticks and Stones and robbery
With Edwards' assistance, Lawrence signed with Atlantic Records and began recording his first album Sticks and Stones. On May 31, 1991, before the album's release, Lawrence walked his former girlfriend to the door of her hotel room and was confronted by three armed men. The men robbed them and attempted to force Lawrence and his friend into her motel room. Lawrence resisted and was shot four times, allowing his friend to escape. Two of the wounds were major and necessitated surgery. One of the bullets remains embedded in Lawrence's pelvis.Sticks and Stones, upon its late-1991 release, accounted for four singles on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
country charts. First was the album's title track
Sticks and Stones (song)
"Sticks and Stones" is the title of a song written by Elbert West and Roger Dillon, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in November 1991 as the title track and first single from Lawrence's 1991 debut album...
, which spent a week at Number One in January 1992. Following it were, in order: "Today's Lonely Fool
Today's Lonely Fool
"Today's Lonely Fool" is the title of a song co-written by Kenny Beard and Stan Paul Davis and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in February 1992 as the second single from his debut album, Sticks and Stones. The song peaked at number 3 on the U.S...
", "Runnin' Behind
Runnin' Behind
"Runnin' Behind" is the title of a song co-written by Mark D. Sanders and Ed Hill and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in June 1992 as the third single from his debut album, Sticks and Stones. It peaked at number 4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
" and "Somebody Paints the Wall
Somebody Paints the Wall
"Somebody Paints the Wall" is the title of a country music song written by Tommy Smith, Charles Browder, Elroy Kahanek, and Nelson Larkin. First released in 1989 by Josh Logan from his album of the same name, it was a #62 country hit for him that year...
." Sticks and Stones was also certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
for shipments of one million copies. In 1992, he was also named by Billboard as Top New Male Vocalist.
1993-1994: Alibis
His second album, AlibisAlibis (album)
Alibis is the second studio album by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. Certified platinum in the United States, the album produced the singles "Can't Break It to My Heart", "Alibis", "My Second Home" and "If the Good Die Young", all Number One hits on the Billboard Hot Country Singles &...
, also produced four singles. The first of these, which was the title track
Alibis (song)
"Alibis" is the title of a song written by Randy Boudreaux and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in February 1993 as the lead single from his album Alibis. The song became Lawrence's second Number One country hit in 1993 on the U.S...
, was his second number-one, as well as his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
, where it peaked at number 72. After this song came "Can't Break It to My Heart
Can't Break It to My Heart
"Can't Break It to My Heart" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in June 1993 as the second single from his album, Alibis.' The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 2 on the...
", "My Second Home
My Second Home
"My Second Home" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in September 1993 as the third single from his album, Alibis. The song reached the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and peaked at number 6 on the...
" and "If the Good Die Young
If the Good Die Young
"If the Good Die Young" is the title of a song, written by Craig Wiseman and Paul Nelson, and recorded by Tracy Lawrence for his 1993 album Alibis. The song was released in January 1994 as that album's fourth and final single, and in April of that year, it became that album's fourth consecutive...
", all of which went to number-one. The album was certified 2× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA. In 1994, he contributed the song "Renegades, Rebels, and Rogues" to the soundtrack
Maverick (soundtrack)
-Chart performance:...
of the film Maverick
Maverick (film)
Maverick is a 1994 Western comedy film based on the 1950s television series of the same name, created by Roy Huggins. The film was directed by Richard Donner from a screenplay by William Goldman and features Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster and James Garner, as well as several cameo appearances...
. This song became a Top Ten hit for him as well, and in 1993, he was awarded as Top New Male Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music
Academy of Country Music
The Academy of Country Music was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles, California as the Country & Western Music Academy. Whereas the Country Music Association, founded in 1958, was based in Nashville, the Academy sought to promote country music in the western states. Among those involved in the...
.
1994-1995: I See It Now
Lawrence's third album, the platinum-certified I See It NowI See It Now
I See It Now is the third studio album by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. Released in 1994 on Atlantic Records, the album produced four singles: the title track, "If The World Had a Front Porch", "Texas Tornado" and "As Any Fool Can See". Of these, "Texas Tornado" was a Number One on...
, produced two consecutive number 2 hits in its title track
I See It Now (song)
"I See It Now" is the title of a song written by Larry Boone, Paul Nelson, and Woody Lee. It was recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in August 1994 as the lead-off single from his album of the same name. It peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country...
and "As Any Fool Can See
As Any Fool Can See
"As Any Fool Can See" is the title of a song written by Paul Nelson and Kenny Beard, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in December 1994 as the second single from his album, I See It Now. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S...
", the former of which was a number 84 on the Hot 100. The Bobby Braddock
Bobby Braddock
Robert Valentine Braddock is an American country music songwriter and record producer. A member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, Braddock has contributed numerous hit songs during more than 40 years in the industry, including 13 number-one hit...
