Sheryl Crow

Who Is Sheryl Crow?

Sheryl Crow commenced her career in the music industry by recording jingles for various advertising clients. She later gained prominence as a backup singer for renowned artists such as Michael Jackson and Rod Stewart. Crow achieved significant acclaim with her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, released in 1993. Her success continued with subsequent albums, including Sheryl Crow and The Globe Sessions. With nine Grammy Awards to her name, Crow announced that her 2019 album, Threads, would mark her final studio release.

Early Life and Music Career

Sheryl Suzanne Crow was born on February 11, 1962, in Kennett, Missouri, to Wendell and Bernice Crow. She grew up with two older sisters, Kathy and Karen, and a younger brother, Steve. Crow, who began playing the piano at the age of six, graduated from Kennett High School in 1980 and earned a degree in music education from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1984. During her college years, she performed with a local band, Cashmere, on weekends.

Following her graduation, Crow worked as a music teacher at an elementary school in St. Louis before relocating to Los Angeles in 1986. There, she started recording jingles for various advertising clients, including McDonald’s, and began her career as a backup singer. Notably, Crow provided backing vocals for Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour from 1987 to 1988 and also supported other prominent artists such as Sting, Rod Stewart, and Don Henley.

Albums, Songs, and Grammy Wins

‘Tuesday Night Music Club’

In 1991, Sheryl Crow initially recorded an album for A&M Records but decided to shelve it due to its overly polished sound. Subsequently, she began collaborating with The Tuesday Music Club, a group comprising Bill Bottrell, David Baerwald, David Ricketts, and her then-boyfriend Kevin Gilbert. This collaboration led to Crow’s debut multi-platinum album, Tuesday Night Music Club (1993), which featured the hit single “All I Wanna Do.”

However, tensions arose when Crow appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman and described the song “Leaving Las Vegas” as autobiographical, neglecting to acknowledge the collaborative nature of the track. This led to discord within The Tuesday Music Club, resulting in the group’s decision for Crow to continue her career independently. In 1995, Crow achieved significant recognition, winning three Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Additionally, she performed an MTV Unplugged session that year.

‘Sheryl Crow,’ ‘The Globe Sessions’

In 1996, Sheryl Crow released her eponymous album, which earned Grammy Awards for Best Rock Album and Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. She spent a significant portion of 1997 and 1998 on tour, including select dates with the Rolling Stones on their Bridges to Babylon Tour and performances at the 1998 Lilith Fair concerts. In the fall of 1998, Crow released her third album, The Globe Sessions, which also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album.

In 1999, Crow continued her international presence with a tour in Europe and performed with Lilith Fair across the United States. At the Grammy Awards in February 2000, she received the award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her interpretation of the Guns N’ Roses classic “Sweet Child o’ Mine.”

‘C’mon, C’mon,’ ‘Wildflower’

The artist continued to enjoy commercial success, with C’mon, C’mon (2002) going on to earn platinum status thanks in part to the smash hit “Soak Up the Sun.” Wildflower (2005) garnered mixed reviews, but still drew Emmy nominations for Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, for the single “Good is Good.”

Detours

In 2008, Sheryl Crow released her sixth studio album, Detours. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Crow explained that the album reflects her personal experiences over the past few years, including the end of a relationship and the adoption of her child, as well as her perspectives on global events. Entertainment Weekly hailed the project as “her best-sounding work in nearly a decade.” For this album, Crow reconnected with Bill Bottrell, the producer behind her debut record.

‘Home for Christmas,’ ‘100 Miles From Memphis,’ ‘Feels Like Home’

After releasing the holiday album Home for Christmas in 2008, Sheryl Crow shifted towards a soulful R&B sound with 100 Miles From Memphis, an album that included contributions from Keith Richards and Justin Timberlake. Three years later, she ventured into country music with Feels Like Home, her first project in the genre, which debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200.

Be Myself, Threads

“Be Myself” (2017) saw Sheryl Crow reunite with early collaborator and producer Jeff Trott, signaling a return to her rock-driven roots. In 2019, she followed with Threads, a collaborative album that featured legendary artists such as Stevie Nicks and Bonnie Raitt, alongside contemporary talents like Chris Stapleton. Although Crow announced that Threads would be her final album, she expressed her intention to continue recording new music and touring.

Activism

In April 2007, Crow showcased her commitment to environmental advocacy by launching the Stop Global Warming College Tour. This effort was followed by her performance at the Live Earth concerts in July of the same year, aimed at raising awareness about climate change.

Continuing her environmental activism, Crow performed at an eco-focused event tied to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In support of youth political engagement, she also distributed free digital copies of her Detours album as part of Rock the Vote’s voter registration initiative.

Relationships, Cancer, and Motherhood: The Journey of Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow’s personal life has been marked by significant relationships, health challenges, and the fulfillment of long-held dreams. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter was romantically linked with musician Eric Clapton and actor Owen Wilson before entering a high-profile relationship with cyclist Lance Armstrong in 2003. The couple became engaged in September 2005 but ended their relationship in early 2006. Shortly after their breakup, Crow faced an unexpected health crisis—she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Reflecting on her diagnosis, Crow expressed her surprise, noting that cancer did not run in her family. “I’ve always worked out and been fit, so I figured I’d never get sick,” she shared in an interview with Shape magazine. “But when I was diagnosed, I realized disease isn’t about how fit you are. In my mind, it’s so much more about how you live your life and how much stress you’re under.”

Fortunately, Crow’s cancer was detected at an early stage. She underwent a lumpectomy followed by seven weeks of radiation treatment. After successfully completing her treatment, Crow fulfilled a childhood dream by purchasing a horse farm near Nashville, Tennessee.

In 2007, Crow embraced another dream by becoming a mother. She adopted her first son, Wyatt, followed by the adoption of her second son, Levi, three years later. Through her resilience and determination, Crow continues to inspire others by balancing her personal challenges with her professional achievements and her role as a mother.