Who Are The Members Of The Country Music Class Of ’89?

Here’s an in-depth look at country music’s class of ’89, comprised of Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt.

Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Alan Jackson and Travis Tritt are collectively known as the “Class of ’89,” a group of trailblazers who, to this day, are still considered to be some of the most talented and influential artists in country music. They started to have a profound impact on the genre beginning in the year 1989, but their success continued to bring attention to the genre throughout the ‘90s and beyond. During this time, they ushered in an era of authentic, neo-traditional sounds that placed a heavy focus on the importance of storytelling in their songwriting. As a result, a surplus of new fans to flocked to the genre, making country music more popular than ever before.

Each member in the Class of ’89 broke out onto the music scene with their chart debuts in the same year. As individuals, they saw their careers skyrocket, but it is the collective impact they made that truly had a profound effect on the music industry as a whole. In total, this class of country artists racked up 64 No. 1 country hits and were awarded many honors between the ACM, CMA, GRAMMY Awards, etc.