John Michael Montgomery is one of the most enduring traditional country voices of the 1990s, a multi-platinum Kentucky native whose catalog includes seven #1 Billboard country singles and more than 30 million records sold worldwide. Born in Danville, Kentucky, in 1965 and raised in Nicholasville, he grew up performing in his family band alongside his father, Harold and his brother, Eddie, who later co-founded country duo, Montgomery Gentry.

He signed to Atlantic Records in 1992 and released his debut album Life's a Dance the same year, whose title track climbed into the country top five. His breakthrough arrived with the 1994 follow-up Kickin' It Up, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, was certified four-times platinum, and produced the #1 hit "I Swear," named ACM Single of the Year and later remade as a pop crossover smash by All-4-One.