He was born on May 1, 1967, in Delhi, Louisiana. As a teen, he had no plans to pursue a career in music. He attended Northeast Louisiana University on an athletic scholarship and intended to become a lawyer. However, music called, and he left college his junior year. McGraw relocated to Nashville in 1989. His performances in local clubs led to a contract with Curb Records. He released the single, "Welcome To The Club," in 1992. The song was in the Top 50 of the country charts. He went on to release Tim McGraw in 1993, which was also successful.

But it was McGraw's release of Not A Moment Too Soon in 1994 that really grabbed the public's attention and made him a star. The album contained the hit single, "Indian Outlaw," which made it to both the country and pop charts. Shortly after, the album went triple-Platinum. Not A Moment Too Soon became the sixth best selling album over all for 1994 on Billboard's charts and was the top selling country album of the year.

McGraw released All I Want, his third album, in 1995. The LP went Platinum several times over. His popularity increased through live radio performances where he reached millions of fans. In 1996, he broke a few hearts when he married fellow country music artist Faith Hill. Everywhere, released in 1997, included six songs that became No. 1 hits. The Country Music Association named the LP Album of the Year in 1998. It was no surprise to country music fans everywhere when McGraw's 1999 release, Places In The Sun, topped the Billboard charts.

He continued to top the Billboard charts in 2000 as his Greatest Hits album debuted at No. 1 on the Country chart and No. 4 on the Top 200 chart. In 2001, McGraw took home a Grammy for Best Country Collaboration With Vocals for his duet with Faith Hill on "Let's Make Love." Set This Circus Down was released in the spring of 2001.