-penned "Texas Tornado
Texas Tornado (song)
"Texas Tornado" is the title of a song written by Bobby Braddock and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in April 1995 as the third single from Lawrence's 1994 album I See It Now...
" became his sixth number-one hit in mid-1995, followed by another number 2 in "If the World Had a Front Porch
If the World Had a Front Porch
"If the World Had a Front Porch" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. It was released in July 1995 as the fourth and final single from his album, I See It Now. The song reached the number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks...
". Later in 1995, he released a live acoustic album, Tracy Lawrence Live and Unplugged
Tracy Lawrence Live and Unplugged
Tracy Lawrence Live and Unplugged is the title of an album released in 1995 by American country music singer Tracy Lawrence. His first live compilation, it features various live recordings of the hit singles from his first three studio albums...
.
1995-1997: Time Marches On
Time Marches OnTime Marches On
Time Marches On is the fourth studio album released by country music artist Tracy Lawrence. The title track spent three weeks at Number One on the Billboard country charts in 1996, becoming Lawrence's biggest chart hit to date...
, his fourth album, was released in 1996. Its lead-off single was "If You Loved Me
If You Loved Me
"If You Loved Me" is the title of a song co-written by Paul Nelson and Tom Shapiro and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in December 1995 as the lead off single from his album, Time Marches On. It peaked at number 4 on the U.S...
", which reached a peak of number 4 in early 1996. Following this song was Lawrence's longest-lasting number-one hit, "Time Marches On
Time Marches On (song)
"Time Marches On" is the title of a country music song recorded by Tracy Lawrence. It was written by Bobby Braddock, who also wrote Lawrence's 1995 Number One hit "Texas Tornado". The title track and second single from his fourth studio album, it was the fifteenth chart single of his career...
", also written by Braddock. After this song came "Stars over Texas
Stars over Texas
"Stars over Texas" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in July 1996 as the third single from his 1996 album, Time Marches On. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and peaked at number 42...
" and "Is That a Tear
Is That a Tear
"Is That a Tear" is the title of a song written by John Jarrard and Kenny Beard, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in October 1996 as the fourth and final single from his 1996 album Time Marches On...
", both peaking at number 2. Time Marches On was certified double platinum by the RIAA.
1997-1998: The Coast Is Clear and charges
Lawrence's fifth studio album, The Coast Is ClearThe Coast Is Clear (Tracy Lawrence album)
The Coast Is Clear is the fifth studio album released by country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It produced five singles: "How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye", "Better Man, Better Off", "The Coast Is Clear", "One Step Ahead of the Storm" and "While You Sleep"...
, was issued in 1997. This album produced consecutive Top Five hits in the #2 "Better Man, Better Off
Better Man, Better Off
"Better Man, Better Off" is the title of a song written by Stan Paul Davis and Brett Jones. It was recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence on his 1997 album The Coast Is Clear, from which it was released in February 1997 as the first single. Lawrence's eighteenth chart single, it...
" and #4 "How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye
How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye
"How a Cowgirl Says Goodbye" is the title of a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in May 1997 as the second single from his 1997 album The Coast Is Clear...
". The title track, however, became the first single of his career to miss Top Ten, peaking at #26, and the final single, "While You Sleep", fell short of Top 40. Nonetheless, The Coast Is Clear was certified gold.
In March 1997, Lawrence married his 2nd wife Stacie Drew, a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader. By December she had filed charges against him. He was eventually convicted of misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
battery
Battery (crime)
Battery is a criminal offense involving unlawful physical contact, distinct from assault which is the fear of such contact.In the United States, criminal battery, or simply battery, is the use of force against another, resulting in harmful or offensive contact...
and suspended by his record label until he got "his personal matters straight." He was ordered to pay a $500 fine to a women's shelter in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
1999-2001: Lessons Learned
In late 1999-early 2000, Lawrence returned to the charts with "Lessons LearnedLessons Learned (song)
"Lessons Learned" is the title of a country music song written by Paul Nelson, Larry Boone, and Tracy Lawrence, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence on his album of the same title, from which it was released as the lead-off single...
". This was the title track to his sixth album, 2000's Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned is the sixth studio album released by country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was also his last album for Atlantic Records before the closure of Atlantic's Nashville division in 2000...
. "Lessons Learned" was Lawrence's only Top 40 hit on the pop charts, peaking at number 40 there. Despite this single's success, however, the other singles from the album ("Lonely" and "Unforgiven") did not peak as highly, reaching number 18 and number 35 respectively. By the end of 2000, Atlantic closed its Nashville division, and several acts on its roster, including Lawrence, were transferred to Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
. His only release for that label, Tracy Lawrence
Tracy Lawrence (album)
Tracy Lawrence is an eponymous album released by country music artist Tracy Lawrence in 2001. It was his only album for the Warner Bros. Records label. Only two singles were released from this album: "Life Don't Have to Be So Hard" and "What a Memory", the latter of which failed to make Top 40 on...
