Travis Tritt

Of the many artists responsible for ushering in “crossover” country, Travis Tritt was the least keen on what he once famously labeled “ABBA with steel guitar.” Nevertheless, the self-styled outlaw broke from the pack with Southern rockin’ kiss-offs like “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares)” and rambler odes like “Country Club” that painted him as a rough-and-tumble, cowboy hat-eschewing answer to Garth Brooks. But Tritt has obviously changed his mind about all that, as 2007’s The Storm (produced by American Idol’s Jackson) boldly dips into blue-eyed soul, Diane Warren power ballads, and songs co-written with Richard Marx and Rob Thomas. In the years since, Tritt has stayed away from the studio and abandoned his once-budding acting career, but he remains a steady presence on the road.

Updated 06/08/2010