I saw a Chris Cagle video on CMT. I loved it, but I don't know anything about him. Please fill me in.
—Joan D., Wisconsin
Chris Cagle could be compared to a combination of Tim McGraw and Tracy Lawrence, with a little Garth Brooks thrown in. He was born in DeRidder, La., (pop. 9,808) but moved near Houston when he was 4. Cagle began guitar lessons at age 6, but quickly became discouraged and gave up because his tiny hands couldn't master the large instrument. He continued to sing, however, and made his public debut with two friends in an elementary school talent show, where they donned leather jackets and sang Greased Lightning. He took piano lessons through high school and began playing guitar again after receiving one as a Christmas present. Cagle moved to Nashville, Tenn., in 1994 after dropping out of the University of Texas-Arlington and spent the next five years waiting tables, caddying, and doing other odd jobs to support himself while songwriting. The hard work paid off: He landed a record deal and released his debut album, titled Play it Loud, in 2000. An enhanced CD was re-released in June with two new songs. Cagle, who recently married, lives in Pegram, Tenn. (pop. 2,146).