, produced only two low-charting singles in "Life Don't Have to Be So Hard" and "What a Memory" before he exited the label.
2003-2004: Strong
Lawrence did not chart again until late 2003 with the release of "Paint Me a BirminghamPaint Me a Birmingham
"Paint Me a Birmingham" is a song written by Buck Moore and Gary Duffy. It was concurrently released by American country music artists Ken Mellons and Tracy Lawrence, whose versions entered the country charts within one week of each other...
". This song, which had also been a number 53-peaking single for Ken Mellons
Ken Mellons
Kenneth Edward "Ken" Mellons is an American country music artist who released his self-titled debut album in 1994. This album produced the single "Jukebox Junkie", a Top Ten hit on the Hot Country Songs charts...
earlier that year, went on to peak at number 4 for Lawrence in early 2004. It was the first release from Strong, his only album for DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records
DreamWorks Records was an American record label. Founded in 1996 by David Geffen, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg as a subsidiary of DreamWorks SKG, the label operated until 2005 when it was shut down...
. Following this song were "It's All How You Look at It" and "Sawdust on Her Halo", at number 36 and number 48 respectively.
2005-2006: Label change and Then & Now: The Hits Collection
Lawrence transferred to Mercury Nashville in 2005, where he released the compilation Then & Now: The Hits CollectionThen & Now: The Hits Collection
Then & Now: The Hits Collection is the second greatest-hits collection from American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It is composed several hits from his previous albums, as well as the newly-recorded tracks "Used to the Pain" and "If I Don't Make It Back". Both of these were released as...
. His only release for the label, this album included fifteen of his previous hits, all of which (except "Paint Me a Birmingham") had to be newly recorded as the label did not own the rights to his Warner Bros. and Atlantic releases. Two new tracks were included as well: "Used to the Pain", previously a single in 1998 for its co-writer, Mark Nesler
Mark Nesler
Mark Nesler is an American country music artist. Signed to Elektra Records as a recording artist in 1998, Nesler charted three singles on the U.S. Billboard country charts...
, and "If I Don't Make It Back". These two new songs were both issued as singles, but after the release of the latter, Lawrence exited Mercury's roster.
2006-2008: Business ventures and For the Love
Find out Who Your Friends Are
"Find Out Who Your Friends Are" is the title of a song written by Casey Beathard and Ed Hill, and recorded by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was the lead-off single for his album For the Love, which was released in early 2007 on Rocky Comfort Records, a label which Lawrence owns...
", which was released in August 2006 from his album For the Love
For the Love
For the Love is a studio album by country music artist Tracy Lawrence, released on January 30, 2007 through his personal label Rocky Comfort Records. It debuted at #53 on the Billboard 200...
. This song did not enter Top 40 on the country charts until January 2007, when the album was released, and in June of the same year, it became his first Number One in eleven years. The song reached the top of the country charts in its forty-first week, setting a new record for the slowest-climbing Number One country single, and the second-slowest on any Billboard singles chart. It was also the first time that any artist had reached Number One with the first release from a self-owned label. The song's chart performance was aided by an alternate recording on the album which featured guest vocals from Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw
Samuel Timothy "Tim" McGraw is an American country singer and actor. Many of McGraw's albums and singles have topped the country music charts with total album sales in excess of 40 million units in the US, making him the eighth best-selling artist, and the third best-selling country singer, in the...
and Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
, although only Lawrence was credited on the charts. The re-recorded version received Musical Event of the Year honors at the 2007 CMA
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
Awards, Lawrence's first award from that association. Following this song was "Til I Was a Daddy Too" at #32, and "You Can't Hide Redneck", the third single. Shortly before the latter, Lawrence also issued a Christmas album entitled All Wrapped Up in Christmas
All Wrapped Up in Christmas
All Wrapped Up in Christmas is the title of the first Christmas album released by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. It was released in late 2007 on his own label, Rocky Comfort Records...
, the title track of which peaked at #57 based on Christmas season airplay. Chad Brock
Chad Brock
Chad Brock is an American country music artist and disc jockey. Before beginning his musical career in the late 1990s, he was a professional wrestler in World Championship Wrestling , until an injury forced him to retire....
and Zona Jones
Zona Jones
Zona Jones is an American country music singer and attorney. Signed to D/Quarterback Records in 2004, he released his debut album Harleys & Horses and charted three singles from it, including the #47 "Two Hearts." In 2008, he signed to Rocky Comfort Records, a label owned by Tracy Lawrence, to...
also signed to the Rocky Comfort label, although Brock never released anything for it.
2009: The Rock
Lawrence released the single "Up to Him" in early 2009. This is the first single for a studio album entitled The RockThe Rock (Tracy Lawrence album)
The Rock is the tenth studio album by American country music artist Tracy Lawrence. His first album of Christian music, it was released on June 9, 2009 on his own Rocky Comfort label...
, which was released in June 2009. The album is composed entirely of Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
and has been nominated for a Grammy in the best southern, country or bluegrass gospel album category.